Mail, Mail,Mail
In the early afternoon in our house, you can hear Lee singing in a high pitched voice, “Mail, Mail, Mail, Mail, Mail.” I love mail and Lee loves to tease me about it. He doesn’t understand that I love receiving letters, postcards and catalogs. My dogs know how important mail is at our house and will bark when they hear the familiar sound of the wheels of the mailman’s cart riding on the concrete outside our home. And of course I love mail delivery people.
Our current mailman is John E., and I love running into him while he is making deliveries. Over the past three years, we’ve gotten a chance to know John, and John has come to know how much I love mail. He always has a huge smile on his face when I meet him at my door. John and I will talk about the neighborhood, schools, our children and my dogs. When I am waiting for a letter, John will ring the bell if he knows I am home to let me know it has arrived. Even when my mail consists of a pile of utility bills, John always looks on the positive and says, “Well it’s just bills today, but they are all things you need for your beautiful home.” His kind words and friendly demeanor give my neighborhood a good feel.
On the first day of Winter Break this past year, I received some terrible news in a letter. Standing on my front stoop, I opened the envelope as I talked with John. He saw my face go pale and helped me sit down. I handed him the letter to read because I was too in shock to speak. John understood and asked me if I wanted him to call someone. I asked him to call Lee and to get me some water. John sat with me and talked until Lee came. He didn’t have to do that, but he went above and beyond his job because he’s a good person and my friend. Work connects us all, and I will always be grateful for the work John does.
Labor Day is almost upon us. I know most people see Labor Day Weekend as a time to party and have the last celebration of summer before school starts. Yet it’s meant as a day to recognize the work that people do. So before you go turn on that grill and grab a cold drink, go to aflcio.org/thankyou to send a thank you card to someone whose work you appreciate. Each of us depends on each other’s work. Our work binds us and weaves us all together. And together, we are better.
Hugs,
marlene
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