Post office boxes

The post office on Lakewood Boulevard has a small counter for business, along with another small self-service counter. But it's really more about the post office boxes. There are walls and walls of them.

I like the geometric patterns these mailboxes make. But mostly, I like them because they remind me of when I was young and visited my grandparents. They had a post office box to force themselves to take daily walks. I enjoyed the walk to the post office and back, with either grandparent. But when I walked with my grandmother, she would remind me to be careful, not to step in oil spots, and so on. But my grandfather never had any instructions or reminders—with him, I could walk on the curb or dance around on the asphalt. And, if I remember right, I never did step in the oil spots when I was with him.

Sunday delivery

Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow...nor Sundays...will keep the post office from delivering your packages from Amazon.

It's not at all unusual these days to see the small post office delivery trucks parked around town on a Sunday morning. This is because Amazon made a deal with the U. S. Post Office, back in 2013, to deliver Amazon's packages on Sundays and holidays. So don't be surprised at your next Sunday delivery.

Gloom of night

"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."

That's what it says on an inscription on the James Farley Post Office in New York City. But in reality, the post office shuts down during the gloom of night. The delivery trucks are lined up and ready for the next day's mail, when neither rain nor heat will keep our mail carrier from showing up with the mail.

Going postal

These postal trucks were all parked in the lot across from my bank. I am a little curious as to why they are there. The post office isn't that far away and they have plenty of parking. Maybe they're just getting ready for all those Christmas packages soon to be on their way.

Going postal

According to About.com,

In 1653, Frenchman, De Valayer established a postal system in Paris. He set up mail boxes and delivered any letters placed in them if they used envelopes that only he sold. An enemy put live mice into the letter boxes and ruined De Valayer's business.

The post office boxes at the main branch of the Downey Post Office cover two entire walls. De Valayer would be amazed by today's postal system.