I’m a letter carrier at the Curseen-Morris Processing and Distribution Center in Washington, DC. I deliver mail along a 10-building business route in the city.
I’ve been with the Postal Service for 33 years — all of them as a letter carrier, and all of them at the same facility.
My report time is 7 a.m., and I’m on duty six days a week. When I get in, I start sorting my mail and then head out for deliveries sometime before noon. It takes me about three-and-a-half hours to finish my route.
On most days, I also assist with other routes. I don’t mind because I like the work.
I joined the U.S. Army right out of high school, but my dream had always been to become a mailman. When I left the military, I ended up working for the Washington, DC, transit system for about two weeks. I was still in training when the Postal Service called with a job offer on my birthday.
As a letter carrier, being outdoors, doing the physical work and meeting new people all appeal to me. I love the job, and I’m going to hate when it’s over.
The position has changed radically since I started in 1984. Back in the day, there were a lot of letters, but then the parcels started coming in. The packages have been challenging because of their volume and size — sometimes my ProMaster cargo vehicle isn’t even big enough for everything.
I always go the extra mile to deliver. I put in 100 percent, sometimes 110 percent if I have to, to deliver the mail safely and efficiently. When I get home, the first thing I do is check my mail. I want other people to have that same peace of mind when they go to their mailbox.
When I’m not working, I enjoy doing housework and working out. My neighbors and I periodically go on fishing trips off Solomons Island in the Chesapeake Bay. When I retire, I plan to spend a lot more time on the water.
I’m married with two adult kids and two small grandchildren. My wife is a USPS employee, too — she works at headquarters. The Postal Service has provided a good life for our family.
“On the job,” a series on individual employees and their contributions to the Postal Service, appears regularly in Link.