Saturday, January 9, 2010

Judy and the Newspaper

It pays to organize your life - new gems keep appearing. This one is a quote from The Daily Olympian - "Judith Petersen, our Olympian carrier, retired June 30. She was faithful, conscientious and dependable in delivering our paper, every day, for almost 20 years. We thank her for the excellent service and wish her well in her retirement." Mrs. Vern Th.........., Olympia
How nice to be appreciated for the service that you give others - Judy always elevated everything to more than a job. (I went with her on her route one afternoon in summer - it wasn't very many miles before she had to stop, and let me lie out by the side of the road for a spell. I don't know if it was the smell of burning brakes and rubber, or the zig-zag motion of the car, or.....) I decided that my younger sister is tougher than "whang leather", which I should have already known! What year was it that you finally retired, Judy?

8 comments:

Dwight said...

Mercy! 20 years! That is amazing.

Ann said...

I did it for 3 years and thought I would go crazy. But it did provide an income when other resources were limited. Judy convinced me I could do it, so I did it. Her "stick-to-it-ness" was always amazing to me. How many cars got worn out on the paper route? How many brake changes were made? And how badly did she miss the smell of the newsprint in her car when she quit?

Judy said...

I don't remember that statement in the paper and to think that Elizabeth kept it! Thank you. I probably took that whole experience for granted. But looking back, "The Route" paid for braces, 3 missions, some help with college. Financially, it was a great blessing. The hardest part was when the Greenriver killer was on the loose in Lacey and I was sure he was going to get me.
But I made 250 new friends, saw many a glorious sunrise, and learned to drive on ice and snow.
Since then,however, there is not a Thanksgiving or Christmas morning that I do not pause and give thanks, that I do NOT have a paper route to do that day.

Judy said...

What is whang leather? I have not heard that for a long time.

Ann said...

It's the best kind.

Elizabeth said...

Judy, according to one website, whang leather is defined as follows: a tie made of deer leather or sinew..unbreakable and strong - used for shoe laces, or other things requiring a strong lace. Western slang. We grew up with the saying?

Dwight said...

never heard of it

Elizabeth said...

Just goes to show that there is still more for you to learn in this world, right?