One of my biggest fears about delivering mail in the natural elements is turning into a Rob-sicle while out in the freezing cold. I hate cold weather. I can't stand it. As a tropical individual, I gladly take the hot, steamy days of 95-plus degree weather while a smile emerges as I make my appointed arounds. However, now that I'm slowly experiencing the frigid mornings, I've got to take some more precaution with what I wear and how I deal with the frosty tips of grass.
Here are some tips I've been lucky to learn in my time as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service:
First and foremost, keep your feet dry and warm! Nothing will slow you down faster than soggy boots and frozen toes. On a route I covered, the temperature hovered over the freezing mark while a mixture of slushy rain steadily fell all day. Sneaky gangs of puddles pounced on unfortunate, unsuspecting tootsies all over. Hopping out of the truck in my "waterproof" hiking boots, which in all honesty had been waterproof for two years, I splooshed directly into a dismal day: not even 10AM, and my feet were soaked through and through. Numb, drenched, and frozen, I sincerely believed my toes would have to be amputated for being exposed to the frigid elements for 10 hours straight lol. I am only slightly dramatic...Ever since that day, if a speckle of drizzle loomed in the horizon for next week's forecast, my rubber boots dashed onto my feet yesterday! Never again will I suffer.
Invest in wardrobe that will protect you, including lightweight rubber boots/shoes, work gloves, windbreaker jacket and fleece sweater. Furthermore, don't layer up TOO much because your body heat will render you a dreaded sweat monster, and you'd still won't escape being wet. Just like with the rain, it's important to pretend it's not cold and deliver the mail as quickly (and safely) as possible. If you've got rubber, concrete blocks weighing you down, you not only would do yourself (and knees) some harm, but you'd also come back later than anticipated. Keep moving those feet, one in front of the other, and before you know it, you're hitting your last clock ring on the way out of the door.
Finally, heed the advice of fellow carriers. At first, I thought some of the regular carriers were arrogant, macho men. Hell, some are, who am I kidding? As I walked into the Post office wrapped up from head to toe in layers, including a red wool scarf exposing nothing but my glasses, one regular of 20 years approached me.
"You're wearing all that?! What are you going to do when it really gets cold?" said Mike the Mailman, with nothing more than a fleece and postal blue shorts on a chilly, 34-degree morning.
Many of the regular carriers have worked through hundreds of frozen days, so at first, it may seem like they're arrogant when the machismo comes out, but that's not the case. They've been through the tough days, the blizzards, the ice storms, etc. They've walked on the black asphalt so cold, it turned white. They've trudged through the banks of snow for days, even weeks, and have come out fine.
