Before moving to our new neighborhood, I had all mail carriers stereotyped.  Ok, I take that back, I had almost everyone who is in the parcel and package delivery industry stereotyped.

My stereotypes are as follows:

UPS – I thought it was a prerequisite that they were all HOT! From 25-65, I’ve never seen a UPS guy (or gal for that matter) that wasn’t ruff, tuff, buff, and just HOT!

FEDEX – I always thought these guys were the most absolute cranky people ever. I chalked it up to either not so great pay or the fact that they never seemed to get much right!

USPS – Until a few months ago, I’d never met a mail carrier who was friendly, cared to take their iPod earbuds out long enough to actually listen to what they had to say, and they had definitely never bent the rules or even cared about what I had to say!  I also thought they were just plum overpaid and careless.

That is…. until I moved here.  Andy and I send packages all the time.   I always submit a request for carrier pickup, and the lady who runs our route has to be the sweetest, most caring individual I have met in a service environment.

Over the summer, we noticed that she was there for about a week or so, and then random postal carriers would deliver and pick up.  It went on this way for a month and a half.  Once I finally noticed that she had returned for good, I stepped outside one day and let her know that we’d missed her, and we were glad to see her back.  Apparently, her mother got very ill, so she took a month and a half off to be with her and care for her.  Her mother passed away, and it was a very hard time in her life – but she came back to work with a smile as if she enjoys every minute of it.

I occasionally leave her native cigarettes canada or small gifts when we set a package out, and it never fails!  She will knock on our door and let us know just how much she appreciates it.

This year, we are going to gift our mail carrier for the very first time ever.  What we’ll gift her for Christmas, I’m not sure yet, but we’re looking forward to it!

Have you ever gifted your mail carrier?