Living one note at a time - NALC
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Living
one note at a time
I
n sixth grade, “I picked cartoons Niblock enjoyed watching, The
up the trombone and such as “Tom and Jerry” and “Looney orchestra
thought, ‘This was it,’ ” Tunes.” plays at the Kauffman
Bradley Niblock said. “My parents “My mom could play piano,” he Center for Performing Arts, as well as
will say I never put it down.” said. “My dad could [only] play the other venues such as large churches, at
A local musician recently had visited radio, but they were so supportive.” concerts that are free and open to the
his school, given a presentation about The Kansas City, MO Branch 30 public. Some of Niblock’s co-workers
the instrument and played some jazz member continued playing trombone have come to see him play from time
tunes for the students. Though Niblock throughout his school years, and he also to time.
had played piano for a few years, there was a member of the marching band in Crowds can sometimes reach 800
soon was an instrument tryout night, high school and then at Truman State or more at events in the community.
and that’s when he picked up the University in Missouri, where he earned “It’s really exciting,” Niblock said. “I
trombone for the first time. He never a bachelor’s degree in music. like playing in front of a crowd like
looked back. Later, serving in the Marine Corps, that. It’s a different crowd, [including]
It didn’t hurt that the trombone Niblock played in military bands families. It’s not as formal as a profes-
was used in all of the music for the while stationed in Kanehoe Bay, HI. sional symphony. It’s great exposure to
He played in numerous concerts and music.”
Bradley Niblock parades, as well as at special events Niblock loves helping people con-
such as airfield dedications. Niblock nect to music in person, through live
and his military bandmates also went concerts. That way, he says, “you can
to Sydney, Australia, to play. feel the music notes instead of it being
After spending four years in the played at you.”
Marines, in 1997, Niblock and his wife The 80-plus-member orchestra tries
moved back to Kansas City. He began to put on seven concerts per year. They
with the Postal Service as a clerk the play many classical pieces by compos-
next year, before switching to the car- ers including Brahms, Beethoven and
rier craft in 2003. (He’s now also a stew- Tchaikovsky, though on occasion,
ard and a CCA Academy instructor.) they’ll also have pops concerts in
The carrier soon auditioned and which they play more modern music.
joined a local community symphony. They also usually play a few Christmas
“You learn about other openings” concerts each winter.
while participating, he says, and he If Niblock has time in his schedule,
tried out for the Kansas City Civic Or- he’ll try to squeeze in other concerts
chestra. Niblock earned a spot playing where possible, including with the
his bass trombone. local Lee Summit Orchestra. “I also
32 The Postal Record June 2021
Opposite page, Niblock was
top: Bradley a Marine and
Niblock (r) plays stationed in
in the orchestra’s Hawaii.
trombone section.
play with them occasionally, if they winds, brass—and started playing in band—he’s
need someone,” he said. “I’ll play neighborhoods,” said Niblock, who never gotten
wherever.” was excited to participate. stage fright.
And practice makes perfect. “I play The orchestra has also held some “The big
throughout the week, or else [I] won’t virtual concerts, one of which featured thing is to
make it through a concert,” the carrier the winner of a young artist competi- prepare,”
said. “It’s a physical activity.” tion, a talented high school freshman Niblock
Practicing helps him play better, violinist. said. “Half is
both mentally and physically, he says. And they performed their first pan- preparation, half is getting used to it.”
“Sometimes it’s tough with two kids, demic-era in-person concert in April. He wants to play plenty more con-
but I do what I can,” he added. “It was great” to be back, Niblock said. certs once the pandemic ends. “I hope
The orchestra holds rehearsals every The musicians spread out at a com- to keep playing around town,” he said,
Tuesday night throughout the year, munity college hall and played pieces adding that there are “plenty of oppor-
and performances are held on week- by Beethoven and Haydn, among other tunities in Kansas City.”
ends. Before a major concert, they composers. One thing the carrier knows for sure
have four to six dedicated rehearsals. Niblock’s absolute favorite piece is is that he’ll always be surrounded by
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5. “I’ve music. “It’s just always been in my life
put a damper on the 2020 season. been wanting to play that since col- since I can remember,” he said, both
“Most of the season got canceled last lege and I finally got to,” he said. The playing and listening to music. In ad-
year,” the carrier said, “but what can carrier also enjoys playing pieces by dition, his wife is a music teacher, and
you do?” Brahms, who he says “writes so well one of his children plans to be a music
To keep playing, the members got for trombone.” major in college.
creative, and “Civic in the City” was The carrier says that over decades of Niblock’s favorite aspect of being
born—a series of outdoor recitals per- performing in front of large crowds— part of the civic orchestra is commu-
formed around town while maintain- and even serving as a drum major of nity. “It sounds kind of corny,” he said.
ing appropriate safety measures. “We his high school marching band and oc- “It’s doing something you love, but
started breaking off in groups—wood- casionally conducting with his Marine you’re also giving back.” PR
What’s happening on social media
V
arious news stories and inter- Avalina Whitlow would connect daily
esting anecdotes that celebrate with her letter carrier, Portland, OR
letter carriers and the mail have Branch 82 member Ian Simon. The
been flying around social media. We two would share a dance through the
plan to collect the best ones in this living-room window, and the toddler’s
space. If you come across a story you’d father, David, captured a montage on
like us to consider featuring, send it to video to post online.
social@nalc.org. The video, appeared on major social
media outlets such as YouTube, Face-
Dancing Oregon letter carrier book and Instagram, received millions Avalina Whitlow
raises youngster’s spirits of views and soon garnered attention and Ian Simon
from various media outlets, including
Over the past few months, you may the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), someone can pay, means everything,
have seen a dancing letter carrier tak- “Good Morning America,” Britain’s because it’s been a struggle for
ing over your social media feed. The Daily Mail and HuffPost Canada. everybody,” David Whitlow told PBS
While quarantining during the ongo- “Even the smallest gesture dur- NewsHour in December. “Anybody that
ing COVID-19 pandemic, 3-year-old ing these times, any kindness that does something nice for someone else,
June 2021 The Postal Record 33
News
Social media (cont.)
it really means a lot. And it meant a lot us of what a wonderful community the night before, just her having us in
to me and my family. we have and how fortunate we are to mind with her daily routine.… She’s a
“A lot of positivity has come out have Mark looking out for our family. stranger to us, and that was the kind-
of this video,” he added. “And so, I To us, Mark and his postmaster are est part.”
thought the world needed something the real heroes who made it possible In a statement to ABC News through
to feel good about. And Ian was a huge for a young kid to have a very special a spokesperson for the Postal Service,
part of that, obviously…. I am really experience.” Mary called the act “a small gesture of
glad that everybody else felt so happy kindness.”
when they watched it.” Texas carrier delivers care package “The customer expressed concerns
Simon has received a lot of reaction to customers with COVID-19 about my well-being with contacting
since as well. Houston single mom Lisette the same mailbox as her while she was
“I’m getting messages from people LeJeune was surprised to receive a sick,” she said. “After a few days, I left
all over the world thanking me. It’s care package from her letter carrier a get-well gift at her doorstep because
very inspiring,” he told the news pro- in December while she and her two I appreciated her concern. I didn’t
gram. “One lady started doing Meals sons, ages 14 and 3, were at home expect it to get so big, but I would have
on Wheels [which distributes meals sick with COVID-19. done the same for anybody.”
to elderly residents and people with “I was really sick the first week, so
disabilities]. And her first week on her it was really hard trying to take care Longtime Ohio carrier receives
route, she started dancing the food up of both of them,” LeJeune told ABC’s special sendoff before retirement
to the door. And a lot of the messages, “Good Morning America.”
I tear up. It’s just so heartwarming.” To honor their longtime letter car-
After opening the package that con-
rier’s retirement in March, customers
tained cans of chicken soup, orange
Resourceful New Jersey carrier on Cincinnati, OH Branch 43 member
juice, crackers and cookies, LeJeune
helps young football fan Brett Wittwer’s route got together and
discovered a note from her carrier,
planned a surprise send-off for him,
When Princeton, NJ Branch 268 Mary, saying: “Get-well wishes... I hope
including balloons, decorated mail-
member Mark Egan was handed a you all are feeling better!”
boxes, gift bags and a large banner
letter from 9-year-old customer Rishik Touched, LeJeune wanted to share
with well wishes.
Pannala in December, he noticed that the story.
it didn’t have a mailing address on it. It “The sweetest thing happened this One neighborhood resident, Glenna
was addressed to Tampa Bay Bucca- morning that made my entire year,” Weber Stricklett, told “Good Morn-
neers quarterback Tom Brady. the customer wrote on Facebook. “I’ve ing America” that Wittwer is “always
Egan wanted to help. He and his been home in quarantine with COVID. friendly” and would take great care
postmaster found a potential address I opened the door one day with my when handling their packages.
for the Super Bowl-winning team, and mask on and told my mail lady that “Like if it was a rainy day, and we
mailed the letter. we had COVID[-19] and I would put had something that was kind of large,
A few weeks later, the carrier deliv- a bucket in front of the house so she he would bring it to the door,” she
ered Pannala a missive from the Bucs, could just drop it in without touching said, since many in the area had mail-
which thanked him for being a fan and our mailbox as I get the mail out. This boxes far from the front door.
included a signed photo of Brady. morning we received a care package Wittwer, who delivered mail for 35
The boy was thrilled, and Pannala’s from her.” years, was delighted to see the sur-
father was grateful, too. She told “GMA”: “I guess she saw prises waiting for him along his route.
“My wife and I very much appreci- the bucket was still there in front of my “It was crazy,” Wittwer told the
ate our mail carrier Mark’s kind ges- door two weeks later,” adding, “What show.” “It kind of brings a tear to your
ture,” the father told local TV news made me emotional was just the eye. I probably won’t see most of these
stations. “It is efforts from people thought of her getting the bag ready, people ever again. It’s kind of a strange
like Mark the mailman that remind in the morning before starting work or feeling. I felt happy, but I felt sad.” PR
34 The Postal Record June 2021
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