Wait a Minute Mr. Postman!
Phillip Anguay is Mammoth’s new Acting Postmaster
There’s a new Acting Postmaster in Mammoth, and he’s about to learn how to put tire chains on.
Phillip Anguay sat down with The Sheet at the end of his first week at the Mammoth Lakes Post Office (he started on Wednesday, November 8) to talk about his family, his experience with snow (or lack thereof), and Thanksgiving dinner suggestions.
Anguay’s been with the United States Postal Service for 20 years, he said, and decided to do a stint in Mammoth to gain some more experience in his career. He’s a father to five children, two of whom are currently studying at junior colleges near Anguay’s permanent home of San Miguel, California (8 miles north of Paso Robles). The third, a daughter, is a freshman in high school, and he’s also got a seven and five-year-old.
When asked how his wife, Maricella, is coping without him, Anguay smiled. “She’s got a pretty good system by this point,” he says. She home schools the two younger kids, who will be coming up to visit their dad during the Thanksgiving holiday.
On that note, Anguay asked, any recommendations for a good restaurant to take them out to? He’s currently staying in a hotel room, which doesn’t lend itself to turkey dinners, but he’s looking for a semi-permanent home for the next several months during his tour of duty in Mammoth (aren’t we all?).
“My seven-year-old has only seen snow once,” said Anguay, “and the youngest one has never seen snow, so when I sent them some photos, they were excited.” Anguay also said he’s been sending them “selfies” with Mammoth Mountain in the background to give them an idea of what their dad’s in for in this mountain town.
“I grew up in the
Sacramento area, so Bishop, I thought that was the other side of the world,” said Anguay on Wednesday, November 15. “When they told me Mammoth Lakes, I thought it was more toward Wofford Heights [near Kernville, in the Southern Sierra],” he said. “Then, when I looked at the map, I saw it’s up. And up. And up!”
This winter will be his first time putting on tire chains (although at least he knows he has a front wheel drive car). He said with a laugh that he can always walk to work if things get too hairy. “I might have to get knee pads and elbow pads.”
