Paper deliverers deal with daily challenges

As a substitute Gazette carrier, occasionally, I am called upon to deliver some of the papers in our small town. It is good exercise and is usually a quiet, early morning walk with time to contemplate and make plans for the day.

However, winter does bring with it several challenges. The way the subscribers clean or don't clean their driveways, walkways and steps contributes to the safety or lack of for the carrier who is doing the job during the dark. How and where vehicles, bicycles and toys are parked or left can be challenges. And slippery spots from freezing and thawing change daily.

Several residences on my route have motion lights or solar lights. That extra illumination was much appreciated.

Delivering papers in the spring provides an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of creation.

I encourage you to think about the job your paper carrier does for you every day of the year in all kinds of weather. If the paper is a little late some morning, have patience. The lateness may be due to circumstances beyond the carrier's control. I firmly believe that each of us at least once in our lifetimes should have to deliver the newspaper or the mail. Then we would fully appreciate what these men and women, teenagers through senior citizens, do to get the news into our hands each day.

Let's hear it for our paper carriers. “Applause!”

Eleanor Roquet

Keystone