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SHERRY “Hi there, I’m Sherry McPeak and I’m your new postmis- tress.” That was my first encounter with Sherry who in her happy and distinctive voice was to become an active mem- ber of our community for approximately eight and one half years. How can you describe a person like Sherry? Well, we do not usually keep a running diary and list a vast array of attribute nor a series of anecdotes and occurrences that can be used as a remembrance for one so young and full of life. Just a few days ago I went in to mail something and Sherry in her usual fashion told me a joke. We shared a laugh and as did several others who hearing the hilarity stuck their heads in and joined in the laughter when told the story. This was a frequent occurrence since no one liked a good joke and a laugh better than she did. Before Sherry arrived there was some rumour that the Post Office would be closed much to the chagrin of a number of residents but fortunately it wasn’t. It was a long drive from Belleville every day especially in the winter but she was seldom late. The old pick-up she drove was barely held together with bailing wire and duct tape and several of us expressed concer which she tended to laugh off. Valerie was there one morning as a white-faced post mistress drove in through the snow. “That’s it” she said. On questioning she advised that just outside Joel Walker’s house she had lost control in the snow and ice, not surprising considering the state of the tires, and was heading directly for a very large tree when somehow the truck stopped sliding and she was able to pull out and finish the drive to Milford. She bought a new car after that incident Sherry became part of the community as witnessed during her first summer when the typical featureless government building suddenly sprang into bloom. Gardens, hanging pots, and manicured lawns added character to the building and made the comer more attractive than I had ever seen it before. Even the town was inspired to lay new sidewalks. She badgered her superiors. When the community wanted a Christmas tree on the lawn in front of the Post Office she went into action. We’ve all heard of the Chinese water tor- ture where one is immobilized and a drop of water hits your forehead constantly until you submit — well Sherry didn’t believe in drops of water but rather a full spray and so a tree was planted in the front bed. Sherry was a member of Christ Church (Anglican) in Belleville and was overjoyed when the Christmas tree lighting became a focal point of a celebration that included a wagon ride and ended up in St. Philip’s for hot chocolate and goodies. Sherry was a hard worker, not only for the Post Office but she also held down another job in Belleville to assist in raising the family. She came by this work ethic from her childhood raised in a house on the hill overlooking Halifax Harbour. She was busy just a week ago and expressed to Valerie, another knitter, her concern that she wouldn’t complete the afghan she was making for the new baby ex- pected by her daughter. She finished in time and her daughter’s second child was a healthy boy. Despite her hard work she did, over the last year, unknown to her employers, have a helper — Chauncey her dog. I was there the day he first arrived and saw him most days ‘til this week. He thrived here and was a bundle of love and joy. His face would appear in my box as I took the mail or, if in the office, under the door of the counter. He loved to lick and when I got home my dog was most intrigued with Chauncey’s smell and a little miffed that she hadn’t the op- portunity to play directly with him which she did on occa- sion. Sherry made many friends while she was here and added to the life of the village. Early on she and another young mother who lived here then joined Weight Watchers. Eve- ryone was entranced as both of them lost and lost weight. Sherry used to eat pop corn for lunch and it seemed like you were going to the movies when you visited the Post Office. They had a contest on who was losing the most and I forget who won but it didn’t matter, we felt part of a family cheering them on for the effort. Another time Valerie was visiting the Post Office and found Sherry crouching behind the counter — she had man- aged to spill a can of paint over her official Post Office uni- form and didn’t have a change of clothes. Being the Post Continued on page 12