Be Nice To Your Mail Carrier

Today is Thank A Mail Carrier Day! We have the sweetest “maillady”. The kids started calling her that early on, and the name stuck. We have the drive-up-and-put-the-mail-in-the-box delivery system. If a package is too big for the mailbox, our maillady will come to the door (with the rest of the mail), ring the bell and wait for someone to answer. She also says hello, pets the dog, and asks how our day is going before she heads back to the truck. It doesn’t matter if it’s raining or cold or sleeting. I know she has Monday off because if a package is too big for the mailbox, her substitute leaves it on the porch, and doesn’t even do a ding-dong ditch. The rest of the mail is in the mailbox.

So today I will be waiting for her with a beverage of her choice as just a small token of my appreciation of her hard work and excellent customer service. I’ll be waiting inside though so as not to give the neighbors something to gossip about. It would be my luck that she’s sick today and a substitute is driving the truck - another good reason to stay inside and listen for the familiar squeak of the postal truck brakes.

If you decide to thank your mail carrier today, here are a few tips:

1. Don’t run outside, waving your arms, shouting, “Thank you! Thank you!” Your mail carrier might just keep on going, dialing 911 at the same time.
2. If you have a mail carrier who walks your route (i.e. your mailbox is attached to the house), don’t wait by the door then spring out with a loud THANK YOU!  The results might not be to your liking (heart attack, mace to the face, any number of bad things).
3. A really good way to show your appreciation is to tell the boss! Everyone calls to complain about the post office, but I bet hardly anyone calls to say, “good job”. Contact 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777) and they will be happy to document your compliment.

Thanks Maillady!