I got a mail key today.
Our mail gets delivered to the post office, not to individual houses. When I moved here, they were all out of mail keys, so I would just ask for my mail at the front desk. I got to really liking it. Sure, I had to stand in line and wait a little, as plenty of other people would do the same thing. It’s usually pretty relaxed and social, and I liked running into people, or bantering with the postmen. It made for a nice break in the day.
Today, there were signs posted at the registers. Effective next Monday, we can’t ask for our mail at the front desk. We have to use our keys.
I apologized, said, I don’t have my key, I’ve never had a key. I thanked the clerk for getting my mail for me, and as he was setting me up with a new key, acknowledged that it must be an awful lot of extra work running and fetching mail. In typical fashion, as we were chatting, he assured me they didn’t mind at all, and would be happy to keep doing it, except the rule-makers found they were spending too much time at it. He showed me my new box and gave me my keys, and said he’d miss seeing me in the office.
Disappointed as I am by the policy, I left smiling. I mostly do, after getting my mail. We have some of the kindest and friendliest postal clerks I’ve ever known. If I’d had a key all along, I would have missed out.
I think I will make certain to mail all of my letters at the front desk.
April 25, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Nothing to stop you from saying hi, though. One year, when I was a kid, we lived in a much smaller town. The mailman used to stop and chat (and tease my sister, who was old enough to walk, but not old enough to walk without a lot of falling and getting back up. He called her “stumblefoot”)
Today I am writing from the ‘older’ Scotia. Saw some amazing “glens” and gentle and not so gentle hills today. I was in a rush to see a lot. Next time (if there is one), I’ll see one place well, and hike it and get all its colors and smells, rather than trying to see so many so quickly…
April 28, 2008 at 7:08 am
Oh, I hope you had a good visit all the same. Did you get pictures?
May 12, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Oh no!!! I don’t remember what box is mine so they always laugh at me and hand it over. I’ve officially run out of room in my head for threads of numbers…I’m going to have to start tattooing them on my arms!