One thing I didn't know about delivering mail, you're not supposed to walk down to the sidewalk after each house.

You're supposed to cut across the lawn to the next house if you want to finish the route on time.

I mean, they time us. We're not supposed to go down to the route on time. I mean, they time us.

We're not supposed to go down to the sidewalk every time

if we can avoid it.

And then walk across people's grass?

Yes.

And everybody wants the government to be efficient

except for the mailman to walk across their grass.

But people like these guys built a path for me.

So yeah, there's a little dirt path in between these bushes.

Because they're nice.

I went out with a letter carrier named Grace

as she walked around.

There was a pretty day,

in a leafy, lovely neighborhood.

Grace carried a shoulder bag with flats and catalogs and parcels.

Of course somebody built a path for her to cut to the house next door.

She can talk to anybody.

She's interested in other people.

So at this point she knows at least a little bit

about most of the people on her route.

...