The Rural Voice, 1998-11, Page 31ready to roll, delivering mail to some
200 farming community residents.
By the end of the day she will have
covered 75 miles.
Her first stop, however, ,is
right in town, the apartment
building at the south edge,
which is home to many local
seniors. "This was added on as
part of RR1," she explains.
Does she mind the extra
responsiblty? "Not at all. It's
not a big deal."
She deposits the mail in a
large delivery box in the
complex lobby. On this
day, she has an abundance of
mail for one resident who has
been in hospital for a time. She
tracks down the building
superintendent, who admits
her to the apartment so that his
mail can be delivered.
While in thc building
Brigham enjoys some friendly
conversation with a few
people, all the while carrying
on with her work.
Back in the truck she heads
out of town and turns down a
quiet country sidcroad. Even
on this wet morning fall's fiery
colours cheer and relax the
spirit. Trees of burnt orange
and crimson red create a
canopy, shutting out for just a
moment a dreary autumn sky.
Fields of corn, a quiet deer along
the road and scenic bush surround
Brigham's workplace. Crowded by
her deliveries, daily newspapers on
the dash, parcels scattered across the
seats and piled on boxes, she astutely
recalls who receives something extra
that day. This one gets a paper, that
one gets a magazine, while someone
further down the road gets that large
pardel.
A Canada Post rule stipulates that
carriers are not to get out of the car to
put mail in the box. Seated in the
centre of the front seat, Brigham
navigates her course, one hand on the
wheel, one grabbing stacks of letters
and newspapers. Never putting her
car out of drive, she operates the
accelerator and brake as needed. "In
winter it's almost easier to get out,"
Brigham laughs. Rural residents are
supposed to keep the snow cleared
around their mailboxes but getting
stuck is still a hazard. "I had a little
car for the first winter. Now it's four-
whcel drive."
Though snowbelt winters can
lessen the enjoyment, Zen.lcr thinks
in the past. Brigham said that whcn
she added the third run, there were a
few people a little upset. "They wcrc
accustomed to -getting their mail in
the morning, so it did bother
them at first that it was now
arm. ing in the afternoon."
That seems to be in the past,
though, as Brigham gets a warm
reception from those she meets
along the way, and responds in
kind. The driver of a pick-up
coming down the drive as
Brigham drops off mail is
greeted. "I usually give everyone
I sec a wave," she says.
Thcrc is now an opportunity for
more personal contact with the
residents. Since July 6 rural mail
carriers began personally
dclivcring all mail whcrc contact
must be made with the recipient,
including parcels, registered mail,
priority and express post. "Now I
get to visit," Brigham says
smiling. "Thcrc arc still some
people I don't know, but
dclivcring parcels has helped
because now I can put a face to a
name."
In today's society that can be a
real challenge. "It can be a
challenge to know who lives
whcrc, but we do the best we can
to thc best of our ability."
And when the job has a certain
responsibility attached, Brigham does
what she can to scc the job is
accomplished.When a second notice
on a priority letter brings no results,
Brigham tracks down a ncarby
relative to sign for it. "I feel better
that someone will sec he gets it," she
says. "It's sometimes difficult for
people to get into the office during
business hours and these things arc
obviously important."
Traversing the roads offers
Brrgham many insights. "I'm a
wealth of information regarding my
rural people," she laughs. "I get to
know what everyone's growing,"
adding proudly, "and it's all hcrc —
turkeys, beef, goats, emus, honey,
apples, turnips."
All information is confidential, but
the job is a strong link to the
community in which the rural mail
carrier resides. "I have come to know
so many people. 1 have bccn
dclivcring mail here for eight years
and I still enjoy it. It's a nice joh."0
A mail carrier gets to know the people on the route, one
of the pleasures of the job, Brigham says.
it's improved since she first started
traveling mail routes. "Roads arc
better maintained and vehicles arc
better equipped," she says.
And practice does make perfect.
"I've definitely become a better
winter driver," says Brigham.
That's a good thing, too, because
the adage holds true that regardless
of the weather, nothing should stop
the mail. "We are supposed to make
an attempt, no matter what, to get the
mail delivered," says Brigham.
"There have been times when I have
started out, come back and tried and
tried again."
And winter's not the only
challenge. "Thunderstorms are fun,
too," says Brigham. "You're just not
sure whether you want to rcach out
and grab one of those metal
mailboxes or not."
Though adversity can slow the
carriers somewhat, ideally the mail is
supposed to be delivered by 3:00
p.m. each day. With three routes to
handle, this is cut a hale closer than
NOVEMBER 1998 27