Friends, it’s a wonderful day today. Why you ask? WHY??? Because great things have already happened in my little corner of the world today, the most exciting being that I remembered my mailman’s name. Yes, I am challenged in this area. In the winter months we barely see him because he’s hidden under umpteen layers.
When No One’s Watching by allie taylor
Plus there’s only three hours of daylight then anyway. Ok, not that bad. It’s not Iceland. But it’s dark and dreary for months on end and we tend to stay in, hibernate. There’s always just enough time from when I saw him last to forget his name. (The name game’s easy for him, he sees my mail.)
So last year I made him some Peppermint Bark for Christmas. Peppermint Bark is one of my specialties and I do love to give it out at Christmas time. I left the bark in a white candy box on our mailbox, with a Christmas card addressed “to our mailman Jeff.”
I never saw him during the Christmas season (it’s dark, we hibernate), but in January a nice note was in my mailbox addressed to Allie and Jon, thanking us for the candy. It was signed “Mark.” I was mortified. I’d been calling him Jeff (and perhaps other names) for years. Right then and there, I added a little note card to my address rolodex under M for Mailman Mark. M for mailman. M for Mark. And that’s how I remembered it today when I saw him at the mailbox.
It’s the little things.
I’m not sure why I told you all that, except you might find it interesting, especially if your mailman’s name happens to begin with an M and you have trouble remembering it. Something else I find interesting, and recently heard through the grapevine from another mailman in town, is that our Mailman Mark used to be a Navy Seal. Now that’s interesting. I haven’t brought it up to him yet because I’m still working on remembering his name. But when I get past that awkward stage and the opportunity presents itself, I’ll ask him about being a Navy Seal and fill you in.
That was all random. I really want to talk to you about the quote that hung on the wall of my high school French and English classroom.
“What you are when you are alone, that alone you are.”
Some of you reading this can see in your mind’s eye that very classroom and the quote hanging above the chalkboard. We stared at that quote for many years, it’s indelibly etched in my mind. A great quote that’s made me think twice more than once. (Pun intended.)
I thought about it again this week as I was opening a new bank account and chatting it up with the customer service rep. The computers were down, the wait was interminable. Eventually it was closing time and the computer main still wasn’t up, so I had to go back the next day.
But something the bank rep said while we were waiting really floored me. She said their branch goes through two large boxes of branded pens (hundreds) each week at a cost of $103 per box. The pens are set out in large quantities in the lobby and ATM glassed-in area. She told me it’s common for people to walk into the bank or ATM area during the day, grab two handfuls of pens and walk out. These are not necessarily customers doing business at the bank. Opportunists. We can be grateful they weren’t wearing ski masks and brandishing weapons, but in a sense, they were robbing just the same. (This bank is in a nice area of town.)
And then she told me this, floored me even more. Last October a lady waltzed in. She went right up to the main teller counter with the enormous lollipop bouquet to the left, maybe two hundred lollipops. These are of course for kids and customers with a sweet tooth. The lady, (and I use that term loosely) was not a customer. She marched right up to the counter, grabbed two fistfuls of lollipops, as many as she could hold, called back to the tellers while exiting, “Yay! I don’t have to buy Halloween candy this year!”
Bold opportunist.
First off, let me say there were likely some very disappointed little trick or treaters at her door on Halloween. I mean, who wants bank lollipops for Halloween?
We Kids want chocolate. And peanut butter. And Snickers.
And this is the scary thing. And we’re not talkin’ Halloween ghost scary, we’re talking’ people scary. The scary thing is: if this is what people do in broad daylight when there are eyes looking and watching, what happens When No One’s Watching? That my friends, is the scary thing.
“What you are when you are alone, that alone you are.”
You may also enjoy: Cookie Thief
Tracy says
You and I share that in common! Remembering names that is. Love your stories this morning. Wow…. Some people! I don’t think I want to know what they do when they are alone!
Allie says
Thanks Trac-it’s a crazy world out there, that’s for sure.
Denise says
Four words: You crack me up!
Allie says
At your service! (and back atcha Denise…one of the FUNNIEST people I know)
Mike Dennehy says
Ok:
1 – I’ll be making an impromptu stop at your house during the Christmas season this year and will expecting a little care package of Peppermint Bark.
2 – That is terribly disturbing about the lollipops.
3 – That little picture of the peanut butter cup (my favorite candy) is giving me cravings…
Allie says
Mike – I will gladly make you and your cherubs some Peppermint Bark this Christmas. It is some of the best stuff in the world and you will love it! Yes, disturbing on the lollipops.
Karla @SmallTownRambler says
HA! I couldn’t help but crack up when I saw that his name was Mark! Our mailman’s name is Bill, so our kids say, “Bill brings the bills!” I couldn’t help but think of my Grandfather when I read about Mark’s military past. My Grandfather was a mailman after he left the Army and worked there until retirement. He always appreciated those gifts and treats the people on his route were so kind to give to show appreciation…so is my husband, who is a FedEx guy. It means a lot when you do things like that!
And for the pens and lollipops…unreal!! Why wouldn’t you just turn your front porch light out on Halloween? lol
Susie Mandel says
Wow, I shouldn’t be surprised but it’s pretty sad when people feel they have to do stuff like that.
Linda Jenkins says
I can relate to your mailman story. Since I live in an apartment building, I rarely see the mailman. If I do, it is just in passing, and I usually just smile and say hello. However, about a month ago, I had gone to check the mail just as he had arrived to stuff the mailboxes. He asked my last name and indicated he would get me my mail right away. I told him I was in no hurry and just to follow his normal routine. We chatted while he stuffed the boxes for at least 10 minutes. When he was done and I received my mail, I told him I had enjoyed talking with him. I told him my first name and he told me his. It is now a month later and I haven’t the vaguest idea what his name is. I am running through the alphabet as I write this to you, and I can honestly say I haven’t a clue. However, the next time we meet and exchange names I will take your suggestion and write it down immediately. Now, as for the lady who took the lollipops…I am absolutely speechless.
nancy mcmahan says
I run through the alphabet a lot trying to remember a name. It is taking a second run through more times than not and sometimes a third time.
Some people just amaze me in a bad way…the nerve of some people.
Laura says
I love your comment that “NO KIDS want bank lollipops for Halloween”,,, how true is that?? Maybe her house got TPed that night… “Natural Consequences”??
Allie says
You are so funny Laura….the law of natural consequences.
Yvette says
True, oh so true! I could tell you stories that would make your head spin about customer behavior in a public space…It’s sad, sobering when we consider how depraved each of us are. The ones that break my heart are usually the moms YELLING at their very small children about things they really can’t control yet. And I think – dear Lord, if that’s what you’re like here in public, I fear for the kids. I think these are very desperate people if that’s their “norm”.
On a different note – Our kids love Peppermint Bark! Mentioning your recipe reminded me that Adelia asked me to make a recipe she found for Chocolate Peanut Butter Bark…will probably need to get on that since she’s coming home from school tomorrow.
XO thanks for sharing more of your world
Allie says
I can imagine you have stories to tell Yvette. So sad. Julie was telling me about what she saw in the Mall of NH last week. A tiny little girl, maybe 2, exhausted, lays down on the dirty mall floor, sticks her thumb in her mouth. Her mother keeps walking. About 30 feet ahead, she turns back and says “see ya.” Blows my mind. Chocolate Peanut Butter Bark sounds fab., so nice Adelia’s coming home. Enjoy! 🙂
Carina Spring says
1) Haha! The mailman / name game story had me laughing, and boy can I relate!
2) I love that quote. I heard it for the first time when I was in junior high, and believe it to be very true. I always remember in grade 9 science, there was this boy who always came across as being “bad” . One day, while the teacher left the room, he took some fancy small rock from a science jar – when everyone was watching – and put it in his pocket. A few moments later, when everyone’s attention had shifted to other things, I noticed that he quietly slipped the rock back in the jar. It’s weird, but I knew he would. He was a tough kid, but one could see he had a good heart. I remember thinking of that quote at that moment, and thinking how odd: He wanted to be perceived as ‘tough’ or ‘bad’, but it really wasn’t who he was.
3) My friend used to own a coffee shop and told me it was shocking the things people would take.