After several years, I made a trip back to the post office to mail a receipt to a distant client. I used to go to the post office to claim packages of books, make money orders, and yes, mail letters. But with the advent of courier services, credit cards, and emails, I didn't have a reason anymore to go back there until the other day. Although what I saw was not surprising, it still hit me. It's finally sinking in.
Whereas before, there were many tellers simultaneously feeding envelopes into the metered machines while chattering with each other, now there were only a handful of employees. There were only three or four tables inside, and there was much space unlike before when big boxes and piles of mails were all over the place.It wasn't as noisy as before when I used to frequent the post office. That day, aside from me, there were only two other ladies doing business at the post office, applying for a postal ID. Before I left though, a few students arrived to inquire about stamps.
An old lady approached the window where I lined up to get stamps. I recognized her from my past visits. All these years, she has stayed at the post office. She looks thinner and her hair has turned gray. Cheerfully, she handed me three tiny stamps which I paid promptly for a very small amount, definitely cheaper than the fee for a courier service. Within less than 10 minutes, I had finished my transaction with the post office.
I read a note just about three weeks earlier that we must be ready to imagine a world without the post office. Technology and innovative services have undoubtedly replaced the post office because it can deliver services faster and more conveniently. I myself have stopped going to the post office until the other day. I felt a bit sad, though, for something that will soon be disappearing. I think we feel that way most of the time for people and things that mean a lot to us. But when something or someone goes away, another thing comes along. Hopefully, that something or someone is much better.
