For every route there were stories. I had a highway contract working from a Post Office in New Mexico. My route was no different from other rural routes and I’m certain all carriers have their memories with many stories to tell. On my route even mailboxes had a story ~ Such a long time ago I still have fond memories (mostly), not ever forgetting the stories.
Who doesn’t have a good story to share? I guess it depends on how the story is received from the one sharing the story. I have often heard; in telling a good story it should grab the reader’s attention in the first part.
My husband traveled back and forth out of state with his job, one day he came home and said, “I got you a job!” “Doing what, I asked!?” Not that raising three teenage boys wasn’t enough – we also lived where some would consider out in the boonies, He preceded with, “I bid on a rural highway contract with the US Postal Service, and we got the bid!” He continued with letting me know the position wasn’t far from where we lived; adding – “How hard could it be?! You will be delivering the mail working out of the local Post Office. You start . . . when you get there, you will meet with the Postmaster (PM) who will give you all the details and whatever training. So, what do you think?!” Honestly, I can’t think of what I thought when asked, I can sure imagine a lot I might have!
At the time I didn’t know anything about the job or what to expect. I did know it was working six days a week with the length of each day depending on how quickly you did your job and how much mail you had. I found out if the mail didn’t come presorted, I would be delayed waiting for those working within the PO sorting out all mail that wasn’t pre-sorted to flats that carriers get each morning. The carriers still had to take that mail and sort it into the case slots for each curbside customer they had. It really saved us out on the route and the waiting portion, when the regular PO crew sorted, they also were sorting theirs for delivery within the PO the carrier was never sure when to expect to get out.
This ‘bid’ was on a brand-new route. The area was growing fast with new sub-divisions, as well as homes out with acreage, they needed to break up deliveries, expanding boundaries. I wasn’t the only one hired for new routes, before I left three others came in, originally there were only a few carriers. I learned quickly and was proficient at my job. I learned where all the addresses belonged (other routes) being able to jump in and help sort the missorted as well as magazines etc. to each carrier enabling me to get out early and shortening up my day. I must confess that when we first moved to the ‘boonies,’ I started learning all the names of the roads by making wrong turns and getting lost, it proved helpful on the job, so much so I could tell how to find places or which carrier they’d need to talk to from the name of the road.
On my first day with my “new job” the PM, gave me the low-down, walked me through the PO, sharing much of my training would be on the job and exactly where my route was. She told me that I needed specific things always in my car in case I was stranded. As you can see from the photo’s a bit of my route. I did have a Subaru (for city driving) 4wheel drive was important for all routes, though my car was low to the ground, I mostly ate dirt. So much so my car seemed to permanently have that floating dust look inside much like seeing pigpen on Charlie Brown! Every curbside box and cluster boxes were on dirt or just off paved onto dirt. I will say I had the nicest cluster boxes (I still regularly notice all mail ‘cluster’ boxes commenting how nice mine were). When I first started, I only had customers from curbside or is that ditch and berm side! The curbside group was broken off another route and the PM shared it would increase as time went on. Then she looked at me curiously asking, “Are you certain you want this job?” I politely said, “yes, why?” “Well, you had the lowest bid.” I replied, “I didn’t know what others had bid, and wouldn’t have known, asking again why?” She said to me, “Well it’s so low, you are like volunteering.” nice~
Of course, I can’t remember the actual thoughts that were bouncing in my mind then; I know I probably had the look of stunned ~
As time went by, I enjoyed (mostly) my route especially the Oldtimers with curbside. I found I really liked the PM – we got along well. She just allowed the carriers to do their jobs as we were contracted to do. We followed postal regulations (mostly), worked hard and looked at it as those who were receiving mail were in fact our customers we were providing the service. Everyone working with us within the PO all seemed to get along, most disgruntled things from the regulars were directed towards the PM so they got along great! Until she retired, that’s the way it goes sometimes. One time the PM mentioned to me that for the route I needed to get something like cross extensions put on the car for driving on the other side of the road. By looking at the photos, it wasn’t like there was ever traffic to contend with – as none. I told her that I would deliver backwards – kind a sort of. She told me she didn’t care how I delivered the mail; she didn’t want problems. BTW all the regulation stuff I needed to have for my route, you know the standard safety stuff – traffic warning triangles or cones, etc., if I broke down and pulled to the ditch putting cones out, lol, who would see them? Cows, doggies and a passerby with an hour space time between each car or tractor. My husband, when brick mobile phones came out, brought one home for me to use on the route – for emergencies, you would think it was a great idea, I found out that I would have had to climb a hill – finding that perfect spot to get a connection like I did when at home! I knew God was always with me as well, I only had one tire problem on ‘that’ route the whole time I was a carrier.
I wished I could find my cow pic ~
As time went by, I enjoyed (mostly) my route especially the Oldtimers with curbside. I found I really liked the PM – we got along well. She just allowed the carriers to do their jobs as we were contracted to do. We followed postal regulations (mostly), worked hard and looked at it as those who were receiving mail were in fact our customers we were providing the service. Everyone working with us within the PO all seemed to get along, most disgruntled things from the regulars were directed towards the PM so they got along great! Until she retired, that’s the way it goes sometimes. One time the PM mentioned to me that for the route I needed to get something like cross extensions put on the car for driving on the other side of the road. By looking at the photos, it wasn’t like there was ever traffic to contend with – as none. I told her that I would deliver backwards – kind a sort of. She told me she didn’t care how I delivered the mail just deliver it; she didn’t want problems. BTW all the regulation stuff I needed to have for my route, you know the standard safety stuff – traffic warning triangles or cones, etc., if I broke down and pulled to the ditch putting cones out, lol, who would see them? Cows, doggies and a passerby with an hour space time between each car or tractor. One day my husband brought home a brick mobile phone when they came out for me to use on the route – you know for emergencies. You'd think it would've been a great idea, I soon found out that I would have had to climb a hill – finding that perfect spot to get a connection like I did when at home! I knew God was always with me as well, I only had one tire problem on ‘that’ route the whole time I was a carrier.
I have many memories of my time as a carrier, the most memorial ‘favorite’ time was being outside with the most beautiful skies I’ve ever seen, the air had that light, fresh, airy feel. Always seeming to have a slight breeze on those kinds of days. I usually listened to KLYT 88.3 Albuquerque (all music at the time) or DC Talk’s album, Jesus Freak! I still do. I mostly listened to “I’ve Got Something to Say,” that I could literally listen to over and over on my route. The start of the song seemed to capture the skies and how I felt in that fresh air of being outside. It always ministered to how I felt inside. There were things going on in our lives with Jim being gone, the boys were busy with practice, cars and friends – being teenagers. The route provided a space where I was able to be alone with the Lord, so to speak, and out where I could in a way let things go enjoying the beauty of outside.
I surprised myself here only getting this far without sharing some memorable stories I liked from my first route. Yes, my first route. I used to joke – my husband loved me so much he got me a second route!
I think I'll stop here for the meantime. We've been busy on the farm as my son would say. We had a natural gas leak and having a new line put in. Say a prayer for me and while I wait until next week went it is hopefully up and running, I'll be listening to DC Talk.
