Playin' Post Office

Earlier in the week I had to go to the post office to mail a couple of packages. I decided to go to the Encino branch rather than the one that is closer because they are usually not as busy...WRONG this time! (Incidentally, Amy reamed me a new one for going to "that" one and not the one at the other end of town- she said the other one would have been much closer!) I walked in and literally there were 20 people in front of me. Whatever...I'm pretty patient and I usually don't mind waiting- Shea was already at Amy's and all we were doing was Taylor's onion science experiment and grabbing dinner. So I waited...and waited...and waited and about 15 minutes into the session of "wasting my life away" I decided that I could no longer look at the mess all over the counters! I had played it over in my mind...should I start picking all that trash up? Or should I just leave it? Surely, they have a cleaning crew who would be there in less than an hour to pick up all the crap that we, the customers, just throw about like it was our own home! After 20 minutes, I just couldn't stand it and I put my bag down to save my place in line and started at one end of the counter. It was a rush of relief as I dumped the first couple of piles in the big trash can that obviously nobody else was aware that they were supposed to use! As I was doing my thing, there were these 2 ladies who were just bitching about the wait...God forbid if they have to wait for a free service! Geez, they probaby had important appointments, you know how ugly things can get if we are late for our nail appointment! The counter was long, very long...like the endless salad bar and I was only halfway done and I wasn't sure if I should continue or not. I did feel so much better but surely these people behind me were thinking I was a neurotic, neat freak! I immediately thought, "Since when does AD ever care about what anyone thinks?" and I started off to finish the rest of the counter. Oh, I felt so happy...putting all the forms back where they belonged, throwing away strips of self stick envelope strips. I did draw the line with the floor. I picked up a few things but unless they were gonna give me the broom and hand held dust pan, (like they have at Disneyland) I wasn't gonna bend over and put the patrons through seeing my big butt stretching to pick up the junk! Finally, my turn! Yay!
I've never been so happy to have it be my turn. All the employees were grumpy and pretty rude- made me realize why people use the term, "going postal"- can you blame them? Having to endure the complaining allllll day long from the people that forget that these are the same people that work 6 out of the 7 days of week to bring us all of our mail??? So, I got the older, stern face man and went up with a huge smile and said "hi" with a sugary sickness about it. He actually smiled and started telling me trivia about why Encino, Reseda & White Oak were named that, etc...I just smiled and responded with interest. He then thanked me for "picking up" and proceeded to call the two bitching ladies..."ugly" and told me that I had a beautiful smile and a kind heart! So there you go...my packages were off, which by the way, Lisa & Steve both since then have received what I sent them, I felt better that I left somewhere better than what I found it and the man said I had a kind heart and did not call me ugly! All was right in my world! Next time you see your mailperson...say thank you and be thankful that your days are not spent doing what they do!