“So, where does your work ethic come from, David?” I was a slow learner in class but was fast on my feet so when the chance to substitute on a paper route came up, I jumped on it even if I was only 12 1/2 years old.
You get up at 5:00AM before school to start folding newspapers in the chill of the morning.
You then venture out in the dark towing 75lbs of papers on weekdays and 100lbs on Sunday of tightly wrapped news stories packed like sardines into large canvas saddle bags straddling the bikes back tire.
Hot cocoa by Mom to warm the bones and out to conquer the neighborhood, you pop a wheelie as you leave the comforts of Moms warm garage.
Rolling down the middle of the road throwing paper after paper, reciting each name of the account as you did, Smith, Brown, Goldberg. By the time the sun came up the bags would be empty; hopefully no extras, that’s a problem.
There is no calling in late in the paper route business, no last-minute flu allowed, no stuck in traffic. The news must get out, Moms needed their coupons to be delivered.
I had some tough accounts and some real nice ones too that I didn’t want to let down. They wanted their paper on time and trusted me to get it to them on time rain or shine, holiday or not, on the porch not the lawn or walk way, we were trained professionals. Not by my employer but a legendary contractor (Rocky Gamber) he let me know loud and clear how and where to deliver the paper perfectly.
So, with today’s great digital /computer technology we can and do deliver all our photography sessions within 24 hours. “Because that’s how a paperboy would do it”.
By the way, September 4th was the National Newspaper Carrier Day it goes back to 1833.
Hope you enjoyed your Hump Story.