World Photo by Jack Carrerow Scottsburg postal worker Damien Valdez looks down the road for customers. While other post offices have lines of Christmas customers, Scottsburg’s lonely postman sees just a handful of people a day.

SCOTTSBURG — If the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping and long lines at the U.S. Post Office have you wanting to scream, go see Damien Valdez. He could use the company. He figures you might benefit from faster postal service.

Valdez is the officer in charge at the Scottsburg post office, a facility about the size of a moderately priced Winnebago.

Still, Valdez has decorated the lobby, has Christmas music on the radio and probably hopes Marley’s ghost shows up. At least he’d have someone to talk to.

A temporary assignment by the Postal Service moved Valdez, a resident of Hauser, from the Coos Bay station to the Scottsburg facility more than two years ago.

“I was told I was to be here until the postmaster came in to take over, that I’d only be here temporarily,” the affable Valdez said. “It’s been two years and, with the way things move in the Postal Service and because I’ve been getting a lot of compliments on my work here, there is no end in sight.”

It’s not that Valdez is complaining. He loves his job. He just would like a little more company.

“I’m on a main highway here and it seems that people on their way to Roseburg or Eugene could stop by on the way and do all their mailing and stamp buying,” Valdez said. “It’ll save them waiting in those long lines in Coos Bay or North Bend and I can furnish just about every service the large offices can.”

Valdez, a family man, has been with the Postal Service for 32 years.

“My mom was a postal worker and after I’d gotten out of the (military) service, she told me they were giving the test, so I took it,” he said. “That was in Southern California, back in 1977. I passed it and four months later I had the job. Been with it ever since.”

His two years up the Umpqua River on state Highway 38 haven’t been a total loss.

“I’ve gotten to know everyone in town. They all come by to get their mail from their P.O. boxes and I usually know when and what they want,” he said. “It’s just that the economy has really cut down on people. Where I used to have no post office boxes available, now I have about 20 openings.”

Mailing packages also has gone down this holiday season.

“They used to be stacked so I couldn’t move back here,” he said. “Now, I may get one or two a day.”

Besides watching the cars pass and studying his required service reading, Valdez has become adept at parking his compact car as close to the building as is humanly possible as a sort of joke for the locals.

“Somebody commented once that I could be taking up space that could be used by a visiting RV, so I started parking closer to the building,” Valdez said. “Someone then commented on that, so I started parking closer and closer. Now, every once in a while, we measure to see how close I can get without taking off a mirror. It gives us something to talk about.”

Other diversions for Valdez include giving the busier post offices in Coos Bay or North Bend the impression that the line is out the door.

“I’ll be on the phone with them and suddenly yell ‘next!’ or ‘Can I get one of you in the back to help here?’” he joked. “I’ve also thought of going out on the street wearing a sandwich board like the guys trying to draw people into Engles Furniture store.”

He’s also talked to the Oregon Department of Transportation about moving the signs that point to the post office down the road apiece to give drivers more notice.

“They said they can’t move them unless they’re damaged or I want to pay for it,” he said.

Valdez said he has a Santa box, in case he receives any letters from children, but that too is empty.

“This is an older community, retired people, empty nesters, not a lot of young kids,” he said. “But I’m ready just in case. So far this season, the highlight of my day is filling out my stamp orders and parking my car.”

He’s ready for out of towners, too. Valdez wants people to know he can ease some of the stress that can accompany the holidays. Headed to Eugene? Bring along your packages.

“I have no lines. It’s an easy-in, easy-out location. We have a community bulletin board, a magazine exchange program and I even have dog treats,” Valdez said holding up a large bag of biscuits.

Loon Lake customer Jean Casey has a P.O. box in Reedsport, but she likes to stop at Scottsburg.

“It’s just nicer, friendlier and Damien does all my business,” she said. “This is my post office.”

Valdez makes it clear he’s not complaining about his job.

“Oh, it’s a great job. I love the residents and all the people. I’m social and love to talk. I just wish there were more people to talk to,” he said. “You  know, I’ll bet I can get my car closer to the building."