I've typed and deleted several paragraphs in my attempt to start this new blog. I'll just cut to the chase and say that my Dear Hubby suggested that I start this blog to document my morning adventures on my rural motor route (that's a driving paper route).
Part of the morning ritual when I return is him asking, "How did it go? What did you see today?" Then after listening he adds, "You better call your Mom (or sister), they'd love to hear that one ... "
And so here I am. Sitting at my laptop contemplating how much background I need to give before I begin.
To make a long story short, or at least not as long, I'll start by saying that my cute little family has experienced a lot of change in the past two years. Employment, moving twice to two different states, family deaths, friend deaths, children growing up, well you get the picture. In retrospect I can see that there is reason behind change and I am pleased at where we are, though I never would have guessed it.
The last move was to a great, rural city that my children love as much as I do. Rural and cute does tend to come at a cost though and that cost would be fewer fabulously generous career opportunities. We have found it necessary to be creative and this wasn't too difficult since we came from unemployed!
Both Dear Hubby and I have been employed in some capacity since we moved here. Since this my blog I won't bother with the details of his employment. I have worked temporarily as a substitute teacher for the local school district and my littles' private school. I have also contracted with said private school to be their Development Director.
Neither of these are support your family material, even when combined, and I am grateful that I haven't HAD to be the only support. I should mention that there are many more opportunities for employment over the pass and around the corner in the bigger city, and though it is only 25 miles away, it is 25 miles away. I have made the choice to stay local so I can attend activities and be available for my girls.
So ... this past Fall as I waited for the substitute calls to begin (it was a long and creative summer) I happened to start browsing on CraigsList one Sunday evening. I came upon a posting for a driver on an early morning paper route. They listed pay seemed pretty lucrative and I could do it before school started in the morning so I replied to the post to see if it was still available and to get more information.
Within 15 minutes I had a reply, that it was still available, and if I was seriously interested would I please complete the survey questions included in the email and return the email.
WOW! The questions seemed pretty simple and kind of silly: Have you ever done a paper route? Have you ever driven on a paper route? What kind of car do you have? What kind of gas mileage do you get? And so on.
It turns out I HAD done a paper route and it was a car route! I was in Junior High at the time and one of my parents had to drive me, but I had done it (thank you Dave, BTW). We had two vehicles, both in excellent driving condition and they did okay on the gas. I filled it out and waited.
Another reply shortly: the wife would call me in the morning for a phone interview and provide me with details. Okay.
The next day I got the call and must have passed. I was invited to join her on the route the next morning to see if it really was something I was interested in. All I had to do was meet her at the Town Pump at 2:30 am!! The route covered 130 miles round trip and delivered two morning papers to 150 residents plus newspaper racks.
I have to say that my ride-along was quite enjoyable. The conversation was good and the drive went by fairly quickly - at least it didn't seem like the nearly five hours it took. I told her I would like to take a stab at it and so I drove it the next night with her riding along.
She and her husband thought that I would work out and offered me the contract, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
The route is quirky and they had painstakingly mapped out a nice and efficient route. Depending on how you drive, they said, it could be done in as little as four hours and usually more around five. If the weather is bad, it can take longer. The directions have detailed landmarks to help in anticipating the stops in the pitch black night and notes of caution for various hazards one might encounter along the way - mostly wildlife, but some drifting snow and one area of zero cell coverage.
I have been driving this just over two months and I have a load of adventures and stories already. I will begin posting them and doubling up with a few past experiences at first.
Enjoy! And let the adventures begin!!
