In the end, it was my fault; totally, completely, undoubtedly my fault.
In the beginning, we were hoping that our Up North family would be able to make the long trek down to the Cutoff for Christmas. On Monday we learned it was not to be with a decision pending on whether or not to hold their Christmas presents until Tom and I could travel to Minnesota or to mail them in time for the little ones to open on Christmas Day.
Like the “Little Engine that Could”, I thought I could, I thought I could, I thought I could – and I did. On Wednesday, I huffed and puffed, in between making caramels with Jennifer, as I hurriedly wrapped presents while my Antler Man found a very big box to mail them in. We wiggled (but did not giggle) the gaily wrapped gifts until they fit like a glove into the box and I hastened to the La Grange Post Office, for the second time in as many days.
On Monday, I sent up a box of this and that; shortbread, story books, holiday stickers. The type of package grannies mail for little tykes. While the postal worker weighed the box, I wrote the mailing address from a torn slip of paper onto a shipping label. Signed and sealed, all that was left was for the package to begin its journey and be delivered.
On Wednesday, the postal worker remembered me as I waddled in with a box five times the size of Monday’s. It was one of those rare experiences at Christmastide where there was no line in the post office. Hark and joy and merry, thought I, as Mr. Postman weighed the very big box and I labeled the address from the same slip of paper I previously used, insured the box of gifts, and I headed home with assurances that Katy and Crew would have a box of Christmas by Saturday.
Stay with me, now, for here is where my fable, er foible takes a turn.
On Thursday night, using a tracking number, I checked to verify that package number one had been delivered, when what to my wondering eyes should appear but a note in a line atop the package’s course stating it was being returned as there was no such house number.
What?
Now, a package of shortbread and stickers wasn’t all that important when the mother lode of gifts was but two days behind on the holiday trail. Still, I had hoped to send some pre-Christmas cheer to fill the long hours that little ones (and big ones) endure the week before Christmas. It looked like my efforts were foiled. My dear husband and I checked the zip code, the address on the slip of paper that made not one, but two trips to the post office, etc. Why was the box undeliverable?
Perplexed, my sleep was broken on Thursday night for, you see, I had hustled and bustled to get the big box out the door. Would it also be returned, likely on Christmas Eve? Was it now an Elvis song? Return to sender, address unknown, no such number, no such zone?
In the light of day, I put the slip of paper with the address next to our phone directory – and I immediately saw what I hadn’t seen before, proof that I really did have a big birthday undermining my ability to print! I had transcribed the first two numbers of the address on the slip of paper, which I wrote on not just one, but two packages!
Are you still with me?
Good, because this leads to the angelic part.
I knew that package two was still in transit, thanks to tracking numbers. I called my post office and explained my dilemma. Mr. Postman was kind and said such errors often happened, especially at Christmas time, but, that he could do nothing. He suggested I call the receiving post office in Minnesota – and he gave me the phone number.
Hope.
On the Friday before Christmas, mid-morning, my phone call to Minnesota was answered – on the second ring. Ms. Postwoman listened, patiently, as I described my conundrum. She checked the tracking number, the real address and the transcribed one. “Ma’am, there is not much we can do, but, I will let the person routing that package know to see if we can catch it before it goes out on delivery. I can’t promise you, but, we will try. “
Our postal service is often maligned, dear ones, but let it be said that come rain or snow or sleet or hail – or a befuddled grandmother – the mail does get through. On Saturday, way Up North, a well-stuffed Christmas box found the right house thanks to some very fine US Postal workers. In the busiest of weeks in the busiest of months, a few kind souls gave me hope on the road called life, and I am very grateful.
The End
Awww, what a heartwarming story, Penny. I’m so glad there has been a happy ending to your postal adventures. This kind of mistake happens to us all as we get older.
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Thanks, Perpetua. All’s well that ends well and all that sort of stuff. I’m grateful for the postmistress who helped and for those I don’t even know who did as well. Sigh. On to the next adventure (and hoping it’s awhile before another misadventure).
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Oh, Penny! I was worrying right along with you… So glad that there is a happy ending ~ with help from some very kind postal workers!! Wishing your family here and your family Up North a very Merry Christmas, warm memories, and thankful hearts! ♡
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Indeed, there are thankful hearts, Dawn. Thank you. I’m so appreciative of the help the US Post Office afforded me and my wayward package.
Merry Christmas to you and yours. 🙂
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I felt your anxiety! What a great story about our postal service, which really needs our support at this particular time! I’m glad it had a happy ending too!
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It was a happy (and gratefully so) ending, Janet. We share an appreciation, I know, for the postal service and this is an example of how good they can be. Hope you are doing well on the gloomy day. 🙂
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Penny, I had tears in my eyes when I reached the end of this story! I’m so glad that the boxes got through, and that you had such wonderful support at a time of year when people are often on a shorter fuse than normal. Your own loving intention was so strong that I suspect a little bit of a loving intervention from the Divine Helper. (Am out at the bach now, & yours is the one blog I can load, because not too many pictures or big files) My packages are all wrapped and ready to go by personal delivery on Christmas day.
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Oh, indeed, yes Juliet; much divine intervention, I’m sure. I am so very grateful for the post offices’ assistance and for the reminder that there really are good folks out there that will go the extra distance. Thanks for taking the time to read and to comment while you are the bach, safe travel with those packages, Juliet, and Happy Christmas.
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Such a relief to get to the end and see a happy ending! I was speed reading and holding my breath to learn the fate of the packages. Whew. Sounds just like what I would do. These things are NOT a function of age as I always did them. So sorry about the family not being with you this year but they will be there in spirit. Bless your heart as well as the trusty PO workers who really came through.
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Dear Marilyn, thanks for the words of encouragement regarding the functions of age. 🙂 It was good to have a positive resolve, thanks to the postal service. They are so busy this time of year, yet, a few good souls made the effort to track and deliver that big, big box. 🙂 Thank you, too, for bearing with this long missive and seeing it the THE END.
An added note: Midnight was wandering the environs this morning. We were happy to see him.
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This is such a good story. I felt so badly for you as I read along hoping for a happy ending. It isn’t your age. It is the hustle and bustle. Really. I promise.
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Oh, Nan. Thank you. Your promise is as good as gold for me and I’m happy to say I had a good night’s rest.
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Oh I am so glad to hear this happy ending. It’s so delightful to hear that others worked on your behalf. There are good people out there–we just rarely hear that message. And I’ve done the same kind of “number switching” on more than one occasion, Penny, and I am just going to refuse to accept that age has a thing to do with it. 🙂 I did it last year in sending a baby gift to a friend’s grandchild ad it never did arrive! I think you were so excited to get the gifts off to your precious family and in time for them to arrive prior to Christmas, that you were hurried and harried. I’m so thrilled that they will have presents from their “two papas” (recalling Ezra’s name for you) waiting under their tree. I hope that soon after this big week you’ll be able to head north! ox
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Debra, you and others have lifted my spirits, giving me pause to blame it on being busy and distracted. Now, hearing that the gift you sent never arrived, I’m wondering if the first, smaller box will ever be returned. If not, at least I hope someone is eating the shortbread. We won’t be able to go up until well after the first of the year, which was why I wanted to get the package up now. We will be so thrilled when we finally go up, for sure.
Still raining?
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Whew! That was a close call. I’m glad the package made it on time just like Santa. I do hope that you will be able to make it to the wilds of Minnesota before long. Hats off to the postal workers! They are hard workers. We love Jonathan, our rural carrier. He is a hero. Years ago when I was alone out here on the prairie, he walked up our snow covered lane because he knew I couldn’t get the car out. Another time, he propped our mailbox when it had been knocked down. He often drives up the lane to bring a package too big for our mailbox instead of leaving one of those slips to tell us to pick it up at the post office. When there is a substitute, our mail arrives earlier, but I suspect that is because the sub doesn’t stop to chat with everyone along the way and throw a biscuit to the dogs.
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Very lucky was what I am that the postal workers took the time to find the package and correct the address. It is a hard lesson, but, a good reminder that there are lots of good folks around and many of them handle our mail and deliveries every day, including your carrier, Jonathan. He sounds like a good soul, Janet. How nice that he treats the dogs so well, too. Warms my heart.
I plan to write a letter to the post office up there that made this delivery happen – and give the carrier shortbread, if it ever shows up in the first box. 🙂
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Thank you for the Midnight news-it made me very happy to know he is out and about. You know he is one of my internet cats that I care about from afar.
Guess what? We have had 3 deer Sat. and 4 on Sunday in our yard adjacent to our vacant lot and by the swing! At first Danny thought he saw was a big dog but then lo and behold it turned out to be deer!!! It has been such a long time since we have seen them. I think they may be living in the lot. Wish we could give them some corn but we know better. A special Christmas treat for us. We will look out for the buck.
Do you Skype with the folks?
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I thought you might appreciate a sighting of Midnight, Marilyn. 🙂
Wow! How exciting that they have returned to your area. I hope that Danny gets to see a buck, too. We knew one was around the other day when a congregation of doe started “dancing” around. It is so interesting to watch. Thanks for letting me know.
We don’t, Marilyn. First we didn’t have the capabilities. Now we do, and they don’t. We’ll get it going eventually. Thanks for asking.
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I can’t believe you did that, Oh, yes I can…..you got lucky, I’m really happy for you and the Up North Family, all’s well, ends well….another “I can’t believe I did that story to add to your list” Have a Wonderful Christmas….
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You know only too well how many stories are on that list, Sharon. I couldn’t believe I did this, and not just on one package, but, two AND a card. Geez. Katy and Tom’s post office and carrier did a me a big, big favor in correcting my error. Good people do exist.
You have a wonderful Christmas, too, though I know one of the best parts has already happened. 🙂
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Ohhhh … I let my breath out on the last paragraph! So glad that worked out well. May you and the Antler Man have a cozy and warm Christmas — it will be different (I know from experience) but you’ll see those darling grandkids later and they won’t be as hyper as they are over the Holiday so it will all work out.
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Oh, Sallie, it is so good to have your “I’ve been there” advice, and right you are that we will miss the “hyper” in seeing them later on. Thing do seem to work out – just like that big, mislabeled box. Thank you, Sallie. I know you will have a warm Christmas, and I wish you and your husband have a cozy one as well.
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