“M”ail
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| This mailbox belongs to a good friend of mine, and her cat Galley, of course. I think he’s waiting for the Petsmart circular. © 2013 by Diane Weidenbenner |
My dad was a mailman. He actually delivered mail come rain, snow, sleet or sun. It was during the days when you knew your mailman by first name and he received Christmas presents during the holidays, like baked goods, fruit baskets and of course money. As kids we preferred the baked goods!
During the summer my mom would take us to visit him on his route. We’d deliver a cold Pepsi to him or eat lunch with him. He was one of the hardest working men I know. My dad was approached several times for management but he always declined, as he preferred being outside during the day.
Back then, the mail was important and not just for the bills one received. We would get letters from my aunt Jeanette (I still look forward to her Christmas letter). When I was young, I had a pen pal in Sri Lanka and we used to exchange letters. It was the highlight of my day when I received a letter from her, with the most unique stamps and official-looking postal messages. When I traveled, it was a requirement that I send post cards with highlights from the trip. It didn’t matter that I usually returned home before the post cards did.
With e-mail and texting, communication has changed. I’m not as excited to open the mailbox because there are usually only bills, sales circulars and the occasional misplaced envelope for our neighbor. Even some of our bills are now coming through e-mail, although I still prefer the physical bill – it seems more real somehow.
What are your memories of the U.S. Postal Service? Do you know your mailperson’s name? I think I’ll ask him or her the next time I see them.
5 Comments
Comley Charlotte
I'm in the UK it's a different system. Nice to meet and connect through atozchallenge. http://aimingforapublishingdeal.blogspot.co.uk/
Stepheny Houghtllin
If there were a 'like' box to click on your blog I would click everyone of them. Discovered you while blog harping and started following. I knew it was a good idea.
Maria Dunn
Hi Diane, Yes, we know our mailcarrier. We invite him in for coffee and keep up with his family. We always give him some baked goods for Christmas. It's been fun over the years getting to know our mail carriers and it always makes the neighborhood seem more neighborly. Thanks for sharing your family with us in the A to Z challenge. Maria from Delight Directed Living
MS
I used to love going to the mailbox and seeing what the mailman brought each day. It's a little different now,but I still like making the daily trek to the end of my driveway to see what is in the box.
I do not know my letter carrier's name, but I wave to him when I see him and try to remember him at Christmas to show my appreciation.
Mary @The View from my World
Sandy
My Dad walked a route years ago also, when he came home from service. I'm not sure why now days they move people around so you don't have a chance to know your carrier? We had one for several years, that we all loved and we did get him gifts. We all talk about how much we miss him. Wrapping up a few visits/comments for the a-z as I missed a couple of days doing my 5 visits a letter while out of town. Am also continuing the a-z in May
Sandy at Traveling Suitcase