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Life in the time of Coronavirus: Voices from Silver Spring | Ricky Speight

6/3/2020

13 Comments

 
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What is your profession/involvement in the community?
I’m a letter carrier -- 18 years in the game carrying mail.

How has your life changed since the community has been impacted by Coronavirus?
I’m still employed, still making money, but I’m working a lot of overtime. There’s also so much distancing and being alone. People used to be close like family, but not anymore.

There was a funeral for my nephew, who was 21, yesterday. I couldn’t even go in. I had to watch it on my phone. It was really sad. It was senseless for him to die during this pandemic – and for a dirt bike. There are so many people out there just crying and mad, and his mother just kept passing out. We couldn’t even be there together for her because of social distancing.

Are you working more or less?
I’m working more. I’m working every day.

Being on the front line, we should be getting hazard pay.

What people don’t realize is Fedex, UPS, Amazon – they’re bringing their packages to us so in some ways we have more volume now. My usual shift takes 7 hours and 45 minutes. But it’s longer now because of social distancing. We only have 45 minutes to pick up our mail at distribution before we head out on our routes. That doesn’t give us enough time to get everything, so we often have to come back and get the packages that weren’t ready the first time. That also means the streets you’ve been over you might have to go over again, so sometimes it feels like double the work.

I love my job and I love my route and everyone on it. I’d rather deliver mail in residential areas because I’m more connected with the people. I don’t like doing businesses and business routes because they might be closed or they might move.

What are you most afraid of?
Losing a family member to this pandemic, old or young. As long as you take your vitamins and drink warm tea with lemon, use Lysol and wear your mask and gloves, and you should be okay.

What are you most hopeful for?
I’ll be glad when this is over. But I’ll probably still wear my mask. It’s almost like a post-apocalyptic dream. It’s getting to that point, anyway.

What has been the most challenging part of this experience for you?
I really can’t say it’s a challenge. There’s just a different way we do things. You just have to adapt – adapt to change.

Is there anything – even a tiny thing – you enjoy or like about sheltering in place?
Everything is the same to me. It’s just work. I just like being out and about, and being my own man while I’m one delivery. Especially when the kids see me – you gotta smile. They see me and say hey Mr. Ricky! I’ve watched kids grow up on my route. I’ve been on my route since I’ve been in the post office.

What do you think society as a whole will learn from this experience?
It’s hard to say. People are people. You have to change yourself if you want to change society. Self-preservation is the best teacher. If you aren’t willing to change yourself, society is never going to change.

How are you coping with stress/taking care of yourself?
I get up. I take my vitamins. I drink my tea. That’s the first thing I do. Then I prepare myself for work. I make sure I keep a can of Lysol with me at all times. I don’t spray just to spray – I spray when I need to.

When future generations ask, what will you tell them about this time in your life?
It’s just different. This is more like a curve ball. The pandemic started in February and trump just ignored it. I thought man, all this fool cares about is some votes?

That’s the crazy part – if this guy gets re-elected we’re really gonna be in trouble. Trump is a real estate celebrity con man who conned his way into office and he doesn’t know a damn thing about politics. Then someone tells on him and he fires them. All he wants is 'yes' men. Ever since he got impeached it gave him super powers to do more dumb shit.

I need serenity right now cause it isn’t happening here. It’s like we’re living in a panic, but without panicking. This is only the first wave – we’ll probably get a second strain of this corona. Right now, no one can afford to get sick, have accidents, or injuries. You go to the hospital and end up with the virus all because you needed some stitches. Healthcare is failing in the U.S. the only thing that matters in this world is money. You need to survive. Money isn’t everything, but you can’t do anything without it.

What would you like your friends and neighbors in Silver Spring/Montgomery County to know?
Keep your family close. Tell them you love them every day, and just look out for each other. 

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13 Comments
Tom King ("Doc" to Ricky)
6/3/2020 10:57:41 am

Great story and pics! Really glad to learn more about my favorite Postal Person!

Reply
Sara Horton
6/3/2020 12:20:55 pm

Great piece on a great person. We have love having Ricki as our mail carrier and all-around pleasant presence in our lives. Stay safe!

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Tom
6/3/2020 12:30:48 pm

Mr Ricky is a friend if the family at this point. My daughter loves seeing him and he nick named her karate princess !! We are very lucky to have someone with his positive attitude and energy in our lives.

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Jane
6/3/2020 01:13:45 pm

Ricky cannot be replaced - he is just a devoted, ever-smiling and very lively part of our neighborhood life!

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Cathy
6/3/2020 04:08:32 pm

Ricky is the unofficial mayor, rapper and friend to each of us. He is our glue! He delivers joy!

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Amy
6/3/2020 04:09:27 pm

Ricky,, I don't know you well, but totally agree with you. The fact that you deliver my packages as it's hard for my to get out at times. We have to make a big change in this next election - I've never voted absentee before, but I trust you to get my vote in on time - that means so much to me - it's a critical time in our country's history. Email and the Internet are great, but we also need a strong mail system and dedicated associates like you - Thank you!

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Joanne
6/3/2020 04:40:49 pm

Thank you for your positivity and opening up about your world, Ricky! It benefits everyone to learn about different people's experiences that we otherwise may not think about.

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Jen, Mike, & Neville
6/3/2020 05:04:34 pm

We love Ricky - he's such a positive presence in our neighborhood. And our dog, Neville, loves him too!!!

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Juanita newell
6/3/2020 06:06:44 pm

Wonderful pictures and comments about Ricky, our beloved neighborhood postman, who
provides outstanding service as he zips around the neighborhood to deliver and pick up our outgoing mail. Ricky is always upbeat with his warm smile and abundance of energy. Huge kudos to Ricky.

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Bob Bailey
6/3/2020 09:45:40 pm

Ricky is the greatest. Never had a better mailman, ever.
...Bob

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Margaret Jenkins
6/3/2020 10:21:39 pm

I think all of us here feel lucky to have Ricky in our lives. He is not only great at his job he is a wonderful human being. Hooray for RIcky

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Nancy Gehman
6/4/2020 09:35:58 am

Ricky is the best! We are very fortunate t have him as our mail carrier. Thank you for the photos and interview.

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Prudence Bushnell Boyer
6/8/2020 11:28:51 am

Ricky is a gem. Pictures are dynamic and capture his spirit. Interview is sterling. He certainly has watched our kids grow up. And he nails it about Trump. Kudos to Jonna and to Ricky. And deepest sympathy, Ricky, about the tragic loss of your young nephew.

Reply



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    Hey there! I'm Jonna! I'm a family photographer serving Silver Spring, Maryland and beyond. During the Covid-19 crisis, I'm using my free time to document the lives of friends and neighbors as we live through a pandemic. Learn more.

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Jonna Huseman | The Sligo Creek Photographer | jonna.michelle@gmail.com
Family photographer | Silver Spring, MD

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