psychology

sub title: it’s not their fault.

For years now we have complained about our postal service.  They’re not all bad, really, just the Matthews post office. Mail something from any other location and you’ll be good to go, but if it’s within the tiny confines of the small town of Matthews, beware.

My usual comment is that our mailman (or is it politically correct to say postal worker or postman?) has to be keeping our mail. Catalogs all come on the same day in a big stack, coupons don’t show up until they’ve expired, and checks don’t arrive on time! I know that sounds like I’m over-exagerating…

So today I have a real winner: a little while ago we get this thing from the IRS (don’t get the wrong impression, it was all on the up-and-up) and Dad writes the required response. Now they’ve nicely included a return address and the return-by date, etc. making things very hard to mess up. Seems simple, so I go ahead and mail it off ‘Express’ to Dallas, Texas. But sure enough in today’s mail a big cardboard envelope shows up and it’s the very letter I mailed! Here – at our house! Morons. I was quite upset with the post office people. So I trundled down there to make my feelings clear and demand emphatically that they reimburse us and/or overnight it free of charge for our pains. However, the powers that be (or rather, the Power Who Is) had other plans. Complaints were made by me, and calls were made by Donna, the understanding and helpful postal employee. I’ll spare you the tedious details and give you the high-level: turns out that the IRS had gotten a P.O. box in TX a while back, but it expired in 2009! In fact we (the post office people and myself) were all making jokes about it because you’d really think that the IRS of all people would be on top of that sort of thing. They’ve been sending out letterheads and return envelopes with the wrong address for four years now! I can’t believe no one has mentioned this before, so I’m thinking maybe they’re just being ethical and using up the rest of their office supplies before ordering all the new stuff.  So anyway, that had expired, and their new office (or maybe it’s old and they’re just now telling people about it?) is right here in river-city!  So after a lot more paper-work and receipts and calls and confirmations and other important but confusing things, we mailed it right off to their Charlotte location and the Matthews postal employees are quite fond of me. And I don’t blame them! Not for liking me, but for making the mistake – it turned out not to be their fault, and I digress, I have been very forward with my complaints (public or private) about the Matthews postal system. Now I see that they’re not always the ones at fault, and I’m not going to talk about it anymore (good or bad, just to be on the safe side).

White Rain – Take 3 – Action!

It has been a tradition to refer to any impending wedding as “White Rain” in the most beloved of terms. And so, as a pretty bow is tied on April, and May’s doors begin to open in welcome, we see the quickly approaching nuptials of my sister Christine to the ever-impressive Isaac Alexander. A few years ago when we met Isaac (or rather, he was generally brought into our acquaintance), I can’t say I thought “marriage material”. However, my opinion has rapidly been tested as I have seen the most wonderful changes in his faith, his work, his character, and his lifestyle. I can now say that I am VERY happy to see Christine entering into the next phase of life (the big one) with such a great man to lead her. We’re not just pushing Christine out of the nest, though – we welcome Isaac into the family! (Welcome, Isaac!)

As this blog has become a log of events from my point of view, I will make a few personal notes: 3 weddings in 3 years and they have all been pretty different! I love taking note of the little changes that have come over the years, and we can all look back fondly with “I wouldn’t have done…”, “we definitely want to include…”, “I wish we had decided to…”, and “I see now, that…”. From my own perspective, I have taken many a mental note (don’t worry, that’s a good bit down the road). I think the biggest hit for me was when my sisters all readily agreed that, although they say your wedding is all about you – it’s your day, you can do whatever you want, and everything can be just how you want it because it’s all about you - it’s NOT! It’s about everyone else and what they want. It’s about the parents (because they’re most likely paying for it, and, in so doing, hosting this event), and the in-laws, and the guests, and the message, and the practicality, and the cost, and importance, and the big decisions, and really everything else besides the Bride and Groom.

At least that’s the message I got from their few words and united nods of the head.

It’s sobering, really, because that’s a myth I’m sure a lot of us grew up with – that it’s “your big day”! I will throw in here that they (my siblings) would probably all agree that no matter what happens in the planning, no matter how things turn out, of course you still feel special, and you (bride & groom) definitely are the center of attention. Still a big day, so…there’s that.

Other news: as the wedding is in just two days, we’re super-duper-über-busy with preparation and last-minute details and execution, so there is no other news. Oh, except that Morgan is definitely having a GIRL, now that it’s public I can go ahead and say that. Yup, second grandchild, second girl, second berry! Any strawberry-themed gifts can be sent directly to Morgan, or through me [if you don't have their new address]. You know where we live.

(Note: we’re still excited about the autobio “It’s All About Me” whenever that gets finished…)