Friday, May 13, 2011

Snail Mail: A Passionate Composition

Did I ever mention that I love snail mail? There's something much more real about a letter or even a card. It's really exciting to get mail. When I was in the middle school, my best friends and I lived "far" away from each other (at least according to our pre-pubescent definitions of the words, less than 20 miles though). However, we made it a habit to regularly write letters or send post cards from various vacation spots through out the summer. I still have most of those letters from the early days. There's something really special about them.


Anyway, all of this to say, that's one thing I'm really looking forward to about moving back to the U.S. of A. Efficient and convenient postal service. Before anyone residing in America begins to complain, let me just say, I don't want to hear it. I thought I had some mailing woes when I lived in North Philly. Notice I said thought, now if I were talking to myself I would say "Boo hoo" and roll up my fists in the most mocking manner possible. Let me just say, one of the most wonderful things about the United States Postal Service (USPS) is speed. I can mail something, and tomorrow someone else will have it. I like it! Or even in 3 to 4 days if they live far away. Still acceptable. The second thing I love, is mailboxes.



(Image source and some more reading about mail @ Washwords)




There are many in Mayfair (where I grew up), and I loved the ritual of going to the mailbox with my mom, putting in the letter, and then checking to make sure it went inside the box, and it wasn't stuck on the flap, just in case! Later I loved going by myself to the post office to pick out stamps and stock pile them, or even mailing off about 5 letters every week in college.


So why don't I mail things know here in Jamaica? Well I am entirely too jaded because it's expensive, and takes alot of time. Not just the letter being delivered, even mailing it. I figured out why today after two years. I have never seen a mailbox. I could be wrong, but I don't think I've ever seen one. As far as I know you have to go in the post office, which is such a hassle, because the parking lots are always crazy and the lines are long. I'm also mostly jaded after two very important packages going "missing." Let's just clarify, I've received many packages here. When there's nothing expensive or related to technology in the package, I get it just fine. The two times there's been anything technological, even just a SD card....mysteriously MIA. The lady at the Crossroads post office asks me whenever I complain how I know it's not being stolen on the US end. Which is a valid question. Here's the answer, because I lived in the US for 21 years, mailing ridiculously important-and much more expensive-things, without every having a hiccup. If there's anything I'm patriotic about the states, it's probably gotta be the postal service. Rock on USPS. Rock on.

Other things that are awesome about USPS:
1. The beautiful, and wide variety of stamps! Some of them are so fun!
2. Discounts to ship books, like...yeah!
3. Mail is great.
4. They wear sweet hats sometimes.

Photographic Evidence of Rockage





Miss Piggy stamp, September 28th, 2005

Jim Henson, commemorative stamp collection, September 28th, 2005

Elvis Presley stamp, 1993 (Still holds the record for most stamps sold)

DC Comics, 2006

Disney stamps

Gregory Peck, nuff said.

2 comments: