CornerShot

I purchased my Amtrak ticket on Wednesday and began the wait for Thursday morning, when I would board the train in Lynchburg and ride it to Alexandria to join my family to celebrate the Fourth of July.

On the advice of a friend, I arrived early on Thursday at Section C of the Roanoke Civic Center parking lot and waited for the commuter bus. A few minutes later another car pulled into Section C and also waited.

At 5:50 a.m., the only other car waiting for the bus backed out of its space and pulled away. Instead of leaving, the car came alongside my car. The gentleman driving it rolled down his window. I rolled down the passenger window of my car.

The gentleman informed me that his daughter had called and learned that the Smart Way Connector bus was not running that day due to the Fourth of July holiday. Just as quickly, he also invited me to ride with them to the Amtrak station.

I want to sincerely thank him for the ride to Lynchburg and just say that his invitation boosted my belief that we are still a great nation with great and generous neighbors.

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