I was a rural carrier and an RCA for 31 years. Got a lot of cookies and candy, but only a few tips, which was fine with me. There was no way I could eat all that stuff, especially after the Amish and Mennonites moved in and started giving me all that homemade food. Now, despite what some of you believe, they are not known for their cleanliness, and there was no way I was going to eat anything they made. I knew a couple of people in the community that didn't have a lot, and I would load them down with stuff for about a two week period. They appreciated it, and I guess didn't care where it came from.
On something of a side note, I did know a carrier at another post office who claimed that a certain gal on his mail route would give him something "special" at Christmas, as well as on a few other occasions throughout the year. He said the Christmas one was always the best.
