Editor, The Record:
My daughter has a paper route. For the exercise I sometimes do the route for her.
On these two snowiest days of the year I shoveled the driveway and sidewalks (both sidewalks, ours and the city, which is almost 100 feet long) five times in two days. Roads were almost impassable for two-wheel drive cars and trucks without winter tread. But there I went, to the box to get the papers.
Got them and started delivery — snow does not bother an old milkman.
A lot of the sidewalks and driveways were not shoveled, but what the heck.
I trudged along and finally got them done. Got back home, hot chocolate waiting for me, ahhhhh.
About that time I thought of the mail; none on Monday, nothing on Tuesday.
So I called the post office. No answer. Called the 1-800 number. Got a chap who told me there would be no mail delivery until further notice due to road closures and impassable roads in the area. Asked if the carriers had a strong union, he hesitated and told me yes.
I found it strange; here I am, 71 years old, delivering newspapers on foot, through snow above my boots, but the posties can't make it because of road closures? I only saw one closed road on Monday.
Whatever happened to the old verse about the mail must go through?
Oh, that's right, they changed the words.
If I look out and see a snowflake, to hell with it, I'm not going out in that.
Of course they used to deliver to the door, didn't they?
Richard Moore
Mission