seems to be breaking out at our office! Friday night one of my fav regulars was killed in a motorcycle accident.  The atmosphere at the office was so awkward Saturday morning,no one spoke and hearts were truly heavy.  Her name was Ellen. She was in her mid/late 40's and we had become close in recent times.  Her MP3 player is sitting on my dresser right now.  See,she was a good carrier but not very technical with computer/electronic equipment.  So, I brought it home and filled it up with tunes and charged for her.  The next day she was like a kid with a new toy!  She danced around her case with hear ear buds in and from time to time I think I heard her singing out loud.  Throughout the  day she would bring it over to me and have me show her what wrong button she had pushed to make it stop.  When the battery would get low she'd bring it to the office and send it home w/me to charge.  That's why it was at my house.  I had charged it up and was to go to her house Sunday and install the software and teach her how to sync and charge it for herself.  But for Ellen,Sunday never came:(  Doctors kept her body on machines to preserve the organs til they could be harvested.  Last I heard they had used her heart,kidney,liver,and a few other organs to help other people live!!  I will miss her coming to my case and exchanging jabs over Tarheels and Seminoles; I will miss her always complimenting my blue eyes and hugging me thanking me for being a good friend.  I know I should take her MP3 player to her husband but right now there is something serene and reflective when I see it laying there.  Oh,how I wish I could somehow "recharge/sync" her back up just to enjoy another day of tunes with her, however, for Ellen the music has stopped but yet I believe she continues to dance.  RIP Ellen Rice,Hickory NC Rural Carrier,RR3

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What are people thinking? Steven was hired as a RCA at the same time I was. We took test at the same time,interviewed at the same time, went thru Orientation together, started on the same day, and even carpooled a month or so later to the Rural Carrier Academy.  Today,when I went into to work he met me in the parking garage and told me he had quit!  Honesty,I figured he would have been fired by now.  He had delivered a Noon Express package after 3:30pm one day.  He rarely completed his route without having to call for help,which on a few occassions meant that I went to help even though I had never worked it prior.  After some medical issues were resolved and a few talks with management it was agreed that he could do the job,and he was determined to make it happen.  So why the sudden decision? Today,he just had come to his end!  Unfortunately, he left with mail mostly cased but not pulled down, no packages marked or even lined up.  He simply walked to the Supervisor and said "I Resign" (lol..something about saying it that way cracks me up)  not at the end of the day,but resigned effective immediately!  So two regulars had to be relieved by subs so they could do the unmanned route.  You know when one member of our team let's the group down,it takes several more to step up and fill the void!

Damn what a week!!!! (and it's just Monday,lol)

It seems like it's been forever since i have gotten to work my regular route. It sure did feel good to be "home".  It's amazing how many things in life are more mental than physical. How many times in life do we become comfortable with the familiar and intimidated by the unknown? The reality is everything you know now was onetime unknown itself. Somethings we are comfortable with were uncomfortable when we introduced to them.

I challenge each of us,in all areas of our life, to embrace new opportunities that may stretch and challenge us. Don't worry it won't be long to many of them become part of you.  Just think of it this way, you will be creating new "homes", thus more places to be comfortable;)