I was a rural mail carrier for 18 years. *I*, like Asher, cared. ALOT. When a customer was expecting chicks or other fragile items, and shehe told me about it, I kept a lookout. And, told the mail CLERK to call ASAP on arrival for the chicks. Now, I dont know if the mail CLERK did what I told her to do. Postal people, myself included, are very proud workers and frankly, we dont like to be told what to do. I think that stems from postal management always threatening our jobs with protocol.
Now, Cackle sent me my chicks. USPS was supposed to call upon arrival, the mail clerk even knew I used to work for the PO (I was lucky to get a route my house was on!) They didnt. I called them at 5 am because I knew the truck came in at that time, and asked if my chicks had arrived. They had. The mail clerk said she was going to call me at 7 am despite the *call upon arrival* notation.
I must say, since Im on the topic, that I have had ALOT of wonderful customers. They didnt leave me anything but they were ohhhh soooo nice to me.... on a consistent basis. Customers would ask me what I wanted for a *treat* at Christmas and I would quite frankly tell them to just be nice to me all year round (meant that nicely with a smile).
So, to all of you that love your mail carriers, it makes me happy. ~Barb
PS: In my post office in Woodinville, WA we were NOT allowed to leave packages sitting on top the mailbox. I thought it was a nationwide standard. Guess not.