Red and Rover by Brian Basset for July 27, 2009

Ah the days of paper routes. To this day despite that thing we called “the internet”, the paper route still exsist…for now.

I hated delivering papers, but that was because I carried them like Red, in a bag on my shoulder. Now they just drive around and throw them from the window.

Yeah, it’s not the same anymore. My kid wants a paper route, but I would have to be up to drive him. And he would have to compete with twenty-some year olds. He’s 13, go figure!

I used to hang the bags off the handlebars of my bike. & had to hit the porch. None of this “it’s in the driveway” for my customers.

Red would need a really good arm to get my paper up to my house. We have a looong driveway. We get a local paper and those guys just walk through the yards.

That paper routes are now done by adults in cars as opposed to kids on bikes is more a social commentary. Would you feel safe sending your 12 year old out at oh-dark-hundred to deliver papers these days?

No, but the kid who used to deliver the paper was awesome. When the adult took over the route i always had the paper in the puddle, in the neighbors yard, not delivered.