PANDEMICALLY SPEAKING- postmen and doors

We are fortunate to have two of the best and brightest postpeople around. One teaches self-defense and travels on his days off to exotic and far away places to teach others or attend conferences. A couple of times a year he goes to Harker's Island with some friends who fish and he may too, I'm not sure. When he comes back from those trips, he brings back the most beautiful photographs taken with his phone. His artistry catches more than color and place. It is truly amazing. When I first came back to work, in between surgeries, he'd ask me if I was walking again during lunch. " This is a great day for it!" or " Are you going walking today?" " Have you been yet?" His coaching really helped me get back into that and I am thankful for the support..

Our other wonderful regular mail deliverer is Bobby the mailman. He is jovial and talks fast. He has a strong faith that he likes to share when he comes by. He also loves chocolate, so sometimes I share from the hidden secret chocolate stash that I can't -even-tell-you-where-it -lives-here-at-work that is how good the goods are, friends. When we made big changes due to the virus, i.e. when we locked down the church, and I relocated my office to the front desk; the only way we could really get the regular mail, was to catch it on sight. The front doors being glass, my eyes kept darting that way so I wouldn't miss him. We learned how to play postman toss- and -catch to help us keep our distance from each other.

One particularly beautiful day, I lingered at the open door and we chatted a bit with loud voices to cover the distance between us. He told me he had a friend who was just getting over the onerous bug. The friend told him to be sure to drink twice as much water as usual, and he passed this vital info on to me, adding, "This is critical. You must do this!"  I agreed wholeheartedly, but told him that if he came to bring the mail and I was not at the front desk, it would be his fault and he would have to wait because more likely than not, I would be in the ladies' room. He understood and very confidently told me, not to worry. IF that happened, he'd wait all day if he had to, because it is so important to drink more water.

After a couple of weeks, I grew accustomed to activity going on outside the front doors. My side-eyes checked every few seconds for any activity out there. Then the palm crosses went up. One on each of the double glass doors that are used to welcoming folks in instead of keeping people out.
Those things kept me on edge for a week! They look like two people standing outside with their arms outstretched like a 'T'. One day, our custodian came by and walked past me toward the doors, I felt him pass by, but did not lookup. I heard the front door open, and I assumed he had left but then I heard him say, "I don't know why she didn't see you- how long you been standing out there? It's a good thing you sent me a text." The workman said he hadn't been there long and didn't want to rattle the doors which is a good thing because I might have jumped a mile thinking those two palm figures on the doors had come to life!!!