Last weekend was a 3-day-one for federal employees. Because Monday was a bank holiday. Yet it seems that this doesn’t go for everybody employed by the United States Postal Service (USPS). I saw several USPS vehicles in different parts of the region on Sunday. And my heart went out to their drivers because here I was headed for lunch – and their family had to have Sunday lunch without them.
On Tuesday, I headed for the Lakewood post office shortly after lunch. I wanted to mail a calendar that one of my readers had won in a give-away activity on my public Facebook page. And a handwritten letter to my father, who is currently recovering from surgery in a German sanitorium. There was a line in the lobby of the postal office that reached to the doors. No way would that deter my determination to send off the gift or the letter.
It was a very interesting experience to stand in that line. Normally, I’d have expected some annoyed commenting. But this time, everybody was strangely quiet. People kept their distance, and all wore masks. If somebody needed help, such as being pointed to the mailbox, they were accommodated. Inside the business area, there was laughter at the counters. The employees treated every customer with kindness and patience, interspersed with good humor. And getting some very pretty, new Forever stamps added to my pleasant experience.
What was interesting to me was that the one bank holiday had such an impact on the frequency of the post office. It was as if everybody had had the same idea of packing boxes and writing letters over the weekend. And, of course, a lot couldn’t be mailed off on Monday. Well, I might want to avoid Mondays and Fridays as well as days after a holiday in the future in order to avoid standing in a line – especially in Covid times. But these postal employees can’t. They will be seeing these lines every Monday, Friday, and day after a holiday. And this is only their receiving end.
The delivery end is what I saw last Sunday. If there is an extra-load of boxes and envelopes, these people are out on the road even when they should have their day off. Tuesday started off with some thunderstorm from hell, heavy rain, and wind gusts that were ripping off big branches from trees. Did this deter the postal employees from delivering our mail? No. Because they keep doing their work rain or shine, in blistering summer heat, during wet storms, and in bitingly cold weather. When their load is extra-big, they deliver until their work is done. Shortly before I started writing this article, I found somebody on Facebook reporting from Steilacoom that their mail had been delivered around 1930 h on Tuesday. I keep thinking that by that time, I had had a cozy dinner with my husband already, and was chatting with him over a glass of wine very leisurely. And some postal employee was still out there doing their job!
The holiday season is coming up. I’ll be sending out a whole lot of cards and Christmas gifts in a while. Postal lines will be insanely long, as everybody will be doing the same. Maybe even more than ever, in Covid times, as letters and gifts are a sign that we care about our loved ones who are far away, whom we may not even be able to visit. I should hope that we remember that postal employees are at the receiving end when we bring them our load. We are sending out loving thoughts to our loved ones – don’t let us do it with impatience or anger against the postal employees, who are trying to keep ahead of the constant flow of mail. And let’s wait graciously for our mail if we have to wait. We are in the coziness of our homes while somebody out there is fighting the elements and foregoes the comfort of a family meal to deliver their task.
There are countless other essential workers out there who do theirs so we are seen to in our needs and whims. They have the same needs and whims as we, only theirs might get seen to later. If at all. If we put ourselves into their shoes, we can make their world a little friendlier, too. Even if there is a long line between them and us.
I commend you for writing an article in support of postal employees, but you didn’t do your research.
Monday, October 12, wasn’t a “bank holiday.” It was Columbus Day, a Federal holiday, and all federal offices (yes, including banks and the post office) were closed. Those employees you saw delivering on Sunday and Monday were delivering Express Mail and, in some areas where they still do it (if they still even do), they were delivering Amazon packages according to a contract with that company. And, believe me, they were being well paid for doing their jobs.
Sorry for misnaming a federal holiday as a bank holiday, Dawn.
Is Sunday and holiday work worth less, though, because it’s paid more? I prefer to see the willingness to do the work. Because in the end nothing is that expressly needed that we have to have it on a Sunday or a holiday. It could wait till the next work day easily – or we have to schedule it better.
Thank you for the very appreciative article,even though, I’m retired now… it’s always nice to hear that some people understand.My first Christmas season as a USPS employee,I worked 10 to 12 ( sometimes more) nights from the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve.Yes,the money was nice but it in no way makes up for last family time. Especially if you’re a single mom with a young child.Its nice to see that someone understands.
Thank you for your kind words, Mona. I think that it is important to see people and to see that money can’t make up for stress and lost family time.
The newest employees deliver Sunday Amazon packages. The starting pay is about $16 / hour, with no benefits (they need to work 2-3 one year contracts before being hired as a career employee). That’s “ well paid”? Sure.
I never thought of the money angle. But this is an interesting piece of info. Yikes!
USPS carriers are not paid more for sunday or holiday work. On sundays they are delivering amazon at straight pay, not time and a half.
Thank you from the bottom of my tired heart for this post. The day after a holiday is torture for us. Two days of mail to sort and deliver. We try hard to stay positive and cheery.
I have an inkling just seeing the piles that got heaped onto the counters that ONE day, Lori. It’s tough work, physically and mentally. And it deserves respect.
Susanne Bacon,
In spite of the different sides to this story such as Bank Holiday vs. Federal Holiday, Sunday mail delivery vs. Amazon delivery, your words to be thankful, courteous, understanding, and appreciative, are wise words, indeed.
Thanks for sharing.
I also like how you captured a photo of a mail truck for your story. You have to admit, that was real Joe Boyle-like photographically and story telling speaking.
Keep encouraging people to help make our world a better and kinder place.
Joseph Boyle
Thank you so very much for your kind words, Joe! The USPS vehicles were NOT my shots, though. That praise is deserved by two photographers on the marvelous website Unsplash.com.
I should have my camera on me more often, though. You are right. It was stunning to see the piles of mail brought into the Lakewood post office the other day, just a day after Columbus Day. And the cheerfulness of the employees was admirable.
I am grateful that Susanne took the time to not only wait in line at the post office, but that she wrote about the experience and wrote about it in a kindly and compassionate way regarding what postal workers deal with on a daily basis. It is largely a thankless task with a lot of stress. It is made worse now with the pandemic, because people everywhere are crankier and more impatient than ever.
Many of the services from the post office can be handled online these days including buying stamps, but I realize some things will inevitably require going there in person.
An alternative, which I find to be an absolute delight, is The Mail Room on West 19th Street in University Place. Yes, they have PO Boxes available for rent.
But more importantly they are a shipping center for the US Postal Service, UPS, FedEx and DHL Worldwide.
The Mail Room is unique in that it is a contracted center for all of the above services. It has been open for 30 years.
A young married couple, Brandon & Brit, have owned it since 2017. They are totally focused on customer service and welcoming to everyone. They provide gift wrapping and packing services. Copying & fax service, too. Plus Northwest photo note cards, greeting cards, zany gift items and toys. https://www.upmailroom.com/ Their nestled in near Value Village next to the liquor store directly across the street from Fred Meyer Marketplace. Easy to find. Plenty of free parking. And they are a pure delight! Look for their colorful Facebook page, too. Earlier this year I wrote a feature story including them that was published in South Sound Talk. http://www.southsoundtalk.com/2020/04/14/my-favorite-things-in-up-and-fircrest-the-mail-room-and-paper-luxe/
Special thanks to Susanne Bacon for the reminder that all of us can take a deep breath and express our thanks to those all around us who serve day-in and day-out in ways that many take for granted. The acknowledgment will be received with heartfelt appreciation.
Oh my, Jaynie, thank you for your kind words! And I never heard about the Mail Room – I definitely have to look into that!