Have you ever been a paper carrier? If you have, then you know what a demanding job it can be. Show the love to your local paper carrier next Wednesday, September 4, for Newspaper Carrier Day.

Being a paper carrier, or as we used to be called, paperboys and papergirls, was literally a seven-day-a-week job. There was no such thing as a day off. Day or night, rain or shine, the papers must be delivered. In recent years the Daily Sentinel has gone to five days a week, with no paper on Monday or Tuesday.

Back in the mid-1970's, at the ripe old age of six, I began delivering papers on the route around 1st and Orchard in Grand Junction. In time, that route expanded to include the area all the way to KREX.

Please note the distinction between this holiday which is observed on September 4, and International Newspaper Carrier Day which is observed October 10.

Check out the photo at top. The first photo is my mom, my brother, and me, circa 1976. I'm the one at far right. How about that overbite? NOTE: Thanks to my parents for the braces when I was a teenager. Do you see the Suzuki 80 in the back of the way-cool El Camino? I purchased that with my paper route money.

My mom had a route of about 100 papers, my brother about 70, and I had a small route of about 40. My mom died just over a month ago. One of my favorite memories is of the two of us loading up our papers early on a Saturday morning and setting out on our routes. Trust me, delivering the Daily Sentinel at 5:30 a.m. in the middle of winter is no walk on the beach.

September 4 falls on a Wednesday this year, so papers will be delivered. Throw your carrier a tip, or maybe pass along a pleasant note. Let your paper carrier know you appreciate what they do.

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