It has been the best of years and the worst of years. I got a second job that, so far, has exceeded all my wildest dreams, but I'm still chuckin' the local newsrag. I got a Christmas bonus after working for the company for only a week, but I broke a salable item the same day....

As I've mentioned before, delivering papers isn't the funnest job, and it sucks when your efforts go completely unrewarded, but every now and then, someone will thank you and it makes it...maybe not better, but certainly less sucky.

This year has been better than the last couple, with more people showing their appreciation. I've actually made half as much in tips as I normally do delivering for a whole month! It's been nice to have a bit of cash on hand when I get off work, so I can stop at Subway and not have to figure out what I'm going to make for dinner. But I don't always get money when I get "tipped." In fact, this year I have had three subscribers who have given something other than money (well, one of them gave money as well as a gift item), and it's been kind of interesting to see what they give when they do.

The first non-cash "tip" came in the form of a bucket. As I approached the porch to leave the paper I noticed said bucket sitting on the edge of the top step. Being the gift-giving time of year I did look a little closer at it and, sure enough, it indicated it was for the paper carrier...but I didn't take it. Why? Because it was addressed to "our special paper boy." Oh dear...I'm not a boy. So, how do I know they don't take another paper that is delivered by a boy and the bucket was for him? So I left it there. Later that day I found a voicemail message from the paper saying that the bucket was for me and it would be left out again the next day (there was also some mention of: perhaps I didn't know it was for me). So the next morning I approached the porch and it wasn't there. I merely smirked. The day after that, it was back, with the following amendment: "...to our special paper person."

The second non-cash "tip" came in the form of a woman at my front door bearing a large, but squishy gift. I wasn't sure why she gave me that bemused look when she found out I am her paper carrier...but it all became crystal clear when I opened the present (my participation in Christmas is a bit more passive this year...no decorations and I open presents as I get them because there's no point waiting when I don't have a tree to put them under). It turned out to be a blanket with hearts and frogs...you know, the kind you'd buy your 5-year-old. Not sure how old she thought I was, but she knows I'm not that young now (I have been told I don't look my age -- which is 35 --but sheesh, I don't look that young!).


The third non-cash "tip" came to me today while I was hoping for at least another $10 so I could buy some yarn to make a blanket for a friend. And it was that sweet little lady who thanked me so graciously before! What a dear sweet lady she is, and she certainly is a joy to serve! But when she caught me this morning (nearly scared the life out of me as I was walking back to the van) she thanked me profusely again (those are the people I enjoy delivering the paper to and the ones who will get extra special service--like the couple who tip me every month; sure they have a box, but if it's snowing I'll bag it anyway) and gave me the cutest little kitchen angel; and it's handmade, too! (She also gave me a card with, not a 10, but a 20!)


But enough effusive gratitude to the little lady who thanks me with such sincerity, the point of this ramble is that there are people who, for some strange reason, still assume that paper carriers are all 12-year-old boys. This actually makes no sense to me because I personally know of four, yes, that's right, four, other paper carriers who are adults! And in California, it's illegal for children to deliver papers! The one that really kills me is the bucket people...they had actually seen me before they put that out! At least the blanket lady had the excuse that she'd never seen me before. But really, none of this should have gone the way it did for the simple reason that you can no longer assume that things are the way they were 5, 10, or 20 years ago. Don't assume that your paper carrier is a kid or a boy, but do tip them, because delivering papers is not as easy as so many people seem to think it is.