You've got mail!

Everyone knows that happy little sound that comes up when one receives an E-mail on their computer. In these days of technology, things are sent at lightening speed on the Internet. We may not know HOW it works, but we just can't do without the latest technology. Instant messaging, phones that allow you to send and receive calls, take pictures, download tunes and text our friends are all the craze. How many mothers now say "No texting at the table!" instead of "Chew with your mouth closed." I often wonder what all these people are talking about that is just so important. Every car that goes by has the driver with this phone attached to his ear. Even friends who are out enjoying the day together are talking to someone else on their phones. What's that all about?

I am actually old enough to remember when the house phone (one phone, by the way) was placed in a convenient, central, location like a hallway or the living room with a 5 foot cord. It was tethered to the wall socket. Didn't make for a very private conversation, especially if it was your boyfriend calling. My grandparents didn't have a phone until the late 5o's and then it was shared. They called it a party line. It made a distinct ring for each of the two sharing parties.

Let's get back to the BLOG at hand, the snail mail. No phones needed. The boxes are all lined up on the street in groups of ten and every day, the mail lady drives her shiny gray truck from one batch of mailboxes to another. She will actually pick up outgoing mail if you put the little red flag up and place the mail in your box. We are a rural route here in Wyndstone Village; so she has many boxes to fill and she seems to do so with ease. Just one problem, our mail lady is Miss Sunshine. A-1 personality with a beautiful smile and the gift of gab; this lady has all the men in the subdivision at her beckon call. No sooner she pulls up to the mailboxes, there may be two or three men out there talking, laughing and sharing little stories with her. Being mostly retired gentlemen, most of them must find her the highlight of their day. I'm sure she enjoys all the attention, but doesn't she get behind on her route?

Someone mentioned to me the other day, "Boy, I bet their wives get jealous!" "I really don't think so," I said. I think after you've been with someone for 50+ years, you're probably glad that they have a reason to get out from under your feet everyday. Besides, if they really wanted to put a kibosh on it they could just buy their husband a cell phone!