Two years ago, when I submitted my sample “My Turn” column to the Kenosha News, I wrote about how I had recently gotten stuck in a snow bank along the side of the road. I had been rushing to court that morning, pulled into a spot on 56th Street, and then when I came back to my car, found that under the snow was ice. Consequently, I wasn’t going anywhere.

I continued my account by detailing how a number of people proceeded to help me get my car out of its trapped position — several helped me push it free while others essentially stopped traffic so that we could undertake this operation with a minimum of risk to ourselves. I only knew one of the people assisting me — Geoff Dowse, a fellow attorney. The others were perfect strangers who went out of their way to help someone in need.

I wrote all of this and sent it off to the paper. Unfortunately, although my writing was accepted, I was told I would have to compose a new column, because my first regular appearance wouldn’t be until May, and it was felt that a story about being stuck in the snow “wasn’t seasonal.” So I wrote about something else, and the story of my good fortune at being rescued by the unknown heroes went unpublished until now.

And, of course, that was the point. Not the snow, but the opportunity to recognize the unselfish goodness of Kenosha citizens. I consider myself to be a still relatively recent transplant to Kenosha, having been here just over eleven years. Kenosha was not where I expected to end up when I finished law school, but over the last eleven years, it has become home. I have met, worked with, and encountered wonderful, caring, dedicated individuals. I have been struck by the kindness of people and their willingness to lend a hand — even in cases where, to my shame, I don’t know if I would do the same.

All of this was brought home again recently in a situation that, once again, involved the snow. I am referring to the big snow that fell the first week of January. I was able to force my car through the several inches of snow that remained uncleared in the alley onto which our garage opens, and made it to work without incident. My wife, however, was not so fortunate, and found herself stuck in the snow, unable to move her car either forward or back. She saw two women, one who was shoveling, and another on the sidewalk. She didn’t know either one of them.

And, you guessed it, two strangers helped her to free her car from the snow. They assisted her in pushing it out of its stuck position to a point where she could shovel her way to the street. (They also advised that the son of the people from whom we’d purchased the house usually plowed it. As we looked at the alley more closely, it appears we may be the only ones who really need for it to be cleared in order to get anywhere. I am open to any thoughts from the city of Kenosha about this situation, although it may be academic since the very next day we purchased a snow blower to ensure that we never have that problem again…)

Once again, strangers came to the rescue. People who could have simply minded their own business opted instead to assist someone they didn’t know, for no reason other than that person needed help.

My wife has been in Kenosha for a little less than five years. Although she is originally from Minnesota, as I am, she had most recently been living in New York City before moving here. I still remember the two things that she was most struck by when she arrived — actually seeing open spaces of green grass, and hearing people say “Thank you” and sound sincere.

So let me try — Thank you, Kenosha, for showing time and time again how caring and good people can be. Thank you for all the people we have met and the opportunities (like this column) that we’ve had.

Thank you for becoming home.

Send comments to myturn@kenoshanews.com.