“The job was a Godsend…” Gladys Resler stated reflecting on the reason why she and her husband of 48 years, Lenny, began delivering the St. Croix Valley Peach back in July at the ages of 70 and 77 respectively. “We knew we needed some extra money, not a lot, but with the economy the way it is,” She recalled.
Gladys and Lenny have lived in Lindstrom for the past eighteen years, having found an early love for the area raising their two kids and teaching them to fish on Green Lake. When the couple moved to Lindstrom they developed a routine that included reading the weekly Peach every Sunday, and never missing a night of church at St. Bridget of Sweden Catholic Church here in town. However, during July of this past year there were several times when the Resler’s routine was disrupted. Sometimes when Lenny went to the mail room to collect the weekly Peach for him and his wife to devour, he found disappointment at the bottom of an empty newspaper rack. The peach had not been delivered.
A disgruntled Lenny called the office of the Peach each time this occurred, trying to find out what was going on and why he was sometimes not receiving his beloved newspaper until Monday evening. Finally when this happened at a time when the retired Resler’s were looking for a way to spend their extra time, (when they are not bowling or playing a round of golf of course!) along with creating a little bit of extra income, Lenny called with more of an agenda than just to get his weekly Peach fill. When he called this time he also asked if there were any available routes that he and his wife could take on. As luck would have it, there were two available routes, so Lenny and Gladys started out with just one of those. After they finished their first route shortly thereafter Gladys recalls, “I didn’t think we would physically be able to keep doing it! I couldn’t believe it took so long to deliver them all!”
Now, after staying at it for about six months, the Resler’s have the delivery down to a science. A week of delivering the Peach in the lives of Gladys and Lenny starts on Thursday, when they pick up the first batch of ads they have to bring home, sort through, and put together in their living room. On Friday they receive the final few ads, including the Peach, and finish putting everything together, making sure the Peach is always on top, “because that’s what pays the bills!” Lenny offers with a chuckle.
Next comes the delivery. After beginning with just one route, they quickly graduated to adopting three regular routes, two in Chisago and one in Lindstrom. With so many cardboard boxes gleaned from the local liquor store and filled with papers to encompass all three routes it would never be able to fit in their car in just one trip, so they split it up. First they fill up the car and proceed with the two Chisago routes. Once they are finished they return home, where they sit down for a quick lunch together before packing up their car with what is left and heading out for their Lindstrom route.
Out on the route with Lenny and Gladys isn’t like any normal paper delivery team. Gladys, having been born completely paralyzed on her right side, is not able to reach out the window with that arm to slip the papers into their box. Therefore, Lenny actually has to pull their car up much closer to the mailboxes than most postmen, so that Gladys is able to reach her left arm across her body to reach the box through the window. “I have to stop and sit down a lot while we compile the ads at home, because of my disability you know, but Lenny is just great. He just keeps plugging along with the papers and says, ‘just let me know if you need me honey!’ oh, we make such a good team!” They do make a pretty great team together, out delivering the Peach every week. It started out as a way to make ends meet, but now it has grown to a love. The Resler’s really love what they do, delivering the Peach. They look forward to doing it each weekend and couldn’t be happier with what has occupied their spare time. What an inspirational couple. They are definitely people to look up to with the utmost respect. Even after spending such a short amount of time with them, I know that I sure do!
Do you know a Super Senior, someone over the age of 55 with a story that is inspirational, motivational, and unique? Make a suggestion for the featured Super Senior next month. Email me their story and contact information to Ellen@watterswords.com .