Imagine a life where flowers couldn’t be sent to loved ones onValentine’s Day, pizza couldn’t be ordered late at night anddelivered in 30 minutes or less and mom’s cookies couldn’t be sentin the mail.

This would be a life without the services of delivery people.Every day delivery people put themselves in danger by braving harshweather conditions, bad directions, rude customers and killersquirrels in order to provide services to the students and facultyof Simpson College. Without their daily heroic efforts the Simpsoncampus would be unable to function efficiently.

“Squirrels here are creepy because they come after me when Icarry packages. They’re not scared of anything,” junior Jill Baxtersaid.

Baxter has been working in the Simpson mailroom for three yearsand can’t imagine having any other work study job. During a typicalday, Baxter runs errands, delivers packages to all areas of campusand tends to the students who need assistance.

“I answer the bell and play on the computer,” Baxter said.

According to Baxter, people are normally nice to her but thereare always those who feel as if everyone should wait on them.

“Just yesterday I had girl yell at me for not having anymoreWall Street Journals in the newspaper rack, but I just thinkinstances like that will help me better my people skills,” Baxtersaid.

Five-month Pizza Hut delivery veteran, Jamie Abendroth, agreeswith Baxter that most students are nice when he waits on them.

Abendroth, 23, says the main problem he faces while working isfinding where all the pizzas need to go.

“It’s hard knowing all the street addresses in the area, plus wejust got a new manager so lately it’s been twice as hectic,”Abendroth said.

Abendroth enjoys the atmosphere at Pizza Hut and recommends thejob to students who want to earn some cash.

“It’s not a hard job but it’s not real easy either – the key ishaving a good attitude,” Abendroth said.

Abendroth likes his job though he doesn’t see it as a long-termcareer. He has other plans for his life besides deliveringpizza.

“My goal and life-long dream is definitely not to deliver pizza- I want to own a bar and grill in Colorado,” Abendroth said.

The delivery-service profession may not be in Abendroth’s futurebut to Hy-Vee’s Bill Ihnen there’s nothing better.

“I’ve worked at Hy-Vee as a delivery person for 35 years – Iretired once but then I came back,” Ihnen said.

Ihnen, too, has had no problems dealing with Simpson students orfaculty. What gets to be a problem for him is finding a time whenstudents are actually home for him to deliver things to.

“I don’t have any problems [with students] but sometimes it’shard to find anyone home,” Ihnen said.

According to Ihnen, his co-workers and managers are friendly. Hesaid Hy-Vee provides its employees with good experience. He thinkscollege students would enjoy working in a place like Hy-Vee.

“If [students] work at Hy-Vee and keep their noses clean theycan go all the way,” Ihnen said.