A Good (Mail)man Is Hard to Find
A warm goodbye letter from the local mail carrier serves as a reminder that if a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing right — and when the right person is in the job, everyone benefits.
Carey Smith | Founding Contrarian
Before he became famous, Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner worked in a post office. He lasted three years on the job but apparently was terrible at it every single day. He showed up when it suited him, drank on the job, was rude to customers and threw mail in the trash. When he sensed he was about to be canned, he penned a memorable resignation letter, saying in part, “I will be damned if I propose to be at the beck and call of every itinerant scoundrel who has two cents to invest in a postage stamp.”
How ironic, then, that 60 years later, the U.S. Postal Service honored him with a commemorative stamp.
Delivering mail is not for everyone, and I’ve personally dealt with mail carriers who, like Faulkner, felt the job was beneath them. They can be a real pain in the ass. That’s why my residential mail carrier, Carl, was so unique. He clearly enjoyed his job, took pride in it, and greeted everyone with a smile and kind words. So when Carl delivered us all a letter he’d penned himself — a goodbye note, shown below, telling us he would be taking another job — it was the talk of the neighborhood. People had looked forward to seeing him everyday and were sad to see him go.
I firmly believe that an honest day’s work is its own reward. But those who approach their work with that kind of positive attitude also deserve to be rewarded by those who benefit directly from it.
After leaving the post office, Faulkner was ultimately rewarded with various prizes for his writing. Not to mention that commemorative stamp. I just wish there were better ways to reward letter carriers whose job, in its way, is just as valuable as penning great novels. Because the U.S. Postal Service not only frowns on tipping but actually declares it a crime. So all we can do is pull a wad of gratitude out of our pocket, wrap it around a pound cake worth less than $20 (per federal regulations), and say thanks so much, Carl, for a job well done.
Dear valued customers,
It is with a heavy heart that I write to inform you that this will be my last week working as your mailman. I have accepted a job offer in another state and will be moving there with my family next week. My last work day will be Tuesday May 23rd and I just wanted to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation for the amazing and giving customers that you all are. It has been an honor to serve you and deliver your mail almost every day for the past few years.
I have enjoyed getting to know you all and have been touched by your kindness and generosity. Working as your mailman has been so gratifying and I can honestly say that I have learned so much from a lot of you. Your smiles, friendly waves, and occasional chats have brightened my day and made my job a lot more enjoyable.
As I prepare to leave, I want you to know that I will never forget the kindness this neighborhood has shown me. Leaving snacks and cool drinks out in the hot summer time, to your warm gifts given to me around the holidays. I’ve kept all the Thank You cards and Christmas cards that have been given to me. I will miss you all dearly. Thank you so much for making my job as your mailman such a memorable one. I wish you all the best in the future and as always, it’s been a pleasure.
Sincerely,
Carl the mailman