CITIZEN COMMENTARY
http://www.murphymessenger.com/articles/87/1/CITIZEN-COMMENTARY.html
Staff Writer
Murphy Messenger uses a variety of guest and staff writers that contribute greatly to our publication. By Staff Writer
Published on 12/14/2005
All I Want for Christmas is My Mail!
All I Want for Christmas is My Mail!
Submitted by: Anne D'Alessandro
902 Westminster Ave.,
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS MY MAIL!
That's right. Not my "two front teeth" for a "White Christmas," just my mail. If you live in Murphy you may have felt the pain of poor mail service. I have only lived here for four months and in that short time I have called the Postmaster six times to complain about my mail service. The infractions have ranged anywhere from mutilated packages to supposedly "lost" birthday cards. I have stopped putting mail in my own mailbox because my bills were taking ten days to arrive! Each time I complain the Postmaster assures me that all the mail carriers bring the outgoing mail back to the Post Office that day, and that it is promptly forwarded on to the next delivery destination.
It wasn't until this last Christmas card arrived that I lost all hope of gettingproper mail service. On Saturday I received a Christmas card with the back flap open. I know, a little suspicious, but maybe the sender just didn't seal it all the way. I just can't bring myself to believe that at Christams time someone is cherry-picking through my mail looking for money.
Today, however, the truth hit home. I received a Christmas card that was obviously opened and then attempted to be resealed. The back flap was lifted up, and the paper around the flap was torn, then the flap was pressed back down. Someone was attempting to reseal the envelope. To make matters worse the Christmas card was mailed November 30th, and today was December 6th. Historically our mail takes 2-3 days to get from the West Coast to Texas, however, this one took six days. Natuarlly the thief needed time to take the letter home and search for cash. I am actually surprised that I got the card back this time. The birthday cards that were stolen in the past never arrived at all.
So this time I made my usual complaints of theft to the Postamaster. I even put the card in a plastic bag. I suppose part of me is hoping that it can be dusted for fingerprints since tampering with another person's mail is a Federal crime. In the meantime, I have switched my mail service to my P.O. Box in another town, and I have filed my complaint with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Now – if I can get Santa to bring me my mail for Christmas!
Submitted by: Anne D'Alessandro
902 Westminster Ave.,
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS MY MAIL!
That's right. Not my "two front teeth" for a "White Christmas," just my mail. If you live in Murphy you may have felt the pain of poor mail service. I have only lived here for four months and in that short time I have called the Postmaster six times to complain about my mail service. The infractions have ranged anywhere from mutilated packages to supposedly "lost" birthday cards. I have stopped putting mail in my own mailbox because my bills were taking ten days to arrive! Each time I complain the Postmaster assures me that all the mail carriers bring the outgoing mail back to the Post Office that day, and that it is promptly forwarded on to the next delivery destination.
It wasn't until this last Christmas card arrived that I lost all hope of gettingproper mail service. On Saturday I received a Christmas card with the back flap open. I know, a little suspicious, but maybe the sender just didn't seal it all the way. I just can't bring myself to believe that at Christams time someone is cherry-picking through my mail looking for money.
Today, however, the truth hit home. I received a Christmas card that was obviously opened and then attempted to be resealed. The back flap was lifted up, and the paper around the flap was torn, then the flap was pressed back down. Someone was attempting to reseal the envelope. To make matters worse the Christmas card was mailed November 30th, and today was December 6th. Historically our mail takes 2-3 days to get from the West Coast to Texas, however, this one took six days. Natuarlly the thief needed time to take the letter home and search for cash. I am actually surprised that I got the card back this time. The birthday cards that were stolen in the past never arrived at all.
So this time I made my usual complaints of theft to the Postamaster. I even put the card in a plastic bag. I suppose part of me is hoping that it can be dusted for fingerprints since tampering with another person's mail is a Federal crime. In the meantime, I have switched my mail service to my P.O. Box in another town, and I have filed my complaint with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Now – if I can get Santa to bring me my mail for Christmas!