Cars and my job

Just having purchased another car and having cars as my theme for our semester project, I thought I would write a bit about cars and how important they have become in my line of work. As most of you know, I am a rural carrier associate which is a fancy name for being a substitute. I work when the regular carrier does not want to work. Anyway, for the last few years, I have been driving a van (on the passenger side) for my route. This creates a very difficult position for my body to be in for four hours. Spread-eagle is the basic position but then I sit on a board (hard) and my back has to rests against the upright arm of the captain's chair(hard also). Two weeks ago I purchased a Honda Element which was reconstructed to include right-hand drive capabilities. It has been wonderful. Not having to drive with my left hand or pass people who think they are seeing a driverless car speeding towards them is much safer than otherwise. Children have looked in my car at times and said, "How do you drive on the wrong side of the car?" My response is, "It's not easy." Then I let them see how I sit in the middle of the front seat on the board and hold the mail in my lap. Getting out of the car was also very difficult. I stack mail beside me, on the floor, on the dash and in the backseat so when I have to deliver a package to the door, of all the shenanagins that are required to unseat myself was something to behold. Now, I just open the door and step out - of the wrong side!

Martha Smith