I recently had an experience with an item I purchased from a local hardware store. It was a home improvement item, which I promptly lost. Although I searched everywhere in my home and retraced my steps of the day, the item had simply disappeared.

Increasingly frustrated, I finally called the hardware store itself, to see if I had left it there. The person who answered the phone called out to someone named John, and they both determined the item had not been left in the store. To my surprise, I was told simply to come back and pick up a replacement item for free.

As a person who was born and raised in Natchez but who has lived most of her life in the North, I think this incident says something about the community in which we all live.

I doubt very much whether there are other environments in which a spirit of helpfulness and generosity could be more forthcoming.

The store in question is Natchez Home Hardware. John’s full name and title is John Smith, assistant manager. This experience makes me glad I’ve come back home to live the rest of my life.

Norma Willey

Natchez resident