I just returned from a cruise on the Columbia River. One of the entertainers, a wonderful keyboard artist named Mario Carboni, mentioned having taken a number of trips to Alaska. He told me about one memorable arrival in Wrangell.

Mario had flown in to perform and called a cab to take him and all his music gear to the cruise ship awaiting his arrival. After an hour, he was still stuck at the airport and was becoming anxious. A local man overheard him making calls and offered to give him a ride to the ship.

Mario accepted. He tried to pay the good Samaritan, who refused to take any payment. Mario left some cash on the dash for him anyway.

The man grabbed the money and strode up to Mario, pushing the bills into his chest as he proclaimed, “Why don’t you just let someone do something nice for you!’’

Yay, Wrangell!

Alice Rooney