Something worth celebrating

I had a different post planned for today, but something happened that I have to share.

Yesterday was the final day before retirement of our neighborhood UPS deliveryman, Ben. And the neighborhood threw him a party. Ben is beloved by many residents, and by their dogs as well. Ben brings packages, but he also brings treats.

I do not know Ben well—I don’t get many things delivered, and my front door is set so I don’t easily see people coming and going. But I have been hearing about Ben for years. I’ve been hearing how much the dogs love him. My friend’s dog Piper will try to jump into any UPS truck she sees, because she is so excited and thinks it is Ben.

And so, a party was thrown, and the neighborhood gathered on a central street corner at the end of Ben’s last shift. People came, and they brought their dogs, and it was one of the most delightful thing I have seen in recent memory. There was a farewell poster made with dog pictures, Ben was given a medal to wear around his neck and balloons and someone brought him a garden peony (there was also a gift card, from funds that had been collected). And there were cheers and hugs and Ben said goodbye and chatted with everyone there—his questions showing how well he had gotten to know people along his route.

And the dogs camped out at Ben’s feet and gazed up at him. I couldn’t capture it all—there were fifteen dogs!—but it was amazing. Never have I seen a person so adored by so many dogs. And he adored them right back.

What I learned yesterday, is that not only does Ben pass out treats to the dogs he meets, if their human is not at home he leaves a treat for them on top of the package. And sometimes, I was told, he talks to them through the door if they are home alone.

“My dog is really shocked to discover Ben loves all dogs,” one of the attendees said. “She thought it was only her!”

There was so much love yesterday, it made me get teary eyed.

Because Ben didn’t need to be so friendly, he didn’t need to spend his own money on endless boxes of Milkbones. He could have kept his head down and done his job and gone home. But he didn’t, he chose to engage.

And the neighborhood didn’t have to throw him a party, they could have let him retire and said thanks and left it at that, but they chose to celebrate him. And here credit goes to two neighbors—Sue and Jan—who were the driving and organizing force behind it all.

[There was also significant chatter about how UPS is company where drivers can stop and say hi—a union shop—as opposed to companies who force productivity to such levels the drivers sprint back and forth to the door. (FedEx in non-union and Amazon actively fights unionization efforts). It made me think about how much we are losing on a human scale, how connection is given up to enrich the bottom line.]

And because of people choosing to go above and beyond, of connecting, some neighbors met for the first time yesterday. Conversations happened. Dogs milled joyfully about, and a man was celebrated for his work, his kindness, his efforts, for the difference he has made in so many lives.

I keep thinking: how I can apply this to my own life? How can I go above and beyond? How can I connect? How can I be kind?

Because, at the end of the day, I want to have the sort of impact that Ben had. Whether I am leaving a job or departing this life, I want there to be something worth celebrating. (And please bring all the dogs.)

Ben is off on a well-earned tropical vacation (he’s going to be staying in the vacation house of one of the neighborhood residents). Then, he jokes, he might come back to the neighborhood—as a dogwalker!

If that happens, the neighborhood will be so happy to have him back, and the dogs will be OVERJOYED.

I hope you have a great weekend 🐾