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MARIETTA, Ga. – Friday, it was the day Floyd Martin was sleeping. He did not do it.
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After nearly 35 years of delivering the mail, the 5 o'clock shot left her out of bed, like always. This has turned out to be a good thing. Friday was Floyd Martin's day to shine.
His heart was full when his head hit the pillow on Thursday night. Neighbors in his Marietta, Georgian territory had decorated his mailboxes to surprise him on his last day. Then, hundreds of people gathered for a neighborhood party to celebrate his retirement.
"Keep taking care of each other," he told the crowd, "and smile when you think of me."
A day later, it seemed like the entire Internet was smiling and thinking of him. "Mr. Floyd" became a hot topic after hundreds of thousands of people shared a thread on Twitter telling his story.
Actor Patton Oswalt was among them:
This thread will make you so happy. VERY VERY HAPPY. I needed it this morning. And donate to GoFundMe in the end (I did it!) Read the thread alone is such an endorphin rush that you will want to contribute. #FloydMartin https://t.co/4rlzAlGHyY
– Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) May 24, 2019
As was the actress Alyssa Milano:
Floyd! Congratulations!
It's a beautiful thread for a wonderful person. https://t.co/ckBJOrUSNn
– Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) May 24, 2019
And Jake Tapper from CNN:
Wow it's an amazing thread https://t.co/rcDY8dhOQB
– Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) May 24, 2019
And Willie Geist from NBC:
If you have not already done so, take the time to follow this wonderful thread. Congratulations, Floyd! @USPS https://t.co/fKQuR6pEXR
– Willie Geist (@ WillieGeist) May 24, 2019
Neighbors have launched a GoFundMe is hoping to raise $ 5,000 to help Martin realize his dream of going on vacation to Hawaii. The campaign raised more than $ 25,000, but Floyd can use these donations for other needs during his retirement. Delta Air Lines takes over the flight.
A trip to Hawaii is the perfect way to celebrate a wonderful career. We would like to take care of Mr. Martin's escape. Let's connect to the details in DM.
– Delta (@Delta) May 24, 2019
I called Floyd on Friday late in the morning to find out how his first day was working.
"I have not yet learned to sleep," he said. "I'm still so high yesterday."
Then I told him about Delta, the celebrities tweeted about it, and the multitude of journalists wanting to speak with him.
"Oh, my God," he said, stunned. "It's amazing."
Channel 2 Action News was the first broadcaster to share Floyd's story. The AJC's cousin aired a show just hours after Thursday night's party and gave the next day second piece on the success of the GoFundMe campaign.
On Friday morning, I heard about journalists at CNN, Fox News, The Washington Post, The show of todaythe show "today", ABC"ABCWorld news tonight", Reuters, Inside"In the interior Edition", People, Mother Jones and elsewhere, who were interested in pursuing stories. With his agreement, I helped those who wanted the interview to get in touch.
CNN International shared the story and CBC / Radio-Canada work on one, as well.
Some points of sale, ass MSNBC, the and "The Mel Robbins Show" badembled quick pieces using my photos, with attribution, after asking and obtaining permission to do so, is a common practice in the industry. Some, like Yahoo and The week, posted articles aggregated with content and embedded photos of the Twitter feed, which is also a common practice.
Some, like BuzzFeed News and WGCL, have made their own reports.
"I can not believe it's all happening," said Martin.
I can. The coverage of political resentment, international tensions, natural disasters, violence and tragedy dominate almost the entire news cycle. People have some good news from time to time.
"I'm not quite sure why but it made me cry at lunch," Tom Adams, from Northampton, about 60 miles northwest of London, tells me in a message. One of his compatriots arrived to let me know that Floyd is all that is said on the other side of the pond:
Beautiful story Jennifer. You are totally international and read in London about #MrFloyd
– Richard Robinson? (@LondonRobinson) May 25, 2019
In the United States, Floyd has people crying tears of joy.
I'm in TEARS, I do not even know Floyd and I like it a lot https://t.co/Aq4Iy4ozMm
– TJ (@TaylorrrU) May 24, 2019
I'm sitting in an airport with tears streaming down my face. May God bless Floyd! I hope his retirement is all that he should be. Filled with love and blessings !! Thank you for sharing !!
– TracyFromJax (@tracyfromjax) May 24, 2019
It's really the best thing I've read on the Internet this week and now I'm crying. And I know exactly the tweet in the thread that will bring tears to you too! Come on Floyd. https://t.co/eDFIkBrylB
– Erin Bury (@erinbury) May 24, 2019
When I called Floyd later on Friday to find out how the day was going, his phone went to voicemail; I hope that he was preparing his destination for Hawaii or was preparing for another nationwide television interview.
Whatever it is, we will all see it again in October. Earlier than that, probably, but he is invited to be a celebrity costume judge at the annual Marietta Halloween Parade.
"I'll be back," he promised people on his journey, to customers who became family. "You are my life."
Sarah Bullington arranged tonight's departure for Floyd and invited him to be a celebrity judge at the Halloween Parade at Maple Avenue on October 31st. If you have never been … it's something. pic.twitter.com/27KX47Y5Vt
– Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 24, 2019
Morgan Beatton and River, 18 months, were waiting for Mr. Floyd today. As always, he had treats for their dog, Sage. He said that he would come to visit and attend events like Taste of Marietta. "I'll be back," he says. "You are all my life."
– 30- pic.twitter.com/C3g3Mq5Dbb– Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 22, 2019
© 2019 Cox Media Group.
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