76092-9998. That is the exact zip code where Dede Gouge has worked for the past 31 years as a Southlake Postal Service mail carrier. As she gears up for another busy holiday, this seasoned professional shares some fond memories and tips on delivering cards and packages door to door.
I LANDED THE JOB OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL... after taking the required test. As a teenager, I thought I might enjoy being a mail carrier because I love being outside and I'm a people person. It took two years to get notified that I was eligible for hire. I almost forgot I even took the test.
I REMEMBER WHEN SOUTHLAKE BOULEVARD... was a two-lane road, and that was scary trying to deliver mail on that route. We were growing so fast, it was hard to keep up — and the routes were huge. We also had our own vehicles then and had to maintain them ourselves.
EFFICIENCY HAD IMPROVED... since I started. Back then, the mail came out of order. Now, the letters, bundled catalogs and magazines come in order, which means we can work faster and handle more mail per household. Now the packages have scans on them so they can be tracked to find them easily. Back then, we had many more deliveries.
MY CUSTOMERS ARE... like my extended family. I really enjoy the camaraderie of my customers. My package deliveries are still to the front door, not at a cluster of mailboxes.
ONE DAY I PULLED INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD... and a group of homes had put signs and notes out by the mailboxes to tell me how much they appreciated me. It was so heartwarming! They always think about me and leave me treats and drinks. They leave me notes and give me plants or fruits and vegetables from their gardens. My yard is full of memories. For a lot of them, I have been their carrier for 20-plus years.
MY FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY... is being on the street as soon as the mail is up. My day begins between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. I like to ensure my customers are taken care of and see how things are going in their lives. I like to keep up with their family's new additions and hug them when things aren't going well.
MY FAVORITE CUSTOMER IS... very special. She sends boxes to soldiers overseas. She gets them ready, and I pick them up and mail them for her. We work well together to make that happen!
WHILE I WORK... in the office, I like to listen in for my daily dose of news and then switch over to some music. I like a lot of different genres. Bob Seger is my favorite, but I love Black Pumas, Spoon, Humble Pie, Brandi Carlisle, Pearl Jam, Sound Garden — the list goes on. I think I love the 60s and 70s the most, but I also like 80s heavy metal and grunge.
AFTER WORK... I'm pretty worn out. I like to do Camp Gladiator and prefer to work out before work if possible because too many other things seem to interfere. I like reading, playing with my kids and grandkids, listening to albums and traveling. My husband and I like to go see bands and have little jam sessions with friends.
THE BUSIEST MONTH OF THE YEAR... is November. Some customers get a jump start on Christmas shopping, and all the catalogs are a double whammy. December is better for me because the catalogs and bulk mail slow down. Christmas cards are easier to handle, so we mostly just get packages and it makes me feel like Santa's elf!
MY SPECIAL HOLIDAY TIP... don’t use red or green envelopes — it is hard to read the address. And please do not put your return address on the back of the envelopes.
LETTERS TO SANTA... were aplenty when I started. We used to get tons, ones we would pick up in the mailboxes. I feel it's very important to keep believing in Santa! Write those letters!