Wishing you all a warm and cozy weekend, with at least a few poems that make you smile. It's been quite a few days of winter weather for many of us. I hope you've stayed safe and mostly cozy!
Our neighborhood and probably others have struggled with receiving our mail in a timely way these past weeks. It has always arrived late in the day but now it may take 2 or 3 days to get anything or a big part of it arrives mid-morning. They are struggling with illness and, as the postman told me, about half the staff. This one I spoke to is doing double shifts, working from early morning until late evening.
Thus, I'm trying to say thanks to those wonderful and creative people whose postcards I have received. I know that others have been sent because I am subscribed to the USPS 'informed delivery' but I still have not received some. I'm trying to be patient but it is frustrating!
Thanks to those whose beautiful creations have inspired and made me smile. It is lovely of Jone MacCulloch to manage this exchange for those of us who signed up. Thanks, Jone, for all the 'smiles' I find (finally) in my mailbox. Here are pictures from Margaret S., Janet F., Michelle K., Gail, Mary Lee, Laura S., and Carol L. I am grateful to each one of you, delighting in your fabulous creations.
Yep! It’s a system
Be aware of that long line of people who brought joy today:
my poet friends, creators of paper for postcards with pictures, cameras for photos,
pens to add poems and art, then addresses and
remember those designers of stamps.
At last, workers take over to organize the deliveries –
answering which state, then the county, the city.
Now, the local PO takes over
and places in bins for postal carriers to load in their trucks
and take care to find the right mailbox,
not quite THE End?
There’s me, smiling!
Linda Baie ©
This is wonderful! A poem that begins with that first line is sure to infuse joy in the reader and cause even more smiles. It has for me!
ReplyDeleteYou are also 'in that long line of people who brought joy today', Linda - it just happens to be the electronic variety. Thank you for the smile! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the joy of all these wonderful postcards, Linda. Sorry to hear about the mail delays. Good reminder not to take these vital services for granted. What a challenge for the carriers to brave bad weather conditions in addition to reduced staff due to COVID!
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ReplyDeleteThese seemingly small gestures, gifts really, are dependent on so many things. You are right. Structure and systems help keep things flowing and sometimes we do forget to notice or consider. But it is from the heart that we share with our friends both new and "old" in this delightful space called Poetry Friday! This was my first time participating and so glad I did. My wall collage on my door is just lovely and brightens my mornings!
ReplyDeleteJanet Clare F.
Thank you for this lovely post, Linda. I feel the same way -- finding a poetry postcard in my mailbox always makes me smile. --Laura Shovan
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry that your mail delivery has been spotty (and sorry for your carrier who is working such long hours!). Thank you for noting all the many hands involved in bringing postcard joy to you (and us). <3
ReplyDeleteThanks to all of you who've continued to bring some smiles. Mail did not come yesterday but hopefully someone will bring it ALL today!
ReplyDeleteSo much joy in the (extra)ordinary journey of postcard poetry! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWe've come to depend on/ take for granted the mail system. I'm sorry you are having trouble getting your mail. Thanks for featuring everyone's cards. A lovely tradition.
ReplyDeleteA dual celebration, Linda. Images and words reflect the joy those postcards and the effort involved in the whole exercise delivered in so many ways. Those postcards are therefore, quite special. Your poem ties everything together.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely collection of postcards! I hope you have a big bulletin board where you can display them. Thank you for sharing and for reminding us of the systems that made it all possible. Hope you are staying warm during all this crazy weather!
ReplyDeleteI looked at the title of your post and wondered if you were loving systems thinking, or if loving systems would be doing some thinking! Turns out it was both! Fun poem and great reminder not to take things like mail delivery for granted.
ReplyDeleteI often think of how grateful I am to the postal system and my mailman who I wave to, often. Lovely cards, and it's so nice to get something really fun and interesting in the mail! Thank you Linda for this post!
ReplyDeleteLoving this post Linda— All the cards, images and poems, and also your heart-full "Yep! It’s a system" poem–many involved and many to appreciate, and you generously covered all! Our mail jumps around like yours too, I'm happy when it comes, taking care of mail delivery is not an easy job at present… I love that Turret Arch in Utah too!
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone. I'm glad you enjoyed my tie-ins/systems gratitude. The cards are really beautiful. Yes, Michelle, I love the Turret Arch, love Arches National Monument! I've been at the bookstore much of today, will try to get to everyone else's post, soon. It was a fun day, with lots of customers happy to be out in warmer weather!
ReplyDeleteBeing aware: it's a tiring, necessary thing, but you brought so much color and joy to it with your gallery of receipts. Thank you, Linda!
ReplyDeleteI love how your poem takes us on the journey that the wonderful poetic postcards have taken in order to reach you. Thanks for being part of the Poetry Friday party this week!
ReplyDeleteOh, Linda, this whole post made me so happy.❤️
ReplyDeleteLinda, this was my first year to participate; what a delight! Each postcard was a ray of sunlight and as you have mentioned brought smiles. Thank you for sharing your postcards; I was able to see and read some that I didn't receive. Thank you for sharing your poem about all the people it takes for us to receive those beautiful postcards. My father was a postal carrier; I remember him mentioning a few mean dogs and trying not to fall on ice, but he also mentioned all the smiles people gave him for delivering their mail.
ReplyDeleteOh my, I did not add a comment last week. So sorry. Your poem is a delightful tribute at the end of your post. Linda, I did send your postcard out with all the rest. Janet F. Said she recently received hers from me so the postal service must be overwhelmed like everyone else. I only received half of my postcards but that is fine. I would love to decorate my entrance with the postcards but I shall wait. Your bounty is a colorful array of good cheer. See you tonight at PF.
ReplyDeleteLate comment, yet thanks much to all of you, Heidi, Elisabeth, Karen, Gail, and Carol. Carol, I did finally receive your beautiful postcard. I'll share soon!
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