I was on my way back from a site visit yesterday morning for a civil complaint. The wind was biting and it was freezing outside, but across the road, I saw an elderly lady in a thick parka, scarf, and mask, struggling to walk while clutching a bundle in her hands.

Normally, I would have just passed by because picking up a civilian in a government vehicle can lead to a real headache if an accident happens, but for some reason, I just couldn't do it yesterday. I drove past her, but then I turned the car around and picked her up.

When I asked where she was headed and why she was out in this cold, she told me she was on her way home from an outing, but the wait for the next county bus was so long that she just decided to walk the whole way.

After dropping her off at her house, I realized it was quite a distance—well over 2km. As she got out, she kept bowing and thanking me over and over again.

We've had so many bad memories here this year with forest fires, floods, and everything else. If I had just ignored her, it would have weighed on my conscience for a long time. I'm just glad I didn't let that happen.