文／法式軟糖
Floyd Martin在美國喬治亞州一個社區擔任35年的郵差，最近他要退休了，社區居民為了他裝飾自己的信箱、送他禮物，甚至辦了一個盛大的派對。《亞特蘭大憲法報》（Atlanta Journal-Constitution）記者Jennifer Brett記錄Martin最後一次為500戶人家送信的路途，這些歡樂溫馨的照片在推特上爆紅。
照片被發佈後，該社區住戶紛紛在推特上描述Martin一個又一個貼心事蹟：
THREAD: Floyd Martin retires after nearly 35 years as a mailman tomorrow. I went with him on his route today. pic.twitter.com/qZhUVY7Sz8
— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 22, 2019
Martin和其他的郵差不一樣，他不像其他郵差，將郵件投入信箱便結束工作。Martin會觀察這些住戶，如果家中有懷孕或剛分娩的媽媽，他會主動將郵件送到門口；如果是獨居老人，除了送貨上門，Martin還會幫忙倒垃圾、多送一份報紙；Martin很喜歡動物，街區許多浪浪都被他餵過。更厲害的是，Martin知道哪家孩子即將畢業，會偷偷在信箱裡塞20元零用錢，以及一份自己準備的畢業禮物。
Floyd is a tall, slender, very fit 61. His job involves lots of walking, which keeps him in great shape. But he is done with the heat. In summertime, the mail truck is basically a rolling oven. Last summer, Floyd decided, would be his last. pic.twitter.com/8v7HtKlCcV
— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 22, 2019
在這裡居住25年的住戶Becky Poole表示，「這幾年我過得很艱難，但當Martin每次見面給我一個大大的擁抱時，我就知道自己會好起來。」Becky Poole還說，她母親患有多發性硬化症，走路經常摔倒，好幾次，她看到Martin熱心地扶母親站起來。
搬來11年的Sarah Bullington說，Martin佔據他們心裡很大的份量，以至於她的3歲女兒在學校舉辦「職業體驗活動」時，堅持扮成郵差的模樣，後來Martin也參加了女兒的生日派對。另一位鄰居Amanda seal表示，「我奶奶從我大學時就不斷稱讚Martin，現在奶奶老了，患有癡呆症、視力嚴重退化，但是她還記得Martin是誰，那個善良的郵差。」
Doreen Hipps, 87, has been on his route since the beginning. Her granddaughter Amanda Seals spoke on her behalf tonight. "Dementia has set in, and she doesn't see well anymore, but she still knows Floyd." pic.twitter.com/h5z5ij92hw
— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 24, 2019
Martin謙虛地向記者表示，不只他對居民好，這裡的居民也對他很好，早就把他當成家人，過年過節會邀他到家裡吃飯、送他禮物；如果車子在路上拋錨，下一秒就會有人從家裡衝出來幫他處理。
幾個月前，當鄰居們聽說Martin打算退休時，他們便計畫舉辦隆重的派對為他送行，發起人偷偷在社區信箱裡塞傳單，上面寫滿當天給Martin的驚喜。最後，出乎發起人意料，多達350名鄰居響應，包括各個年齡層。
所有人在Martin最後一天送信前，悄悄裝飾了自家的信箱，當Martin經過時，他們給他一個大大的擁抱，和他說了很多話。Martin最後得到的信件和包裹，似乎比送出去的還要多，工作結束的時間也比平常晚了許多。
"He feeds all the cats," said Peggy Corn, who's been on Floyd's route for decades. "They all know him, and they know that buggy!"
— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 22, 2019
"The dogs, too," Floyd said. "The dogs get Milk Bones." pic.twitter.com/ktZSBxlgfE
Floyd lives in Atlanta with his dog Gigi. It'll be a little weird to just receive mail and not deliver it anymore. "I'm just going to smile," he said. He doesn't have children, just the 500 houses worth of kids he spends 6+ hours with every day. He hopes to go to Hawaii one day. pic.twitter.com/W0RHdRvzgj
— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 22, 2019
Floyd is the youngest of 4. It was his mom's idea for him to join the USPS. He's sad she's not here to see this send-off. Joyce Hardin's mother is on Floyd's route and said he totes her newspaper to the porch. "Thank you for taking care of mama, after daddy passed," she said. pic.twitter.com/8hdnKf22Xt
— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 22, 2019
Morgan Beatton and River, 18 months, waited for Mr. Floyd today. As always he had treats for their dog, Sage. He said he'll come visit and attend events like Taste of Marietta. "I'll be back," he said. "Y'all are my life."
— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 22, 2019
- 30- pic.twitter.com/C3g3Mq5Dbb
Update! People on Floyd's route decorated their mailboxes to surprise him on his last day pic.twitter.com/7vo8Gepv2s
— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 24, 2019
I mean they were *all* into it. pic.twitter.com/8nkF8Deg9B
— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 24, 2019
當Martin送完最後一封信時，鄰居將他帶到派對現場，老人、青少年、嬰兒和狗狗全部圍繞著Martin，大家不斷排隊上來與他擁抱和拍照。Martin感動地說，他自己沒有孩子，這些鄰居就像他的孩子，「以後不能照顧你們了，你們要好好的喔！」
鄰居也發起一項募款，計畫將Martin送到夏威夷度假，那是他一直想的旅行。據說達美航空看到這個消息後，表示願意提供免費機票讓Martin好好放鬆一下，答謝他對鄰里、對這個世界的愛與熱情！
Once his very last shift was finally over, the neighborhood had another surprise for Mr. Floyd. 300+ people came to a covered dish block party in his honor. pic.twitter.com/8UvAclP6CA
— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 24, 2019
There was a huge buffet set up with covered dishes people brought but I don't know if Floyd got a bite to eat or not .. he posed for a zillion photos! pic.twitter.com/C64KJ7Ax0d
— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 24, 2019
Another update! Neighbors have launched an official Go Fund Me to help Mr. Floyd realize his dream of visiting Hawaii one day. https://t.co/SPlhOXf8bW
— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 24, 2019
People stood in line all night for hugs and photos. Floyd's known these guys since they were babies. "Now you guys are as tall as I am!" pic.twitter.com/yb6UwiyJtz
— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 24, 2019
VIA twitter＠Jennifer__Brett、buzzfeednews、hereinuk
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