Bob the Mailman, Part 2

I wrote about our mail carrier Bob previously. He's a good guy, with a great sense of humor. If he sees us outside sometimes he brings the mail up and chats for a minute. If we hear the truck, John or I will walk out to grab the mail and say hello. In our chats we've covered local politics, parenting issues, school choice, shopping for homecoming gowns for his daughter (she graduated from KWHS this past June), and lots more.

Bob knows the girls, of course, and they think he's a celebrity when we run into him at Publix. He truly IS a local celebrity. Just ask any of the customers on the route he delivered for the last 20 or so years, or those he worked with heading up the annual food drive, and probably lots of other things that I don't even know about.

Two weeks ago Bob walked up to hand me the little note I show in the photo. He said 'I can barely talk about it....see you tomorrow.' His recent knee surgery didn't deliver as promised and Bob will be taking on a route 'up the Keys' as we say here, just a few miles out of Key West near Baby's Coffee. Less walking and less climbing in and out of the truck. Much less stress on a painful knee until he can get that straightened out with the orthopedists.

'Everybody tells me there aren't any people up the Keys. You'll only see them on Saturday,' said Bob. I told him he will be chatting up the iguanas sunning themselves along the roads, and he probably will. I'm hoping what's good for Bob's knee won't be too hard on his soul since he is the true definition of a 'people person.'

On Friday afternoon, I told the girls it was Bob the Mailman's last day so they needed to come out and say something to him. I didn't tell them what to say or coach them in any way. I think he got a little teary when he saw all four of us standing by the mail box, but I know he appreciated it. Mari said 'You're the best! Good luck!' and Josie summed it up perfectly with 'You are an EPIC mailman!'

So good luck to Bob on his new route. I'll bet it isn't too long until the iguanas start gathering when they hear the mail truck's distinctive rumble, just like we did. See you at Publix.