Weird Holiday: Thank A Letter Carrier Day On February 4

Dear letter carrier,

I meant to keep the plants around my mailbox trimmed this summer, but life got in the way. And, really, my dog doesn't bite. He's just over-excited to see you.

When I chit-chatted with you this summer, you never complained. (But I do recall that you were tired of having people ask you in sweltering heat: "Is it hot enough for you?" Well, duh!)

Your job is tough, walking six days a week in rain, snow, or shine. You are also probably worrying about your job.

The economy in the United States has been tough the last few years, and the 2011 Annual Report to Congress and Comprehensive Statement on Postal Operations provides interesting insight about the health of the U.S. Postal Service. Before I rattle off a few figures from the report, I wanted to say thank you for your service.

P.S.: Although holidayinsights.com did not list the origin of February 4 being "Thank a Letter Carrier Day" -- let alone the validity -- I thought you might have some insight. If so, drop me an email.

Five figures about the U.S. Postal Service

1. 167 billion pieces of mail were delivered in 2011
2. 557,251 employees
3. $65 billion in revenue
4. $70 billion in operating expenses
5. $5 billion loss from operations

Year ending: September 2011
Source: 2011 Annual Report to Congress and Comprehensive Statement on Postal Operations

Five pop culture facts about communications

1. Wayne Knight played Newman, the postal carrier, in the TV sitcom Seinfeld
2. Writer Stephen Dobyns' poem, "Pony Express," appeared in Ploughshares in Spring 1985
3. The band Police released "Message in a Bottle" in 1979 on the album Reggatta de Blanc
4. The fictional Pee-Wee Herman Show featured a segment called "Pen Pals from Around the World"
5. Edgar Allan Poe wrote a short story called "MS. Found in a Bottle"

Source: Wikipedia

Find more from this author at Timothy Mathisen or on Twitter @timothymathisen.