Observations While Delivering Phone Books......

Doug and Alyssa and I have been delivering phone books for about a week. Now, we've done this before--back when we lived in Lakeland. But for some reason, this time I became keenly aware of my surroundings with every delivery. So....you guessed it, I felt inspired to write about what I experienced.....

First of all, let me say that it is easy to take the abundance of gorgeous flowers, shrubs and trees that we have in Florida for granted. I am so glad that I was able to enjoy the beauty along the way......

After picking up our first load of books, we proceeded to bag each one. It took about a day or so to get a system. Doug and I took turns, driving, bagging and delivering with Alyssa mostly bagging (even though she wanted to drive...NOT!) and delivering some. The Florida sun was HOT, it was in the nineties the first few days. Then the Lord was merciful 'cause we got a few sprinkles and overcast weather which cooled things off a bit.....Doug delivered in the rain because I didn't want to get frizzy! (he's so sweet....)

We ate junk food (Mac Donald's and Taco Bell) to save money and keep our energy up. We drank gallons and gallons of water and Power Ade. I have never liked Gatorade (no offense, Travis!) but I developed a taste for Power Ade. And it works! It really helps keep you going....( and the apple empanada at Taco Bell didn't hurt, either.....)


Day One: My arms and shoulders were aching from carrying five phone books at a time. Big mistake. But, of course, I think "I'm toning my arms!" Great exercise..... Doug's back and foot hurt him.

Day Two. My arms and shoulders are still aching but now I carry only four books at a time and try to evenly distribute the weight....Doug's hamstrings hurt--probably from going up driveway inclines....My calves feel the "burn".....

Day Three: Both of us experience shin pain but my arms and shoulders no longer ache when I'm not carrying books (only WHEN I'm carrying books!)

Day Four: Alyssa is getting harder to get moving--as in out the van door--to deliver! We are all sick of phone books.....

Day Five: Less pain. We had to bribe Alyssa to continue to help us...... (yes, we're paying her!). I think of it as--"this side, that side, get done, get done, get done." And I look and observe as I power walk.....

I have to add that as the days wear on, we all get grumpy and grouchy and snap at each other.......but we keep going......

Trailer Park: One part of the park (I suspect the newer section) had mostly nice mobile/manufactured homes. It seems to me that peoples' personality/temperaments are reflected in their "homes". For instance, I saw MHs and yards that were orderly and clean and even plush. Then I saw some that had junk everywhere. This was also true of the moderate income neighborhoods with "regular" houses. I saw lots of "Support Our Troops" and "God Bless the USA" car magnets as well as American flags and yellow ribbons indicating to me the obvious-- old people are patriotic. Surprisingly, I only saw 3 team spirit emblems: 1 Bucs, 1 Green Bay and 1 Steelers. I even saw 2 homes with Kokopelli decor (a Southwest thingy)....


Old People (OPs) are fond of pottery, stone and resin stautes. I saw everything from birds, squirrels, deer, frogs, a skunk family, angels, fairies and gnomes. And you can always tell the Catholics because they have statues of Mary or St. Francis of Assisi in their yards. Yes, I saw several butterflies on outside walls and trees. I particularly liked a pretty pink one! OPs are also quite enamored by mirror balls. I saw several in many different colors......

Odd Yards: The "psychedelic " yard was decorated with huge blue and yellow flowers with touches of red (?) flowers on the lattice work above.....But the prize (?) for the oddest yard goes to--a MH with several lighthouses and about 20 bowling balls glued (Doug said) to 4 X 4s around the perimeter of the yard!

The trailer park had cute street names such as: Whistle Stop, Boxcar, Caboose, Klickety Klak Lane and Choo Choo. Then there were the berries: Strawberry Shortcake, Strawberry Ridge, Strawberry Junction, Wildberry and Cranberry...just to name a few. These were all in the same TP--go figure!

Aside from the plastic of those who are not into gardening, I saw an abundance of beautiful flowers. I saw Hibiscus in light pink, peach, orange and yellow and deep pink. Some blooms were the size of small saucers! I saw few rose bushes which surprised me but there were an abundance of impatience in bright colors. burgundy bouganvillas, yellow allamanda and oleander in pinks and whites (pretty but poisonous!). Of course, palm trees and magnolia trees were plentiful.... But my absolute favorite were the crepe myrtle! These shrubs have clusters of tiny crinkled flowers in white, light pink, deep pink, lavendar, fuchsia and a gorgeous crimson. This must be blooming season because I see them everywhere! Eye candy, if you will.... I had the pleasure of walking on grass so thick and green that it would do a carpet shame! Oh yeah, did I mention one yard was filled with cactus? Are they trying to send out a message?

We also delivered to moderate and above moderate neighborhoods. My observations there: Some of the nicer homes had leaded glass doors--beautiful! Some of the junkiest homes had fancy, expensive SUVs parked out front. 95% of all homes, including mobile, have alarm systems. I know this because of all the signs in the yards and windows. Is this because there is a lot of crime in Valrico or is it because people are hoping to scare off would be burglars? Some of the garages (open) and yards were just filthy (and reeking with animal urine and feces) and filled with junk. And this was not a so called "bad" neighborhood......

The afore mentioned ornamentals were pretty much the same in the "regular" neighborhoods as in the MHP except that there were a few more fountains and I even saw a pond with real koi swimming around! (I have dreamed of owning a yard that looks like a tropical paradise overflowing with abundant flora and you guessed it--a koi pond!)

Okay. The weird house prize goes to the guy with the skull and crossbones flag flying from his house and a plastic (at least I hope so!) skull at the gable....although, there was a house painted the most putrid shade of pink (and I love pink!) that I can't even describe it....Honorable mention goes to the house that had community newspapers so old that they had disintegrated into yellow blobs on the driveway......

Although the MHP wins the "prize" for most patriotic, patriotism lives here too. In addition to the usual, I saw an American flag painted on the curb next to the number of one home and the garage of another decked out in stars, stripes AND flag....

Animal tales: I didn't see any vicious dogs at all. I HEARD many dogs barking from inside their homes to let me know that they were doing their jobs to protect. One little dog on a leash at the MHP did fall in love with me--he kept wagging his tail and tried to follow me down the street. One beautiful black and white cat rubbed it's head up against Alyssa several times for a pat. And Doug tossed one phone book too close to a cat that almost jumped out of it's skin!

One home I delivered to had a butterfly mat outside the door and just as I was walking up, a huge Monarch butterfly flew right across in front of me--I call it a "hug" from God!

The people: We didn't have much interaction with them because they either weren't home or were hiding behind their curtains peering out at us. One man did give Alyssa a bottle of water (don't worry, it was sealed!) and one woman offered me a drink (I declined). Most people that we did talk to were nice. One man tried to hit on me. And one neighborhood we went into had several boys follow us around several streets trying to get a peek at Alyssa! Doug made her get in the van but i thought it was funny! Two other guys gave her the eye so he got out, made her get in and gave then "the look". You know, the "Put your eyeballs back in your head before I rearrange your face" look!

That's about it. Bet you didn't think delivering phone books in the hot Florida sun could be so much fun!