Today, I accepted my second Amazon Flex block ever. It was a 4-hour block that paid $95. When my husband and I pulled into the lane as directed in the outdoor Amazon loading dock, I was happy to see only two bins of packages for me to deliver today. I proceeded to scan and load the packages into my car, Olive. (She is little and black, so her name is perfect! And, did I mention she gets 45mpg in town? 37mpg on the highway? Yes!) 

As I started sorting the envelopes into the plastic tote to keep them from getting lost amongst the boxes, I noticed one was addressed to a lady in Inkom and one in Pocatello. Turns out that all of the packages were going to Pocatello or Inkom. What!? I had to drive an hour before I could even start delivering?! That was unexpected. I thought all of the deliveries I would be doing as a flex driver would be local. I wasn’t so sure it was worth the money.

Especially when at one of the last stops, I had a huge scare… my first run-in with not just one, but two huge dogs! Rottweilers? Mastiffs? One of each? I am not sure, but they each had a bark like they could take me down and eat me in one gulp! Maybe two or three.

I had walked warily past the beware of dogs sign, up the steps, and onto the large deck toward the front door. I paused before reaching out to knock, as I could see that the door behind the heavy old-fashioned wooden blue painted screen door was open.

They must have heard my approach. Just then, the first dog flew through the unlatched screen door, throwing it open so hard it slammed against the house. I was surprised, but honed in on his barking mouth. He did not bare his teeth or foam at the mouth as he ran past me, rather than straight at me. In that split second, I figured I would be ok. Until… the second dog came barreling through the screen door at break-neck speed. I prepared for the worst. My entire body tensed, waiting for the bite. My arm? My leg? Would he jump at me to attack? Nope. He ran right past me, barking louder than his buddy.

At the same moment, his owner with a gray scraggly beard appeared at the door. Walking through the door, he gently placed his hand on my shoulder to calm me. (I am sure I looked petrified.)

His wife, not much taller than those big dogs, followed behind him and said, “The dogs won’t bite. They are friendly.”

I exhaled, forced a smile, said thank you, and handed her the bubble-padded envelope. She walked with me back to my car parked in the dirt driveway a fair distance from her front door. Her husband secured the dogs near the house.

I opened my car door and melted into my seat, finally able to breathe normally. I backed us down the driveway and out onto the road. The shaking and teary eyes could not be helped as my body was relieved of the tension and added adrenaline that was released in my “flight or fight” moment.

Those famous last words were playing over and over in my head, “Get a gun.” Meaning a stungun for protection from animals. If only I could remember the one recommended to me before I decided to start delivering with Amazon.

The positives from today were the beautiful fall weather, the view, not becoming lunch for those two dogs, and having my husband with me. Days like today make me feel like I want to travel.