A repeat of a Holiday message originally written and  posted in December of 2016. Merry Christmas to all …

Al Bailey’s my newspaper guy. For 26yrs he has delivered my morning paper. 5:15am every morning, double wrapped rain or shine. Has never missed! Al’s amazing. I have sent him a check every year in thanks. For his dedication … his passion. Making sure his many friends get their morning paper for coffee, their daily crossword, last night’s sports scores. At this joyous time of year Al Bailey is a gift for sure… a Christmas gift. There are so many “Als” in our lives aren’t there? Deserving a little gift, a “tip” this Christmas from you and me. The waiter who delivers excellent service plus**… the smiling parking valet who asks your name on arrival, then remembers your name when you return … two weeks later. The handy man who shows up and performs those little “miracles” on your home. The smiling checkout gal at the food store who takes you grocery cart to your car. (On Labor Day I gave my check out gal at Publix named “Harmony” $20. She blushed, “Mr Bob, your gift just made my weekend.”)

On and on… you have those special people in your life who are simply “of service.” to you. “Tip” them this year. I make a nice living. Let’s call it “X” a year. Those I mention above, well, let’s assume they make 5, 10% of “X” a year. Minimum wage for some of them? $15 an hour. But consider this. I tipped dear Harmony $20 on Labor Day. It didn’t dent my wallet. But to her? It was maybe … a few hours pay at the food store, two lunches? Gas for her car? My small $20 tip meant a lot to her… much, much less to me. I realized that my gift to her gave her a little touch of joy. Me? Just love from her smile. When you consider how generous you might be this Christmas, think of the impact your tips has to those “of service” to you. 20, 50 a $100 will mean far less to you than it will mean to them.

Admission: I waited for Al Bailey in my driveway at 5:15am yesterday… handed him a nice check for his “gift” this Christmas and every morning in 2016. Al’s reply, “Wow! Mr Brickley, thank you. This is wonderful.” Thought about it. Al, it was wonderful for me too. I hope you will think so when you consider the Als in your life and the bucks, the tips you might send their way this Christmas.