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To the post office, with love, from GE

Winding our way south through the curves of Highway 199 on a recent holiday trip, even though surrounded by towering redwoods, we were somehow able to catch the signal of National Public Radio’s popular program, “This American Life,” a particular favorite with our extended family.

  The broadcast was a repeat for some in our van, but enjoyable for all. Ira Glass introduced the show with a short essay about post office workers as American heroes, featuring Florida letter carrier Paul Gereffi, who helped save the life of a stabbing victim. Apparently the National Association of Letter Carriers magazine has a regular column just for heroes.

  I’m not surprised. I’ve always loved letter carriers and even hoped to be one for a brief time in my childhood. Why not? The postman was my hero who delivered letters all the way from my Grammy on the East Coast. I loved our postman.

  Frankly, I still do. And now it’s not just one postal worker who is the recipient of my affection, but a whole office full.

  That of course would be the wonderful workers at our local Glen Ellen Post Office. Built by Tom Anderson (who is still a local contractor in the Valley), our current post office is called the “new one,” built in the late 1970s, I think. It’s a simple building, once featured in a Jimmy Stewart film. Really.

  But it isn’t the building that holds the warm place in my heart; it’s the good folks who work within. They are shining examples of dedicated public servants. Servants? Yep, just an antiquated term for government officials.

  Our Postmaster, Kip Fogarty, a good man with an open smile, leads the folks who run our post office bringing us good news each day. Kip is the one that I usually see early before opening while on my morning walk and late into the evening. Ever friendly, ever helpful, always polite, Kip has helped me schlep packages to my door and on occasion he’s helped customers way past closing.

  Part of me doesn’t want the world to know about Kip and his team simply because his way of running things often attracts customers from other areas. That’s especially true during the busy Christmas season. I guess what keeps us from being mobbed is simply that we’re a backwater here in the hollow.

  Kip’s able assistant is clerk Sande Volker, behind the counter most days. Like Kip, she’s always ready with a smile and time to greet you.

  During the years we were missing Gabriel in far off Japan, Sande was always ready to share a great tale or two of her childhood in Japan. Her happy memories made me feel better about my own son in that distant country. Yes, the post office still connects far-flung family.

  When I asked Sande if there were any particular heroes in our local post office, she quickly responded with, “Of course – Herman.” She went on to tell me about what a hard worker and helpful associate Herman Ojascastro is. Herman also has a reputation for schlepping oversize packages to cars. And it is he who sorts the huge bins of incoming and outgoing mail.

  Helping out on the rural routes is the able team of carriers, Sunni Anken, Sarah Livingston, Barbera Rader, Colleen Cox and Chris Weigand. When you see these folks, give them back a hearty hello and thanks for all they do.

  With all the news of downsizing in post offices, I’ve heard that our little village gem is not on the list for elimination. Thankfully.

  The good news about mail delivery is that more and more it’s getting back to the good old greetings I remember: real hand-written letters, cards and invitations. Now that more folks are using the Internet for bills and bulk mailings, it frees up the post office to do the job they’re best at: spreading cheer among family and friends.

  So, about my dream of becoming a letter carrier? I was sure I could spread good news and make people happy that way. In some ways, that’s what I do right here in this column.

  Finally, a brief aside to Joan and Eran Krantz: you were right. I was wrong. The only tacky person last week was me. I’m sorry. 

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  Share your good news with friends and neighbors in Glen Ellen. Call or write me at 996-5995 or P.O. Box 518, GE 95442. Or email me at creekbottom@earthlink.net. Glen Ellen chatter rarely requires timeliness; however, if your news does, please be sure to contact me at least two weeks before the run date.