I feel cared for every single day thanks to our postal service worker, Glenn. 

Our mail is delivered in a timely fashion and the mail from old owners of our home and that of an erroneous nature are removed from our pile.  However, these are expectations of any postal customer and something we expect to take place daily.  It’s the unexpected use of my name when I open the door, that leaves me grinning widely. 

“Here’s your package, Ms. Cooperstein.  Have a wonderful day,” says Glenn. 

Thanks to you Glenn, I will.    

Postal workers are essential personnel and have had to work through the worst of the pandemic.  Their trucks have been bursting for many months because of the large increase in online ordering.  And in the case of a city postal worker, their route is tackled entirely on foot, carrying parcels door to door, and looping back to the station only when they need to restock.  Glenn wears a mask, like everyone else, and does so without complaint, even during a brutal stretch of 90-degreee summer weather.  Glenn doesn’t just show up to work; he’s genuinely happy to do his job and as a result we feel like we are his only customer. 

Prior to the pandemic I can’t say that I really knew Glenn.  I was only sporadically home and most of our purchases were made in person.  Glenn has become an integral member of our household since late March and I look forward to answering the door now.  I also know he has our back. 

“Please find my night gowns!”, said my distressed 3-year-old daughter. 

Our fill-in mail carrier did a belly laugh and I quickly explained that we had a missing package.  The last tracking scan had come two weeks prior.  It was a USPS mystery.  The kind gentlemen asked me to write down the tracking number and give him my contact information and he would see what he could do.  I’ve heard that phrase uttered many times before and wasn’t confident that my scrap of paper, ripped from an envelope sitting on my credenza, would help, but I knew it certainly couldn’t hurt. 

Later that day I received a voice mail from a USPS supervisor saying that my package had been accounted for and should be delivered within a few days.  I was thanked for my patience.  I felt satisfied.  I hadn’t expected additional correspondence.  Little did I know that Glenn had been notified as well and he proactively knocked on our door the next day to make sure we had heard the update from his supervisor and to ensure us he was hot on the case.  He also wanted us to know that he was working the very next day – Sunday – should it be ready for delivery. 

On Monday, there was a knock on the door and Glenn excitedly handed my daughter her missing nightgowns, exactly a month to the day from the date of purchase.  I’m not sure who was beaming more – Josie or Glenn.  Josie was ecstatic and happily went to sleep in a lemon-printed design.  Yellow is her favorite color and she had been longing for long sleeves as well.  It was amazing to see that Glenn and his colleagues cared so much about making Josie happy that they all stayed in communication and worked together to ensure that my daughter was happy.  Bravo USPS.  We have the best team!