Trying to be polite!

    

Guess the building

It's not rocket science to guess this one

Panorama of part of Market

As a letter carrier I try to be as polite as possible. Saying the normal like excuse me, sorry, have a nice day etc...  But, there are times you have to be a little forward to certain people because, of their rudeness. Most of the time it has to do with people blocking the doors to your delivery.
     For instance: I was entering a somewhat crowded restaraunt. I said " Excuse me" as I worked my way in. When I approached the last person I said the same "excuse me". No movement or acknowledgement. I said it again and nothing. Finally, loud enough for everyone to hear I said it again and the man finally moved. The problem was he shifted just slightly and it wasn't enough for me and my full satchel to get through. I went ahead and got by but, as I did  my loaded satchel bumped the man. He turns and says "excuse me!" I returned and said "maybe next time you will move when I say it three times! I have a job to do!" And on the way back from the counter when I said it the man moved right away.
     Another time I was delivering to Wegmans and I have to go behind the service desk to get the mail. A woman was blocking the door to the counter. I said "excuse me" several times. I finally  reached for the door handle, as I did the woman stepped back and I brushed her behind with my hand. She turns and in a obnoxious voice says" HOW DARE YOU!"  I looked at her and said " I wouldn't have dared if you would have moved out of the way when I had asked you!" She was still sputtering as I left. The next day the cashiers behind the counter said she wanted my name to report me and they told her that I tried to get her attention and she ignored me. After she had left they all started laughing. It's nice to know I have my customers for backup!

             I get this kind of thing every day. I have tourists bumping into me on the street as I am as close to the building as I can get. I get passed by cars in my truck because, they think I am parked, when in fact I was stopping at a cross walk for a pedestrian. Even when I am crossing in the cross walks,I get cars that don't stop when I am in the middle of the street. If I see their window down as they pass I yell" THANKS FOR STOPPING". It gets their attention every time!!

     

I'm a real mailman.

 

     I had been on the job for only a few weeks and I finally got to carry on my own. I only covered the carriers' day off so, to remember things from one week to the next was hard. At the cases the carriers use colored plugs to tell whether a customer was on vacation, had a forward or to let you now they have a P.O. box. I had pulled the route down on my own but, forgot to take out a letter for a P.O. box customer. When I approached this customers house I didn't realize that this house didn't get delivered, I got on to the porch and didn't see a mailbox. So, I knocked on the door to see if they were home so I could ask them if they had a mailbox, so I knew where to deliver next time. A woman opens the door and she gives me a funny look. Here I am in regular clothes a postal cap and satchel(since we don't get a uniform until after ninety days). I asked her if she had a mailbox that wasn't visible and I had a letter for her. She looked a little worried, took the letter and said"Your not a real mailman are you??" I just looked at her and smiled, a part of me wanted to tell her in my Pinocchio voice real loud. " I'M A REAL MAILMAN!!!"
      A few weeks had passed and I was carrying the same route but, I haven't got to the same ladies neighborhood yet and I was way across town. A car pulls up and this same customer, hands me a letter and says" you put this in my mailbox today and I told you I have a P.O. box! Please do not make this mistake again!" I took the letter,said "sorry" and went on my way. I get back to the office to take my lunch and explained the two situations to the postmaster. She said that the woman isn't all there and she will sometimes take other peoples letters and return them saying they were in her box. I said " she doesn't have a mail box." and she looks at me and smiles to kind of say without words "I know."








    
    
 I was able to get some shots of the Jazz and Harvest Festival. It was just gearing up so, not too many people yet.

This explains the fist few pictures.

    

A new business in town!



A few ladies from ES&L