John “Cementhead” Dick is a retired postal worker and member of the National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 3126, Royal Oak, Mich. For many years, he has authored “Dicktation” columns related to his experiences on the job. Earlier installments can be read here.
The words of a fourteen-year-old girl living in hiding during World War II. She was Jewish and the Nazis killed her and her family. Intolerance. The lack of seeing someone else as an equal human being because they are different from you.
John Cementhead Dick is a retired postal worker and member of the National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 3126, Royal Oak, Mich. For many years, he has authored many “Dicktation” columns related to his experiences on the job. Earlier installments can be read here.
On a warm sunny day last summer, whilst most of my patrons were hunkered down by the pandemic, a magical moment happened. I had just finished a loop on one of my favorite streets, when I was approached by two starry-eyed eight-year-olds.
Illustration from Sincerely, Emerson. | Jaclyn Sinquett / via HarperKids
On a warm sunny day last summer, whilst most of my patrons were hunkered down by the pandemic, a magical moment happened. I had just finished a loop on one of my favorite streets when two starry-eyed eight-year-olds approached me. “Mailman John, do you have a minute? We have a surprise for you.” Of course, I had time for a surprise. I stopped in my tracks. The young ladies gathered their composure, took a deep breath, and then began singing and dancing on the sidewalk in front of me.
“Mailman John, we thank you. We thank you for bringing our mail!” They repeated the verse several times as they swirled around me in delicate circles, then stopped and bowed graciously. I applauded, and I thanked them for thinking about me. A simple act of kindness, and I was on Cloud Nine as I completed my appointed rounds that day.