What’s right with us?

Today’s news items that remind us who we are:

• Eighteen-year-old Tyler Shipman of Frazee, Minn., always dreamed of restoring his 1986 Pontiac Fiero, but he’s dying of cancer and he worried about burdening his folks with an unfinished project. He posted his plight on an Internet bulletin board and this weekend, people flew in from all over the country to get the project done.

• In Philadelphia, a 64-year old woman is part high school cooking teacher, part drill sergeant. Her special dish? Helping poor kids get to college.

• Tim Johnson, 29, of Coon Rapids, always wanted to be a firefighter. But he died of a blood clot last month. Last week the West Metro fire district made him a firefighter.

The chances are you know someone that fits this category. Tell me about them.

I’m off this week. Watch this space for a suitable replacement.