“Part 2 Post Office Random Thoughts”

I hope my favorite columnist Thomas Sowell does not mind my taking his random thoughts idea.  Really though I think he would not mind at all.

I will never forget the day the fellow from out of town, stopped me on Mayfield road, in front of Gilbert Johnson`s.  He asked me if I was the carrier with a boat for sale.  I told him I have a boat but not for sale.  He said that he was looking for the carrier who lives on Beeler Hill.  I informed him that we both live on Beeler Hill.  Then bless his heart, he said I am looking for the Clinton city carrier who has twin daughters.  Well sir, I told him I have twin daughters but so does the other carrier.  I like to have never convinced him that he wanted to see Jim Brummal and not me.

One day I ran into two different customers who were mad at the world and were taking it out on me.  It was early in the day and I let it eat on me most of the day.  I am sure I was not too friendly with the customers I came into contact with that morning.   Later it dawned on me that I had over three hundred families on my route and almost all of them the best people in the world.  Any carrier in the country would love to trade with me.  It just happened I ran into two of the very very few who were not pleasant people.  My day was way uphill from there on.

After I changed from carrier to maintenance I was often in the lobby and the first to see most people.  I was taught by my dad that I had a commitment to my employer and regardless of who they were or how I felt I should greet them pleasantly.  Many times I felt bad or had something bothering me and after I smiled and met a few people cheerfully I really felt that way.  I never underestimate a smile and kind word anymore.  It is great medicine.

I will never forget the time J D Barclay came in with a tale.  Now JD was one of the best rural carriers around.  Instead of leaving packages by the mail box he would take it to the door.  On this day it was raining, and the house had no porch.  He opened the front door to set the package in, so it would not get wet, or have to leave a note for it to be picked up at the PO.  When he opened the door their dog ran past him to the kitchen. He got on his knees trying to catch the dog.  Well that was when the owners walked in.  Lucky for him they knew him and thought it was hilarious.

This was when I was about twelve but was instrumental in me going to work for the Post Office.   I worked for John B Evans and every day when it was time for Little Henry Brazzell to cross the street on North Washington.  We went to the front and watched for him.  Henry read a pocket novel every day. If the volume of mail was not heavy he would read as he walked.  He would step off the curb and up the other and not miss a word. 

When I was smaller I would meet him for our mail and I will never forget how kind he was.  I worked at John B. Evans store with Pete Halteman and he helped me a lot.   Pete and Truman Allison had coffee together a lot and they talked me into applying for the job.

Published in The Hickman County Times 07/17/12 Vol 3 issue 29