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Postman Dave's work ethic, personality will be missed

Editor, 

  Nearly five years ago, my mom sent a package to me while at Hillsdale College for my 21^st birthday. It included your basic care package essentials: cookies, candy, some pizza money, and of course, a mini bottle of wine to celebrate the milestone birthday.

  Receiving the package wasn’t the highlight for me. The story of how it was sent is much funnier. When my mom went to the Frankenmuth Postal Office, Postman Dave Ferguson asked her, “Anything liquid, perishable or fragile inside?”

  “No,” my mom uttered. But Dave knew better. He knew when my birthday was. And he certainly knew that this was an important birthday. “Sure there isn’t,” he told my mom with a grin. “It’s the kid’s 21^st birthday, isn’t it?” He stamped the box, dropped it in the send-out pile and said his signature “Have a great day,” where the tempo of his voice accelerates and the pitch glissandos up to a squeak.

  After 33 years in the business, Dave is retiring at month’s end. Make sure to stop inside to say congratulations. There’s a good chance that everyone who reads this paper has interacted with Dave at some point in their lives.

  Maybe you never knew his name, but you always recognized him for his bright colored ties. Or perhaps you were in a bad mood, but his robust laugh and contagious smile made your day a little brighter. And no matter how long the line — even during those hectic lunch breaks — Dave always made time for his customers.

  When I would return home from college and run errands for my mom, including a stop to the post office, Dave always made sure to remind me that the package she sent to me the previous week was significantly heavier than the one’s that were sent to my three sisters. “You definitely got the better package,” he would say. I’m sure he told the same thing to my sisters when they stopped by the post office.

  It’s no secret that the U.S. Postal Service is struggling financially, but that never impacted the attitude Dave brought to work for the past 33 years. His personality and work ethic will certainly be missed. Join me in congratulating Dave on a well-deserved retirement. 

“Have a great day.”

 Andrew Dodson

Golden, Colo.