A letter to my dear Bainbridge Island resident.

I want to thank you for the lovely gift you gave me on Friday, Aug. 12. Imagine my surprise as I left Pegasus Coffee House at 8:20 in the morning to see that you have hit my car. Wow.

I’m sorry I wasn’t able to properly thank you as you left so abruptly. Some, well, they might even say you fled, but I prefer to imagine you rushing off to share your winning personality with other fellow islanders. How can I possibly thank you? Oh, that’s right, I can’t because you didn’t leave a note or any contact information,

Darn. You gave me such a thoughtless, er, thoughtful gift, I just don’t know how to thank you. And then you escaped as though a thief in the night.

And, you know, it truly is the gift that keeps on giving. I think of you often when I am on the phone on hold with the super helpful people at my insurance company, and visiting my bank to arrange the transfer of funds for my deductible payment.

Keep up the great work. You are living the “treat others as you would like to be treated” message to which we Bainbridge islanders truly aspire. My wish for you is that some stranger will repay your kindness and give you the gift you gave to me.

In spades.

Jerry Stephonson

Bainbridge Island