1 00:00:15,210 --> 00:00:26,850 Speaker 1: Pushkin, how are we? 2 00:00:28,330 --> 00:00:31,850 Speaker 2: How are we onm I run this morning there were 3 00:00:32,050 --> 00:00:35,769 Speaker 2: like tiny little flurries. That's like the first little bit 4 00:00:35,810 --> 00:00:36,570 Speaker 2: of snow this year. 5 00:00:36,930 --> 00:00:40,650 Speaker 3: Yeah, I noticed like a single snowflake. 6 00:00:42,010 --> 00:00:44,329 Speaker 4: Well that's wonderful. Did you try to catch that snowflake 7 00:00:44,409 --> 00:00:45,650 Speaker 4: on your tongue? 8 00:00:45,930 --> 00:00:49,210 Speaker 3: No, I had a mask on. You're trying to trick me. 9 00:00:49,730 --> 00:00:51,809 Speaker 1: Ah, that's right, but no, no. 10 00:00:51,569 --> 00:00:55,810 Speaker 4: No, Honestly, I feel like I'm also trying to trick 11 00:00:55,970 --> 00:01:00,130 Speaker 4: my four year old into liking Khanuka. Yeah, did you 12 00:01:00,170 --> 00:01:03,250 Speaker 4: guys know that last night was the first night I did. 13 00:01:03,370 --> 00:01:03,770 Speaker 3: Of course. 14 00:01:03,890 --> 00:01:10,729 Speaker 4: So we got these uh inflatable balloons that spell out Lahaiad. 15 00:01:10,810 --> 00:01:14,530 Speaker 4: That sounds amazing, And so we had some fun trying 16 00:01:14,570 --> 00:01:17,450 Speaker 4: to teach AUGI how to pronounce lakaiama. 17 00:01:17,650 --> 00:01:30,810 Speaker 5: Try to say, what a nice it's lachai am. 18 00:01:30,850 --> 00:01:37,130 Speaker 4: So, because Emily celebrates Christmas, there's a Christmas tree in 19 00:01:37,170 --> 00:01:40,410 Speaker 4: the house, and I pulled out like this small little 20 00:01:40,810 --> 00:01:43,610 Speaker 4: manora that we have that my father bought me from 21 00:01:43,650 --> 00:01:46,970 Speaker 4: his trip to Israel in like the nineteen eighties, and 22 00:01:48,010 --> 00:01:50,810 Speaker 4: so I'm like, isn't the manora just as cool as 23 00:01:50,810 --> 00:01:59,130 Speaker 4: a Christmas Tree's what's so funny Papa joking Kaki, like 24 00:01:59,170 --> 00:02:04,250 Speaker 4: he actually thought I was making a joke. I made 25 00:02:04,250 --> 00:02:06,970 Speaker 4: a good show of it. I explained the miracle of Hanukkah, 26 00:02:07,010 --> 00:02:09,770 Speaker 4: which is like how the temple only had enough oil 27 00:02:09,850 --> 00:02:12,609 Speaker 4: for one day, but it lasted seven. And he wasn't 28 00:02:12,810 --> 00:02:14,010 Speaker 4: He was not impressed. 29 00:02:14,930 --> 00:02:17,329 Speaker 3: Like Chase, he doesn't understand how oil works. 30 00:02:17,450 --> 00:02:18,810 Speaker 1: Who understands how oil works? 31 00:02:18,850 --> 00:02:22,690 Speaker 4: Like reindeer flying, that's a miracle, like Santa Claus fitting 32 00:02:22,690 --> 00:02:25,850 Speaker 4: down a chimney, immaculate conception, but like the whole thing 33 00:02:25,890 --> 00:02:27,210 Speaker 4: about oil, Like he was just like. 34 00:02:27,210 --> 00:02:29,450 Speaker 1: I don't know what that means. 35 00:02:29,490 --> 00:02:32,810 Speaker 4: In the olden days, before they had electricity, all they. 36 00:02:32,730 --> 00:02:33,410 Speaker 1: Had was oil. 37 00:02:33,730 --> 00:02:36,410 Speaker 4: So we lit it and we said some prayers, and 38 00:02:36,410 --> 00:02:41,169 Speaker 4: then we ate night the Jewish Deli food. And that 39 00:02:41,410 --> 00:02:44,850 Speaker 4: is something that Aggie definitely loves. 40 00:03:09,410 --> 00:03:12,530 Speaker 2: To think about. What I'm gonna do for the holidays. 41 00:03:13,290 --> 00:03:17,090 Speaker 2: I'm really hoping to get to see my grandparents somehow. 42 00:03:17,970 --> 00:03:21,490 Speaker 2: My grandparents are ninety five years old. Well yeah, and 43 00:03:22,050 --> 00:03:26,290 Speaker 2: with COVID, I haven't seen them in so long. I 44 00:03:26,330 --> 00:03:30,210 Speaker 2: do try to call them though. I called my grandma 45 00:03:30,250 --> 00:03:35,090 Speaker 2: actually the other day. Hello, Hello, who is this? It's 46 00:03:35,090 --> 00:03:37,770 Speaker 2: Stevie oh. 47 00:03:37,490 --> 00:03:40,010 Speaker 6: I just hold on a minute. 48 00:03:40,170 --> 00:03:43,490 Speaker 2: I heard these like loud noises in the background. Am 49 00:03:43,490 --> 00:03:44,690 Speaker 2: I interrupting something? 50 00:03:45,330 --> 00:03:45,370 Speaker 7: No. 51 00:03:45,770 --> 00:03:48,650 Speaker 6: We was sitting in a garage and this one couple 52 00:03:48,770 --> 00:03:51,690 Speaker 6: drove over and they're sitting on the driveway. But they've 53 00:03:51,690 --> 00:03:54,210 Speaker 6: been here an hour already and they're supposed to leave 54 00:03:55,210 --> 00:03:56,530 Speaker 6: an hour's enough. 55 00:03:57,130 --> 00:03:57,930 Speaker 8: So thank you. 56 00:03:58,010 --> 00:04:00,530 Speaker 6: This gives me. I was at the eleven take care 57 00:04:00,610 --> 00:04:03,650 Speaker 6: of it? Oh yeah, yeah, how do you get company 58 00:04:03,690 --> 00:04:04,130 Speaker 6: to leave? 59 00:04:05,570 --> 00:04:09,730 Speaker 2: They are seeing some friends at a distance outside, even 60 00:04:09,770 --> 00:04:12,010 Speaker 2: though it's so cold. So I was like, maybe there's 61 00:04:12,010 --> 00:04:15,250 Speaker 2: a way we can do that, and immediately she was 62 00:04:15,330 --> 00:04:19,609 Speaker 2: like most concerned about the way she's gonna look. So like, 63 00:04:19,650 --> 00:04:21,770 Speaker 2: my grandma is someone who takes a lot of pride 64 00:04:21,770 --> 00:04:25,009 Speaker 2: in her appearance, Like she's very put together. She's always 65 00:04:25,050 --> 00:04:27,329 Speaker 2: boasting about how she's the only one of her friends 66 00:04:27,409 --> 00:04:30,890 Speaker 2: who can still wear heels, and she's been saying that 67 00:04:31,330 --> 00:04:35,609 Speaker 2: since like she was seventy years old, you know, and 68 00:04:35,650 --> 00:04:38,289 Speaker 2: you know, like pre pandemic. She would go regularly to 69 00:04:38,369 --> 00:04:41,529 Speaker 2: get her hair dyed at a salon. So when I 70 00:04:41,570 --> 00:04:44,250 Speaker 2: was on the phone with her talking about this hypothetical 71 00:04:44,330 --> 00:04:48,290 Speaker 2: visit where we'd both be bundled up in hats and scarves. Anyway, 72 00:04:49,089 --> 00:04:50,929 Speaker 2: she was very worried about her hair. 73 00:04:51,409 --> 00:04:56,330 Speaker 6: But this pandemic going around my gray is showing Grandma. 74 00:04:56,450 --> 00:04:58,890 Speaker 2: I'm sorry, but you're ninety five years old. Like I 75 00:04:58,929 --> 00:05:01,169 Speaker 2: think the jig is up. I think people know that 76 00:05:01,210 --> 00:05:02,369 Speaker 2: you're probably gray. 77 00:05:04,690 --> 00:05:06,370 Speaker 6: I am gray. 78 00:05:07,729 --> 00:05:11,010 Speaker 2: While we were on the subject of it reminded me 79 00:05:11,049 --> 00:05:14,089 Speaker 2: of this story, something I actually still think about a lot. 80 00:05:15,169 --> 00:05:17,570 Speaker 2: So when I was six or seven, I was staying 81 00:05:17,609 --> 00:05:20,929 Speaker 2: with them in their house and I woke up early 82 00:05:20,969 --> 00:05:23,289 Speaker 2: in the morning and I walked right into their bedroom 83 00:05:23,289 --> 00:05:25,850 Speaker 2: and I didn't knock her anything, and my grandpa was 84 00:05:25,890 --> 00:05:28,089 Speaker 2: there in front of the mirror, like at his dresser, 85 00:05:29,130 --> 00:05:32,129 Speaker 2: and I was like, you know, hey, Grandpa, and he 86 00:05:32,210 --> 00:05:35,370 Speaker 2: noticed me, and immediately he was like super flustered and 87 00:05:35,729 --> 00:05:38,169 Speaker 2: grabbed this thing off the dresser and like held it 88 00:05:38,210 --> 00:05:40,089 Speaker 2: to his head and was like, you know, like clearly 89 00:05:40,089 --> 00:05:45,210 Speaker 2: he didn't want me to see him, which is how 90 00:05:45,250 --> 00:05:50,170 Speaker 2: I learned that actually my grandpa is bald, and where's 91 00:05:50,210 --> 00:05:55,330 Speaker 2: a two pey? And I remember in that moment, I 92 00:05:55,450 --> 00:05:58,289 Speaker 2: knew I'd seen something I wasn't supposed to write, like 93 00:05:58,289 --> 00:06:00,649 Speaker 2: like almost like I'd walked in on him. Naked or something. 94 00:06:00,690 --> 00:06:03,489 Speaker 2: It was that kind of feeling, yeah, like like, oh, 95 00:06:03,529 --> 00:06:06,129 Speaker 2: that was a private moment that I wasn't supposed to see. 96 00:06:06,130 --> 00:06:08,169 Speaker 2: And it was like very clear that he was embarrassed, 97 00:06:08,210 --> 00:06:12,370 Speaker 2: and it was almost like it scared me kind of, you. 98 00:06:12,330 --> 00:06:16,450 Speaker 4: Know, because you never seen your grandfather react in that way. 99 00:06:16,810 --> 00:06:19,729 Speaker 2: Oh No, And my grandfather is like such a mild 100 00:06:20,330 --> 00:06:23,929 Speaker 2: mannered person. I think he's the one who always wants 101 00:06:24,010 --> 00:06:26,330 Speaker 2: to make sure that everyone is okay. And you know, 102 00:06:26,409 --> 00:06:28,450 Speaker 2: for him to kind of like yell or ask me 103 00:06:28,489 --> 00:06:31,810 Speaker 2: to leave, I mean that's like never before and ever 104 00:06:31,890 --> 00:06:35,690 Speaker 2: since kind of a thing. Yeah, And I just turned 105 00:06:35,690 --> 00:06:39,210 Speaker 2: and like ran out. I ran into the den and 106 00:06:39,330 --> 00:06:43,569 Speaker 2: like buried my face in the couch cushions and just 107 00:06:43,729 --> 00:06:45,969 Speaker 2: was like like hysterically crying. 108 00:06:47,690 --> 00:06:49,569 Speaker 4: It was like your family was trying to protect you 109 00:06:49,609 --> 00:06:53,929 Speaker 4: from the horrors of baldness. 110 00:06:55,330 --> 00:06:58,689 Speaker 2: Eventually, my grandma found me and she kind of held 111 00:06:58,729 --> 00:07:01,249 Speaker 2: me and explained, you know, like this is something that 112 00:07:01,289 --> 00:07:04,570 Speaker 2: Grandpa's sensitive about, and like that's why he wears a wig. 113 00:07:04,650 --> 00:07:06,010 Speaker 2: I think she called it a wig, you know, I 114 00:07:06,049 --> 00:07:08,809 Speaker 2: didn't know what it to pay was like that's why. 115 00:07:08,690 --> 00:07:11,290 Speaker 3: He wears a wid something about a wig sun. So 116 00:07:11,450 --> 00:07:14,369 Speaker 3: let's like it's like he's like in costume or something 117 00:07:14,570 --> 00:07:15,690 Speaker 3: that's us signified. 118 00:07:17,330 --> 00:07:20,210 Speaker 6: I know he was horrified because not we're mis supposed 119 00:07:20,290 --> 00:07:20,530 Speaker 6: to all. 120 00:07:22,330 --> 00:07:24,050 Speaker 2: Do you think I could talk to him about it 121 00:07:24,090 --> 00:07:24,970 Speaker 2: and that would be okay? 122 00:07:25,690 --> 00:07:27,890 Speaker 6: Yes, as a matter of fact, I'd be interested to 123 00:07:28,010 --> 00:07:29,330 Speaker 6: him what he said about it. 124 00:07:30,090 --> 00:07:32,850 Speaker 2: I didn't even know if he would remember it, or 125 00:07:32,929 --> 00:07:35,650 Speaker 2: if he did. I was sort of worried that it 126 00:07:35,770 --> 00:07:39,570 Speaker 2: might still embarrass him, right, I mean we never I 127 00:07:39,650 --> 00:07:40,970 Speaker 2: never spoke to him about it. 128 00:07:41,330 --> 00:07:43,050 Speaker 4: You never talked to your grandfather about it? 129 00:07:43,530 --> 00:07:43,730 Speaker 9: No? 130 00:07:43,970 --> 00:07:48,689 Speaker 2: No, I mean clearly it was like reboting. But a 131 00:07:48,690 --> 00:07:49,890 Speaker 2: few days later, I called my. 132 00:07:49,850 --> 00:07:54,250 Speaker 9: Grandpa, good afternoon. 133 00:07:54,010 --> 00:07:55,530 Speaker 2: Good afternoon yourself. 134 00:07:55,929 --> 00:08:00,090 Speaker 9: What's happening? So? 135 00:08:00,610 --> 00:08:05,770 Speaker 2: Uh oh, sorry, I'm I'm a little nervous to talk 136 00:08:05,810 --> 00:08:07,730 Speaker 2: to you about this. I have to be honest. 137 00:08:08,610 --> 00:08:09,050 Speaker 9: Oh really? 138 00:08:09,890 --> 00:08:10,610 Speaker 2: Yeah? 139 00:08:10,730 --> 00:08:15,610 Speaker 9: Should I be nervous about talking him to you about this? Oh? 140 00:08:15,970 --> 00:08:21,090 Speaker 2: Okay, go ahead, Okay, I wanted to talk to you 141 00:08:21,130 --> 00:08:23,450 Speaker 2: about something. I explained to him why I was calling, 142 00:08:23,489 --> 00:08:25,730 Speaker 2: and I retold him the story about the day I 143 00:08:25,810 --> 00:08:28,410 Speaker 2: learned he was bald, and he remembered it. 144 00:08:28,610 --> 00:08:31,290 Speaker 9: Yes, I remember, to think for you in fact. 145 00:08:31,489 --> 00:08:34,130 Speaker 2: But immediately. He just did what he always does, which 146 00:08:34,170 --> 00:08:36,610 Speaker 2: is just tried to make me feel better about it. 147 00:08:37,010 --> 00:08:41,370 Speaker 7: Don't be embarrassed anymore. Forget about it, forget about it. 148 00:08:41,970 --> 00:08:46,610 Speaker 7: You know, it was it was a part of my vanity, 149 00:08:46,970 --> 00:08:50,690 Speaker 7: but it was, you know, in retrospect, it probably was silly. 150 00:08:50,730 --> 00:08:57,290 Speaker 7: It was. It was an expensive affectation. But it's over. 151 00:08:58,010 --> 00:09:01,010 Speaker 7: I may be at a point in my life where 152 00:09:01,050 --> 00:09:04,130 Speaker 7: I say that's it. I'm going to go the rest 153 00:09:04,170 --> 00:09:05,250 Speaker 7: of the way without it. 154 00:09:05,890 --> 00:09:06,090 Speaker 9: Yeah. 155 00:09:06,170 --> 00:09:08,850 Speaker 2: Do you feel like as you've gotten older, like your vanity, 156 00:09:08,930 --> 00:09:10,850 Speaker 2: do you feel like that's dropped away? 157 00:09:12,610 --> 00:09:16,890 Speaker 9: Yeah? I think that it's uh yahn JD. Can I 158 00:09:17,050 --> 00:09:18,450 Speaker 9: interjection in it? 159 00:09:18,650 --> 00:09:21,570 Speaker 2: My grandma, I didn't even know what's there. 160 00:09:21,770 --> 00:09:26,130 Speaker 6: Listen, I want to add one little thing. When you 161 00:09:26,290 --> 00:09:29,650 Speaker 6: talk about Grandpa and that he's not vain, but let 162 00:09:29,690 --> 00:09:32,650 Speaker 6: me tell you. When they're home in the house, like 163 00:09:32,810 --> 00:09:36,770 Speaker 6: right now, both of us not seeing anybody, Grandpa. 164 00:09:36,370 --> 00:09:41,330 Speaker 2: Wears a cap and he doesn't take it off. He 165 00:09:41,410 --> 00:09:45,850 Speaker 2: wears a cap like a baseball cap. 166 00:09:46,130 --> 00:09:49,170 Speaker 6: Yes, here we are, I'm making the bed and he's 167 00:09:49,210 --> 00:09:49,810 Speaker 6: watching TV. 168 00:09:50,330 --> 00:09:53,250 Speaker 9: But there's a white cap on his head. My dame, 169 00:09:53,690 --> 00:09:55,010 Speaker 9: not ding no no. 170 00:09:55,370 --> 00:09:56,930 Speaker 2: But he always wears a cat. 171 00:09:58,810 --> 00:10:01,650 Speaker 6: You know something, we all have a bit of vanity. 172 00:10:01,770 --> 00:10:03,770 Speaker 6: We all look in the mirror and want to see 173 00:10:04,130 --> 00:10:06,490 Speaker 6: what we want to see. Of course, Grandpa and I 174 00:10:06,530 --> 00:10:08,850 Speaker 6: would like to see twenty years off their faces. But 175 00:10:09,210 --> 00:10:12,730 Speaker 6: so we're all a little vain, I think. 176 00:10:12,850 --> 00:10:12,890 Speaker 9: So. 177 00:10:15,130 --> 00:10:18,410 Speaker 6: I was just reminded of story, and I think it's 178 00:10:18,450 --> 00:10:21,250 Speaker 6: a story you can tell on your iPod. 179 00:10:20,850 --> 00:10:23,810 Speaker 9: Because it's hysterical. I tell it all the time. 180 00:10:24,290 --> 00:10:24,850 Speaker 2: Go ahead. 181 00:10:25,650 --> 00:10:29,410 Speaker 6: We went to a pool and you were learning to swim, 182 00:10:29,450 --> 00:10:31,530 Speaker 6: and you wanted to swim at the deep end. 183 00:10:32,050 --> 00:10:33,770 Speaker 2: How old was I You. 184 00:10:33,810 --> 00:10:37,650 Speaker 6: Must have been around maybe six or seven year so 185 00:10:37,850 --> 00:10:41,370 Speaker 6: you said, I have to swim with you. So what 186 00:10:41,450 --> 00:10:43,770 Speaker 6: could I do? My granddaughter asked, So I jumped in 187 00:10:43,810 --> 00:10:46,050 Speaker 6: the water and I went and I swam with you 188 00:10:46,210 --> 00:10:50,530 Speaker 6: to the deep end and back. And when we got out, 189 00:10:50,970 --> 00:10:55,050 Speaker 6: you looked at me like with your eyes wide open 190 00:10:55,770 --> 00:10:59,810 Speaker 6: and your mouth up, and I said, what's the matter 191 00:10:59,890 --> 00:11:03,650 Speaker 6: and you said nothing, Only now you look like a 192 00:11:03,770 --> 00:11:06,449 Speaker 6: grandma talk about the. 193 00:11:06,250 --> 00:11:07,370 Speaker 9: Day with my hair wet. 194 00:11:07,490 --> 00:11:08,970 Speaker 6: I looked horrible, And that's. 195 00:11:08,890 --> 00:11:09,610 Speaker 9: What you said. 196 00:11:14,850 --> 00:11:17,770 Speaker 6: Okay, sweetie, I'll give him back to you as grandpa. 197 00:11:18,050 --> 00:11:24,370 Speaker 7: Okay, that's been that's been my life for seventy five years. 198 00:11:25,610 --> 00:11:27,970 Speaker 9: I get to talk, she has to get a word. 199 00:11:37,130 --> 00:11:39,050 Speaker 4: Huh, seventy five years. 200 00:11:39,450 --> 00:11:42,890 Speaker 2: Yeah, and they've known each other since they were thirteen. 201 00:11:43,210 --> 00:11:43,530 Speaker 9: Whoa. 202 00:11:43,890 --> 00:11:47,050 Speaker 2: They both lived in the Bronx and they met in 203 00:11:47,050 --> 00:11:51,050 Speaker 2: the neighborhood. It was really sweet. At one point I 204 00:11:51,090 --> 00:11:53,930 Speaker 2: asked him what the thing is that he missed the 205 00:11:53,970 --> 00:11:56,370 Speaker 2: most about New York when he left the city. 206 00:11:57,130 --> 00:12:02,730 Speaker 7: Well, that's a good question. I didn't really miss much. 207 00:12:03,850 --> 00:12:05,890 Speaker 7: I took your grandma with me and that was that 208 00:12:06,170 --> 00:12:06,610 Speaker 7: was enough. 209 00:12:15,370 --> 00:12:17,210 Speaker 4: You know what the best thing about being bald is 210 00:12:17,970 --> 00:12:20,610 Speaker 4: if I may. I had the experience a few days 211 00:12:20,650 --> 00:12:23,890 Speaker 4: ago where Aggie kissed me on my head and it 212 00:12:23,930 --> 00:12:27,370 Speaker 4: was like the most tender like almost like a I 213 00:12:27,410 --> 00:12:29,250 Speaker 4: don't know, like a paternal thing like. I was very 214 00:12:29,250 --> 00:12:31,450 Speaker 4: surprised that he did it, and I was thinking, like 215 00:12:31,610 --> 00:12:33,730 Speaker 4: if I, if I had hair, I wouldn't have been 216 00:12:33,730 --> 00:12:36,170 Speaker 4: able to feel that kiss in the same way. 217 00:12:36,170 --> 00:12:37,010 Speaker 8: Well that's nice. 218 00:12:37,330 --> 00:12:39,610 Speaker 4: Yeah, I still wish I had my hair. 219 00:12:39,730 --> 00:12:54,809 Speaker 3: But Stevie, it's funny that your story was about your grandparents, 220 00:12:54,810 --> 00:13:00,610 Speaker 3: because I actually also have a story involving grandparents. Oh 221 00:13:00,650 --> 00:13:02,850 Speaker 3: and it involves a long marriage as well. 222 00:13:03,130 --> 00:13:04,410 Speaker 1: Let's hear it. 223 00:13:04,010 --> 00:13:04,170 Speaker 9: YEA. 224 00:13:05,090 --> 00:13:09,130 Speaker 3: So I was talking to this guy named PACs And 225 00:13:09,130 --> 00:13:13,090 Speaker 3: and he was telling me that he a couple of 226 00:13:13,130 --> 00:13:17,250 Speaker 3: years ago moved across the country to Cleveland for school, 227 00:13:17,290 --> 00:13:19,250 Speaker 3: so he didn't know anyone. It was kind of a 228 00:13:19,290 --> 00:13:25,730 Speaker 3: weird transitional time. And he was walking in this big 229 00:13:25,810 --> 00:13:27,650 Speaker 3: cemetery called Lakeview. 230 00:13:27,690 --> 00:13:31,610 Speaker 10: And I saw this headstone that said listen for my 231 00:13:31,730 --> 00:13:37,050 Speaker 10: football in your heart. What does that mean even exactly, 232 00:13:36,610 --> 00:13:40,490 Speaker 10: I don't really know, like listen for my football in 233 00:13:40,530 --> 00:13:40,930 Speaker 10: your heart. 234 00:13:40,970 --> 00:13:41,970 Speaker 1: It's I don't know. 235 00:13:42,090 --> 00:13:46,890 Speaker 10: I just could imagine like Grandpa just really sincerely loving 236 00:13:46,930 --> 00:13:51,130 Speaker 10: football and leaving that message. So I think it just 237 00:13:51,210 --> 00:13:54,290 Speaker 10: delighted me and it made me think about my grandparents. 238 00:13:54,330 --> 00:13:57,410 Speaker 10: And my phone was really low on battery and I 239 00:13:57,450 --> 00:14:00,690 Speaker 10: had been saving it so that I could like find 240 00:14:00,690 --> 00:14:03,130 Speaker 10: my way back if I needed to. But I was like, 241 00:14:03,210 --> 00:14:04,050 Speaker 10: this is worth it. 242 00:14:04,410 --> 00:14:06,850 Speaker 3: He took a picture, and the second he took the picture, 243 00:14:06,930 --> 00:14:10,210 Speaker 3: his phone died. So he just have this one picture 244 00:14:10,290 --> 00:14:13,450 Speaker 3: and it wasn't like amazing, like it was a little blurry, 245 00:14:15,130 --> 00:14:16,930 Speaker 3: but he just found a lot of comfort in this 246 00:14:17,090 --> 00:14:19,930 Speaker 3: headstone that said listen for my football in your heart, 247 00:14:20,450 --> 00:14:24,610 Speaker 3: and like loved the absurdity of it. And it was 248 00:14:24,610 --> 00:14:28,650 Speaker 3: a headstone for this man named Don, and PACKS just 249 00:14:28,690 --> 00:14:31,010 Speaker 3: started thinking about Don a lot because he had this 250 00:14:31,090 --> 00:14:33,370 Speaker 3: picture of him. It's this like sweet old man who 251 00:14:33,450 --> 00:14:34,930 Speaker 3: just loved football so much. 252 00:14:35,450 --> 00:14:39,250 Speaker 10: And so for the last like two years, every once 253 00:14:39,250 --> 00:14:42,090 Speaker 10: in a while I'll like pull up that picture and 254 00:14:42,610 --> 00:14:46,930 Speaker 10: show people and be like, I found this weird headstone 255 00:14:47,250 --> 00:14:50,770 Speaker 10: about football that just pleases me. 256 00:14:51,210 --> 00:14:54,490 Speaker 3: Did other people like find it as delightful as you did? 257 00:14:55,290 --> 00:14:59,410 Speaker 10: I don't think they really did. I think I was 258 00:14:59,610 --> 00:15:02,490 Speaker 10: particularly tickled by it, and people were just like, oh, 259 00:15:02,530 --> 00:15:07,490 Speaker 10: that's cool. Even in dark times, I would sometimes it 260 00:15:07,530 --> 00:15:11,850 Speaker 10: sounds really silly. I would just be like, I'm having 261 00:15:11,890 --> 00:15:14,010 Speaker 10: a hard time, but at least there's a headstone out 262 00:15:14,050 --> 00:15:16,290 Speaker 10: there that says listen for my football. 263 00:15:15,850 --> 00:15:16,690 Speaker 9: In your heart. 264 00:15:16,850 --> 00:15:19,170 Speaker 10: And I had gone back a couple times and like 265 00:15:19,290 --> 00:15:22,170 Speaker 10: looked for it, and I had never found it. 266 00:15:22,850 --> 00:15:26,570 Speaker 3: So flash forward to this year, the year twenty twenty 267 00:15:26,930 --> 00:15:31,690 Speaker 3: packed hae stuck at home like everyone, and one morning. 268 00:15:31,770 --> 00:15:35,890 Speaker 10: I woke up and had like symptoms that could be 269 00:15:35,970 --> 00:15:39,690 Speaker 10: of COVID, like a sore throat, and my roommates and 270 00:15:39,690 --> 00:15:43,570 Speaker 10: I take it very seriously, so immediately I got tested 271 00:15:43,690 --> 00:15:47,890 Speaker 10: and was quarantined in my bedroom. Had not furnished it yet, 272 00:15:47,970 --> 00:15:50,490 Speaker 10: so it just has a bed in it. So it 273 00:15:50,530 --> 00:15:53,410 Speaker 10: was just four days of sitting on my bed pretty 274 00:15:53,490 --> 00:15:56,650 Speaker 10: much and only allowed to leave to go to the bathroom. 275 00:15:56,970 --> 00:15:57,930 Speaker 3: What were you eating? 276 00:15:58,570 --> 00:16:03,970 Speaker 10: I was just eating frozen meals from trading. Jep would 277 00:16:04,010 --> 00:16:06,850 Speaker 10: just leave my room to microwave them and then bring 278 00:16:06,890 --> 00:16:08,290 Speaker 10: them back into my room. 279 00:16:09,450 --> 00:16:12,010 Speaker 4: Really like drove me a little crazy. 280 00:16:12,530 --> 00:16:15,810 Speaker 3: So it's kind of like a dark couple days. And 281 00:16:15,850 --> 00:16:19,610 Speaker 3: then he gets his test results and they're negative, and 282 00:16:19,690 --> 00:16:22,650 Speaker 3: so he's like so relieved, and immediately he calls up 283 00:16:22,690 --> 00:16:24,770 Speaker 3: his sister and is like, I can leave my room. 284 00:16:25,090 --> 00:16:27,650 Speaker 3: Lets meet up at the cemetery and go for a walk. 285 00:16:27,970 --> 00:16:31,730 Speaker 10: So it was a very like cathartic, like first time 286 00:16:31,770 --> 00:16:35,650 Speaker 10: I had been outside in a while, and it was 287 00:16:35,690 --> 00:16:38,930 Speaker 10: a beautiful day, and I was like, we should look 288 00:16:39,010 --> 00:16:43,730 Speaker 10: for listen for my football in your Heart, and we 289 00:16:43,890 --> 00:16:48,210 Speaker 10: found it and I was really ecstatic. And then she 290 00:16:48,410 --> 00:16:52,370 Speaker 10: was like I'm disappointed, and I was like what And 291 00:16:52,690 --> 00:16:54,730 Speaker 10: I looked back at it and it said listen for 292 00:16:54,890 --> 00:16:57,730 Speaker 10: my footfall in your Heart with an ax. 293 00:17:01,210 --> 00:17:04,609 Speaker 3: The stone itself was like a little bit modeled, so 294 00:17:04,730 --> 00:17:07,169 Speaker 3: for all these years, like he just had been misreading it, 295 00:17:07,210 --> 00:17:09,650 Speaker 3: and because the picture he'd taken was a little blurry. 296 00:17:09,889 --> 00:17:11,409 Speaker 3: When he showed it to people and was like it 297 00:17:11,450 --> 00:17:14,049 Speaker 3: said listen for my football, they just would be like, oh, yeah, 298 00:17:14,129 --> 00:17:15,609 Speaker 3: I guess that is what it says. 299 00:17:15,770 --> 00:17:19,529 Speaker 10: And then, weirdly enough, as soon as I noticed that 300 00:17:19,850 --> 00:17:24,330 Speaker 10: I had misread it, it like immediately started raining really hard, 301 00:17:25,129 --> 00:17:28,369 Speaker 10: and I took a picture really quickly and then ran 302 00:17:28,449 --> 00:17:32,729 Speaker 10: home and was soaking wet. I feel like it was 303 00:17:32,810 --> 00:17:36,649 Speaker 10: disappointing for like zero point five seconds, and then it was. 304 00:17:37,490 --> 00:17:40,090 Speaker 10: It just made it even more delightful that I had 305 00:17:40,409 --> 00:17:46,810 Speaker 10: misread this headstone, and like that misreading had gotten me 306 00:17:46,889 --> 00:17:52,210 Speaker 10: to think about it for two years. I think right now, 307 00:17:52,330 --> 00:17:56,369 Speaker 10: especially human connection is kind of a rare thing, and 308 00:17:57,209 --> 00:18:01,370 Speaker 10: it was this stranger that I had forged a connection 309 00:18:01,490 --> 00:18:11,490 Speaker 10: with felt special. There's two names on the headstone, and 310 00:18:12,169 --> 00:18:15,850 Speaker 10: Don passed away in twenty sixteen, and then the other 311 00:18:15,970 --> 00:18:20,810 Speaker 10: name is I think it's pronounced Sheila has not passed away. 312 00:18:21,330 --> 00:18:24,489 Speaker 3: So Pax assumes that Sheila is Don's widow. 313 00:18:24,609 --> 00:18:25,570 Speaker 2: Uh huh. 314 00:18:25,609 --> 00:18:27,729 Speaker 3: And even though now he knows that it's foot to 315 00:18:27,850 --> 00:18:30,729 Speaker 3: fall and not foot to ball, like knowing what it 316 00:18:30,810 --> 00:18:34,009 Speaker 3: says really hasn't made him any less curious about it, 317 00:18:34,050 --> 00:18:36,929 Speaker 3: because now his question is like, well, why did Don 318 00:18:37,250 --> 00:18:39,249 Speaker 3: choose this? Like why was this the thing that he 319 00:18:39,290 --> 00:18:44,169 Speaker 3: wanted to impart as his final message? And Pax wants 320 00:18:44,209 --> 00:18:47,570 Speaker 3: to ask Sheila about it, but he's kind of afraid 321 00:18:47,609 --> 00:18:48,169 Speaker 3: to do it. 322 00:18:48,570 --> 00:18:51,210 Speaker 2: Right, I mean that's kind of an awkward call. 323 00:18:51,649 --> 00:18:53,970 Speaker 3: Yeah, right, So like, so I decided I would reach 324 00:18:53,970 --> 00:18:56,850 Speaker 3: out to her, but it was like, this doesn't feel 325 00:18:56,889 --> 00:18:59,689 Speaker 3: like a phone call people make like it. I don't know, 326 00:18:59,730 --> 00:19:01,289 Speaker 3: it just felt like what I'm going to call up 327 00:19:01,330 --> 00:19:03,770 Speaker 3: this grieving woman and be like, someone thought your dead 328 00:19:03,850 --> 00:19:05,850 Speaker 3: husband's gravestone was funny? 329 00:19:06,730 --> 00:19:06,930 Speaker 2: Right? 330 00:19:07,209 --> 00:19:09,609 Speaker 3: And then I had some trouble even getting hold of her, 331 00:19:09,649 --> 00:19:11,490 Speaker 3: Like I called a few phone numbers that I really 332 00:19:11,530 --> 00:19:14,609 Speaker 3: thought were right and they weren't. And then I wrote 333 00:19:14,609 --> 00:19:16,730 Speaker 3: her on Facebook, but it seemed like she hadn't seen 334 00:19:16,770 --> 00:19:20,129 Speaker 3: the message. Uh, And so finally I wrote her this 335 00:19:20,290 --> 00:19:24,050 Speaker 3: letter saying I wanted to talk about Don's gravestone. 336 00:19:24,129 --> 00:19:26,889 Speaker 2: Like a like a handwritten like snail mail. 337 00:19:27,169 --> 00:19:29,850 Speaker 3: Yeah, And Sheila got back to me and said that 338 00:19:29,929 --> 00:19:36,970 Speaker 3: she was up to talk. Well, Hi, it's just Sheila, Yes, Hi, 339 00:19:37,090 --> 00:19:41,090 Speaker 3: it's Telila calling for oh hi. Oh is that a cat? 340 00:19:41,570 --> 00:19:44,690 Speaker 8: Yeah? When he knows I'm on the phone, he has 341 00:19:44,730 --> 00:19:45,889 Speaker 8: to like get in the middle of it. 342 00:19:47,129 --> 00:19:49,769 Speaker 3: I was thinking Don had chosen this quote, but it 343 00:19:49,810 --> 00:19:53,050 Speaker 3: turns out that Sheila chose to quote Oh wow. Don 344 00:19:53,090 --> 00:19:56,010 Speaker 3: had had a chronic illness for a few years before 345 00:19:56,050 --> 00:19:56,570 Speaker 3: his death. 346 00:19:57,010 --> 00:19:59,850 Speaker 8: He didn't want to talk about you know, what to 347 00:19:59,970 --> 00:20:04,249 Speaker 8: do about theuterals or because I'm going to be gone. 348 00:20:04,330 --> 00:20:07,889 Speaker 8: You figured it out, you know, it's like thankful lot, honey. 349 00:20:08,490 --> 00:20:11,609 Speaker 3: After Don died, she chose like the cemetery, which, like 350 00:20:11,649 --> 00:20:14,369 Speaker 3: I said, is this beautiful big cemetery. And she chose 351 00:20:14,449 --> 00:20:17,090 Speaker 3: this like really nice little spot on the nature path 352 00:20:17,129 --> 00:20:19,530 Speaker 3: with like a birdhouse right there and a little bridge 353 00:20:19,530 --> 00:20:20,290 Speaker 3: over some water. 354 00:20:20,810 --> 00:20:22,929 Speaker 8: I knew that he would like it. He also was 355 00:20:22,970 --> 00:20:26,050 Speaker 8: a big bird fan, loved feeding the birds, loved having 356 00:20:26,490 --> 00:20:30,129 Speaker 8: indoor birds, and so I liked the idea of the birdhouse. 357 00:20:31,050 --> 00:20:33,009 Speaker 8: There were a lot of reasons I liked that spot. 358 00:20:34,090 --> 00:20:38,050 Speaker 3: She chose for the headstone like a natural boulder, so 359 00:20:38,129 --> 00:20:40,169 Speaker 3: that's why it was kind of modeled in that way, 360 00:20:40,570 --> 00:20:43,129 Speaker 3: because it's just like a rock. So she has to 361 00:20:43,129 --> 00:20:46,690 Speaker 3: decide what to put on the stone, and she asks 362 00:20:46,770 --> 00:20:49,649 Speaker 3: her friend, who's a poet, to send some suggestions, and 363 00:20:49,730 --> 00:20:52,290 Speaker 3: her friend just sends this long list for she let 364 00:20:52,330 --> 00:20:53,850 Speaker 3: to pick from quotes from. 365 00:20:53,730 --> 00:20:57,209 Speaker 8: Novels, quotes from poems, quotes from rock and roll songs 366 00:20:57,250 --> 00:20:59,450 Speaker 8: like John Lennon and stuff like that. But the one 367 00:20:59,490 --> 00:21:02,889 Speaker 8: that I've picked actually is from a novel called The 368 00:21:03,010 --> 00:21:07,369 Speaker 8: Smoke Jumper, and it's by Nicholas Evans. The inscription says, 369 00:21:07,449 --> 00:21:11,249 Speaker 8: listen for my footfall and your heart. I am not gone, 370 00:21:11,250 --> 00:21:12,729 Speaker 8: but simply walk within you. 371 00:21:13,570 --> 00:21:16,050 Speaker 3: I was a little bit nervous to be like, well, 372 00:21:16,090 --> 00:21:18,449 Speaker 3: he thought it said football like that, that would be 373 00:21:18,570 --> 00:21:22,369 Speaker 3: just like totally disrespectful. But she didn't take it that way. 374 00:21:22,810 --> 00:21:23,649 Speaker 8: Oh that's great. 375 00:21:25,290 --> 00:21:27,970 Speaker 3: Do you think he would have sounded entertaining to think 376 00:21:28,010 --> 00:21:29,130 Speaker 3: of it being football? 377 00:21:29,290 --> 00:21:29,409 Speaker 9: Oh? 378 00:21:29,490 --> 00:21:31,609 Speaker 8: Yeah, I think he would have thought that was this hilarious. 379 00:21:31,770 --> 00:21:32,490 Speaker 3: Yeah. 380 00:21:32,609 --> 00:21:36,729 Speaker 8: He loved telling jokes, you know, dirty jokes and funny 381 00:21:36,810 --> 00:21:40,209 Speaker 8: jokes and stupid jokes, dad jokes. He always got to 382 00:21:40,330 --> 00:21:43,529 Speaker 8: kick out of making people laugh. Sometimes I was I 383 00:21:43,570 --> 00:21:46,169 Speaker 8: would be shushing him because I was thinking he'd be 384 00:21:46,250 --> 00:21:49,810 Speaker 8: telling inappropriate jokes and mixed company or with little kids around, 385 00:21:49,850 --> 00:21:52,330 Speaker 8: and he didn't care about that stuff. He wasn't much 386 00:21:52,330 --> 00:21:55,530 Speaker 8: of a rule follower, faked his way into the army. 387 00:21:55,570 --> 00:21:57,649 Speaker 8: He's blind in one eye, but he memorized that I 388 00:21:57,850 --> 00:21:58,850 Speaker 8: charged to get into the army. 389 00:21:58,929 --> 00:22:02,090 Speaker 2: Oh really, Yeah? 390 00:22:02,129 --> 00:22:05,009 Speaker 3: How how long were you guys married for? And how 391 00:22:05,050 --> 00:22:05,929 Speaker 3: did you meet? 392 00:22:07,010 --> 00:22:11,369 Speaker 8: We were married for almost forty one years. He died 393 00:22:11,970 --> 00:22:13,570 Speaker 8: the week before our anniversary. 394 00:22:14,770 --> 00:22:18,050 Speaker 3: They initially met at this deli where Don worked, and 395 00:22:18,090 --> 00:22:20,570 Speaker 3: he saw her across the room and decided that he 396 00:22:20,609 --> 00:22:22,370 Speaker 3: wanted to go out with her, and. 397 00:22:23,169 --> 00:22:26,409 Speaker 8: We went out that same week and got married six 398 00:22:26,409 --> 00:22:31,449 Speaker 8: weeks later. Wow, that's shack to everybody. Of course, you know, 399 00:22:31,490 --> 00:22:34,729 Speaker 8: we got all the usual. You know, that's not a 400 00:22:34,730 --> 00:22:37,169 Speaker 8: good idea. You guys aren't going to stay married. You 401 00:22:37,209 --> 00:22:39,570 Speaker 8: don't even hardly know each other, and blah blah blah 402 00:22:39,570 --> 00:22:40,170 Speaker 8: blah blah. 403 00:22:40,730 --> 00:22:43,489 Speaker 3: But I guess you showed them. 404 00:22:46,129 --> 00:22:46,689 Speaker 8: Yeah. 405 00:22:47,010 --> 00:22:47,449 Speaker 9: Was that. 406 00:22:48,810 --> 00:22:51,770 Speaker 3: Out of character for you to fall into something that quickly? 407 00:22:51,929 --> 00:22:54,889 Speaker 8: Yes, it just seemed to be kind of out of 408 00:22:54,889 --> 00:22:59,129 Speaker 8: our control. As silly as that sounds when you say it. 409 00:22:59,730 --> 00:23:01,090 Speaker 3: Was there something scary about that? 410 00:23:02,449 --> 00:23:05,369 Speaker 8: No, be as there wasn't anything scary about him, you know, 411 00:23:05,449 --> 00:23:09,369 Speaker 8: I mean, you just you just like immediately comfortable with them, 412 00:23:09,409 --> 00:23:12,410 Speaker 8: and you know, it was just it was easy to do. 413 00:23:14,490 --> 00:23:16,769 Speaker 8: I miss him Alion, So I do know that I 414 00:23:16,850 --> 00:23:23,050 Speaker 8: miss him so much. Just a generous, a real generous person. Yeah, 415 00:23:23,409 --> 00:23:26,490 Speaker 8: and then now we've got this cod COVID and then 416 00:23:26,649 --> 00:23:29,409 Speaker 8: just the fact that people can't go anywhere. Now I'm 417 00:23:29,490 --> 00:23:32,369 Speaker 8: here by myself in this house, you know, And if 418 00:23:32,449 --> 00:23:37,010 Speaker 8: it would have been so much, so much more satisfying 419 00:23:37,090 --> 00:23:39,889 Speaker 8: to me if I had him to bounce all this 420 00:23:39,970 --> 00:23:42,009 Speaker 8: stuff off of, because a lot of things that I 421 00:23:42,090 --> 00:23:45,330 Speaker 8: took seriously, he would laugh at there's nothing you can 422 00:23:45,369 --> 00:23:47,649 Speaker 8: do about it, So what do you don't worry about it? 423 00:23:47,689 --> 00:23:50,929 Speaker 8: He would say, so, but you know, there's just even 424 00:23:50,970 --> 00:23:54,609 Speaker 8: if it had been a hugely good four years, I 425 00:23:54,649 --> 00:23:56,649 Speaker 8: would have missed sharing that too. 426 00:23:59,209 --> 00:24:01,769 Speaker 3: I just really enjoyed talking to her, And before we 427 00:24:01,810 --> 00:24:04,289 Speaker 3: got off the phone, I kind of was like, you know, 428 00:24:04,369 --> 00:24:06,570 Speaker 3: thank you for talking to They note it's an emotional 429 00:24:07,169 --> 00:24:08,369 Speaker 3: subject to get into. 430 00:24:09,169 --> 00:24:13,289 Speaker 8: Well, it is, it is. But I like talking about 431 00:24:13,490 --> 00:24:16,090 Speaker 8: don I do, And it's it's just it's just a 432 00:24:16,129 --> 00:24:18,569 Speaker 8: way to keep them with you and keep them alive, 433 00:24:18,770 --> 00:24:23,970 Speaker 8: you know, keep talking. There were so many good quotes 434 00:24:24,490 --> 00:24:27,769 Speaker 8: that could have been inscriptions too, but I chose this 435 00:24:27,889 --> 00:24:31,730 Speaker 8: one part for it seemed I thought it would comfort 436 00:24:31,810 --> 00:24:36,529 Speaker 8: our daughter and grandchildren the most, and really anybody that 437 00:24:36,609 --> 00:24:41,810 Speaker 8: walked by the whole idea of remembering someone being the 438 00:24:41,929 --> 00:24:45,770 Speaker 8: important thing and that and that really they don't leave 439 00:24:45,810 --> 00:24:48,770 Speaker 8: you that way. You know you've gotten so much from them, 440 00:24:48,889 --> 00:24:52,050 Speaker 8: You've shared so much. You remember their jokes, you remember 441 00:24:52,689 --> 00:24:56,649 Speaker 8: their laugh, you remember so many things. But with the 442 00:24:56,689 --> 00:25:01,530 Speaker 8: physical person gone, you you have your memories, which which 443 00:25:01,770 --> 00:25:04,850 Speaker 8: you know are in your heart. Nobody's ever gone, if 444 00:25:04,889 --> 00:25:06,530 Speaker 8: you remember right. 445 00:25:33,290 --> 00:25:36,290 Speaker 4: I've always thought of myself as a man of letters. Sure, 446 00:25:36,409 --> 00:25:39,050 Speaker 4: the kind of letters you assemble into words that can 447 00:25:39,090 --> 00:25:41,929 Speaker 4: be spoken into a microphone, but also the kind of 448 00:25:42,010 --> 00:25:47,050 Speaker 4: letters you place in an envelope or is it envelope? 449 00:25:47,810 --> 00:25:50,810 Speaker 4: Since I was a kid, getting mail has always felt exciting, 450 00:25:51,209 --> 00:25:53,770 Speaker 4: and it still does, be it a birthday card or 451 00:25:53,810 --> 00:25:57,689 Speaker 4: a postcard. Opening the mailbox and finding something inside always 452 00:25:57,730 --> 00:26:01,770 Speaker 4: feels like an occasion. So when USPS offered to sponsor 453 00:26:01,810 --> 00:26:05,169 Speaker 4: a conversation between me and my friend Craig, one of 454 00:26:05,209 --> 00:26:08,689 Speaker 4: the country's thousands of Postal Service workers delivering millions of 455 00:26:08,730 --> 00:26:13,129 Speaker 4: pieces mail each day, I was delighted. Craig loves his 456 00:26:13,290 --> 00:26:16,050 Speaker 4: job and I love hearing about his job. So here 457 00:26:16,050 --> 00:26:19,409 Speaker 4: we are me and Craig catching up about his work 458 00:26:19,609 --> 00:26:20,490 Speaker 4: during the holidays. 459 00:26:26,010 --> 00:26:28,129 Speaker 11: The holidays, I mean, it's the busiest time of year, 460 00:26:28,449 --> 00:26:31,090 Speaker 11: but there is just something to the feel of being 461 00:26:31,129 --> 00:26:33,209 Speaker 11: out as the sun's coming up and you're leaving a 462 00:26:33,290 --> 00:26:36,850 Speaker 11: package on somebody's front door. And I always think it's 463 00:26:36,889 --> 00:26:40,010 Speaker 11: a special treat because if people have left their holiday lights, 464 00:26:40,010 --> 00:26:42,970 Speaker 11: you know, their houses decorated outside. If they leave them 465 00:26:42,970 --> 00:26:45,489 Speaker 11: on overnight and you're out delivering those packages early in 466 00:26:45,530 --> 00:26:47,410 Speaker 11: the morning, it's like, oh, I finally get to see 467 00:26:47,449 --> 00:26:50,450 Speaker 11: this big, beautiful light display that you know, during the day, 468 00:26:50,449 --> 00:26:52,250 Speaker 11: it just doesn't have the same magical glow. 469 00:26:52,850 --> 00:26:55,570 Speaker 4: And over the years, have you gotten to know any 470 00:26:55,570 --> 00:26:56,609 Speaker 4: of the people that you serve? 471 00:26:56,970 --> 00:26:57,530 Speaker 1: Definitely. 472 00:26:58,050 --> 00:26:59,889 Speaker 11: I can think of one customer in particular where the 473 00:26:59,970 --> 00:27:03,170 Speaker 11: kids writing a note just saying how thankful they were 474 00:27:03,250 --> 00:27:05,889 Speaker 11: for the work that I do. And I think that's 475 00:27:05,929 --> 00:27:08,650 Speaker 11: always a real special thing when you realize how much 476 00:27:08,649 --> 00:27:12,649 Speaker 11: the kids appreciate what we're doing, and so they'll come 477 00:27:12,649 --> 00:27:14,249 Speaker 11: out with you know, the mom be sitting on the 478 00:27:14,250 --> 00:27:16,609 Speaker 11: front step and know it okay if he gets to 479 00:27:16,609 --> 00:27:18,649 Speaker 11: ask you a few questions today and I'm like, oh, sure, 480 00:27:18,689 --> 00:27:20,209 Speaker 11: I got time. What do you want to know? And 481 00:27:20,250 --> 00:27:21,770 Speaker 11: it's always fun to hear, like. 482 00:27:21,770 --> 00:27:23,570 Speaker 4: What are some of the questions that you'll get? 483 00:27:23,770 --> 00:27:25,570 Speaker 11: Well, it's funny now that I say that they want 484 00:27:25,609 --> 00:27:27,530 Speaker 11: to know about mailman stuff. But the last little kid 485 00:27:27,570 --> 00:27:29,250 Speaker 11: that he wanted to know all about my home life. 486 00:27:29,250 --> 00:27:30,410 Speaker 11: You know, he's like, well, what do you do when 487 00:27:30,409 --> 00:27:31,969 Speaker 11: you get home? What are you having for dinner? 488 00:27:32,050 --> 00:27:34,209 Speaker 4: It's so interesting, Yeah, because like you're a little like 489 00:27:34,209 --> 00:27:36,250 Speaker 4: a superhero and it's like he wants to know about 490 00:27:36,250 --> 00:27:37,330 Speaker 4: your secret identity. 491 00:27:37,530 --> 00:27:39,929 Speaker 11: Yeah, he was definitely curious about the fact that I 492 00:27:40,169 --> 00:27:42,129 Speaker 11: drive to a house and had to make dinner and 493 00:27:42,929 --> 00:27:47,010 Speaker 11: all that kind of stuff. But otherwise it's more the 494 00:27:47,050 --> 00:27:49,449 Speaker 11: logistics of the job. What's in the mail bag? You know, 495 00:27:49,490 --> 00:27:52,449 Speaker 11: we're curious satchel and how do we know what mail 496 00:27:52,530 --> 00:27:53,330 Speaker 11: to give to who? 497 00:27:53,409 --> 00:27:55,730 Speaker 4: And that kind of thing. Those are good questions. Does 498 00:27:55,730 --> 00:27:56,570 Speaker 4: it give you a boost? 499 00:27:56,889 --> 00:27:59,169 Speaker 11: Oh definitely, it makes a big difference. I mean, I 500 00:27:59,250 --> 00:28:02,570 Speaker 11: just think that to have interactions with people makes the 501 00:28:02,649 --> 00:28:06,649 Speaker 11: job something special. You know, if you delivered to apartments 502 00:28:06,649 --> 00:28:08,770 Speaker 11: where they're seniors that live there, I mean, I think 503 00:28:08,810 --> 00:28:13,050 Speaker 11: that Some of the closest gotten to with customers are 504 00:28:13,449 --> 00:28:16,570 Speaker 11: older people. You know, the mail is often a big 505 00:28:16,609 --> 00:28:19,009 Speaker 11: part of the day when you're older. Those are the 506 00:28:19,010 --> 00:28:21,489 Speaker 11: people that I you know, that I do my best 507 00:28:21,530 --> 00:28:23,729 Speaker 11: to have, you know, even if it is just a 508 00:28:23,770 --> 00:28:26,570 Speaker 11: wave through the window or just giving them a thumbs up, 509 00:28:26,689 --> 00:28:29,009 Speaker 11: just you know, making sure that they see I see them, 510 00:28:29,330 --> 00:28:32,810 Speaker 11: I think is important, just because I think that we're 511 00:28:32,850 --> 00:28:34,650 Speaker 11: all feeling a little bit more lonely, and a lot 512 00:28:34,649 --> 00:28:37,250 Speaker 11: of people are truly alone day to day, and so 513 00:28:37,330 --> 00:28:40,650 Speaker 11: to have that kind of interaction, I've known from early 514 00:28:40,690 --> 00:28:44,930 Speaker 11: in my career how important the the interaction with that 515 00:28:45,010 --> 00:28:49,610 Speaker 11: letter carrier can be for some people. One customer of mine, 516 00:28:49,970 --> 00:28:53,090 Speaker 11: she's passed away now a few years back. I got 517 00:28:53,130 --> 00:28:56,729 Speaker 11: to know her initially because the complex that she lived in, 518 00:28:57,010 --> 00:28:59,810 Speaker 11: the mailboxes were kind of a big bank of boxes, 519 00:28:59,850 --> 00:29:01,890 Speaker 11: you know when you live in an apartment, and her 520 00:29:02,090 --> 00:29:05,969 Speaker 11: mailbox was on the upper row, and she had limited 521 00:29:06,010 --> 00:29:09,410 Speaker 11: mobility to open her mailbox. So the setup was is 522 00:29:09,450 --> 00:29:11,090 Speaker 11: that you just took her mail out, and you rang 523 00:29:11,170 --> 00:29:13,850 Speaker 11: her doorbell and she would come down and get the 524 00:29:13,890 --> 00:29:15,850 Speaker 11: mail from you, so she wouldn't have to reach up 525 00:29:15,890 --> 00:29:18,410 Speaker 11: and try and get it out of that mailbox. And 526 00:29:18,930 --> 00:29:20,769 Speaker 11: my initial thought was like, well, well, we should just 527 00:29:20,850 --> 00:29:23,450 Speaker 11: move your mailbox. But at first I just followed the 528 00:29:23,490 --> 00:29:25,930 Speaker 11: rule and I would buzz her apartment building and she 529 00:29:25,970 --> 00:29:28,249 Speaker 11: would come down to get her mail and we'd have 530 00:29:28,290 --> 00:29:30,250 Speaker 11: a nice chat while she waited for me to finish 531 00:29:30,370 --> 00:29:34,009 Speaker 11: up with the filling everybody's mailbox. And so we just 532 00:29:34,050 --> 00:29:36,370 Speaker 11: got to know each other more and more over, you know, 533 00:29:36,410 --> 00:29:39,730 Speaker 11: probably a good five or six years, I never moved 534 00:29:39,730 --> 00:29:41,610 Speaker 11: her box, you know, the more that I got to 535 00:29:41,650 --> 00:29:45,850 Speaker 11: know her better and the opportunity to interact with her 536 00:29:45,930 --> 00:29:47,810 Speaker 11: on a daily basis, I reached a point where it 537 00:29:47,890 --> 00:29:55,769 Speaker 11: just didn't seem necessary to try and change anything. To 538 00:29:55,810 --> 00:30:00,410 Speaker 11: get to know a customer day after day is just 539 00:30:00,930 --> 00:30:03,250 Speaker 11: a bonus of the job. It's something that we don't 540 00:30:03,290 --> 00:30:06,570 Speaker 11: think about as being what the job definition is, but 541 00:30:06,810 --> 00:30:09,010 Speaker 11: to me is what makes the job more than just 542 00:30:09,330 --> 00:30:11,370 Speaker 11: something that you get out of bed and you do 543 00:30:11,450 --> 00:30:14,729 Speaker 11: every day. When there's somebody that you know is looking 544 00:30:14,770 --> 00:30:17,650 Speaker 11: forward to seeing you, and at the same time, I 545 00:30:17,730 --> 00:30:20,050 Speaker 11: realized I'm looking forward to seeing them as well. 546 00:30:37,610 --> 00:30:38,050 Speaker 1: That's it. 547 00:30:38,290 --> 00:30:40,650 Speaker 4: That was our final episode of twenty twenty. Thank you 548 00:30:40,730 --> 00:30:43,049 Speaker 4: everyone for listening. And we hope you have a safe 549 00:30:43,090 --> 00:30:46,650 Speaker 4: holiday season. We're looking for stories for our next season, 550 00:30:46,890 --> 00:30:48,850 Speaker 4: so if there's a moment from your past that you 551 00:30:48,890 --> 00:30:51,730 Speaker 4: still wonder about, that feels unresolved, or that you need 552 00:30:51,770 --> 00:30:54,810 Speaker 4: some help with, please do email us at Heavyweight at 553 00:30:54,810 --> 00:30:56,610 Speaker 4: gimbletmedia dot com