It’s never too late to say a blessed “thank you.” And, such is the case for me — as on Dec. 9, I was surrounded by many guardian angels, whose names I do not know. My friend and I were on our way to the Spam Museum for a Hormel Foods retirement holiday party and to get the holiday season on its way. However, I took quite a tumble on the cold, hard cement on the sidewalk, and instantly was surrounded by a group of people all ready to help me. One gentleman was keeping my head and neck secure until the ambulance came and its crew put a brace on my neck. Then a blanket and pillow appeared, and then people were actually removing their warm coats to put over me, and it was a very windy day, too.

I know that this all kept me from getting pneumonia, as the group was keeping the wind away from me.

I wanted all of my helpers to know the end result. We were in the emergency room for more than four hours, and when the doctor came in to give the results, both she and the radiologist were totally surprised I had no broken bones! How could an almost 87-year-old take such a hard fall and not have any broken bones or fractures?

So, to all my guardian angels at the accident site, the ambulance crew and the hospital staff: My very warmest thank you to all of you! I was able to enjoy a wonderful Christmas with loved ones, and I’m looking forward to a happy 2014, too, and wishing the same to all of you!

Madelon Collette,

Austin