Asking ourselves, “What is the worst thing that could happen?” is often a question posed by counselors and therapists to help anxiety-ridden patients cope with various situations. Picturing the worst-case scenarios coming true, as well as coming up with solutions for changing one’s reaction to daily stressors is reported to be a life-changing strategy. The renovations at our own post office due to asbestos mitigation could be creating a new version of over-reaction called postal-mania.
One of those imagined worst-case scenarios would be moving the post office miles away. Think of how much more of a daily struggle this might create. Does this awful scenario help decrease the worry created over figuring out the time one can go downtown to stand first in line behind the building? Probably not.
While the project is progressing, fear of early snow and the havoc it might cause in daily delivery remains. All we really have to worry about is when the postal facility will be ready for use again. All of us have been grumbling about when the employees will be ready with the morning mail, but the local postal service staff has been trying to make it work for everyone.
It’s been a difficult few months here and everyone has tired of the daily grind of mail pick-up. Visiting out in front of the building and taking the time to chat with the regulars around 10 a.m. got to be more than a habit.
Imagine the distress caused around 1913 when the United States Post Office policies allowed home delivery service for all kinds of packages. According to one rural western history buff and tenacious fact checker the first human being to ever be sent through the mail arrived at their destination safe and sound. This maiden 12-mile trip was taken by an infant baby boy who was said to be wrapped very tightly and delivered into the arms of his father. There continued to be mailings of all different ages of children for a few years before the the policy was discontinued. It wasn’t a good idea. Unaccompanied minors are allowed with various restrictions on a wide variety of modes of transportation today can you imagine if infants were allowed to be delivered from one home to another today? The expression “Going Postal” would take on a new meaning, that is for sure.
By Dolly Viscardi