If you did not look closely, you would say no one was driving the car.
The blinking light on top or the sign attached to a fender informs the public the mail is being delivered. And the driver is most likely occupying the front passenger seat.
“I probably drive better from over here than I do behind the wheel,” joked Gary Ristau, a veteran rural mail carrier of 32 years. “It’s a good thing I have a long left leg.”
Ristau noted many of his peers sit in the middle of the front seat.
“But then you have to stretch so far to get to the mailbox. I just slide clear over and drive more slowly.”
So why not buy a car with a right hand steering column?
“Thought about it,” he replied quickly. “But they were so darned expensive and I believe when I looked only one manufacturer made only one model. I use my mail car for my personal car, so I just stayed the course.”
Law enforcement officers are aware of the driving mannerisms of rural carriers. While seat belts are the most effective safety device in automobiles, route drivers cannot wear them and effectively complete their tasks.
“We are to buckle up at all times we are not actively delivering mail,” Ristau said. “It’s the Post Office policy even though it is not Nebraska law.”
Ristau’s day begins early with what he terms his “office work.” Sorting is completed by machine to a great degree. Nevertheless, handling raw (unsorted) mail still occupies a portion of his daily routine. Packaging and bundling duties follow.
“You’d be surprised we continue to handle lots of parcels. Quite a number.”
Larger packages present a problem if the mailbox is too small. And Ristau will know at the post office if he has an issue.
“If the box is too small, I try to deliver the item to the front door. If no one is home, I search for a place where the parcel will be safe and unaffected. Often a garage door is ajar. Or a porch is readily available. I make every attempt to complete the delivery. It’s what we do.”
A note left in the mailbox alerts the recipient to the item’s location. Or Ristau has to “take it back to the office.”
Then there’s every mail carrier’s demon — the feisty dog.
“Even as rural carrier,” he laughed, “I still deal with dogs. Been bit three times in my career. All by little ones.”
Postal employees are warned about the dangers of working around animals, but contact with canines remains part of the job.
“You get to know the dogs on your route. And generally, all of them are fine. But I have learned when the owners say ‘My dog doesn’t bite,’ look out.”
Ristau sees kids waiting for the mail, just as their older siblings did years ago. The expectation of receiving the mail still brings smiles to the faces of children.
“Tradition. A lot of this is about tradition,” he said. “People enjoy letters. And exchanging Christmas cards is so engrained in our culture. That heavy season is just around the corner.”
For over three decades Gary Ristau has carted untold anniversary and birthday wishes to lonely mailboxes along his
8-hour route.
“The fun is delivering joyful messages. And,” he laughed again, “tax forms.”
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