4:42 PM
the line to the counter stretches out through the double doors. i count 12 ppl in front of me, 4 more join the line during the time i shoulder my way in to get customs forms for my package (smoked salmon + piñon nuts to taiwan). i carry only one package, which is not the norm for this line. one man has a dolly stacked to the top w/priority mail boxes. another woman pushes a mail cart someone lent her, also full w/boxes. the woman behind me looks like she came straight from the mall, shopping bags surrounding her as she stuffs priority mail boxes. the post office music is mercifully barely audible- i say mercifully b/c i suspect it's holiday music. the soundtrack in my head is playing gym class heroes "back home".
one might expect the mood at a post office the weekend before xmasto be tense, terse + taut, but this is abq- ppl still make eye contact + smile. there's not as much chitchat between strangers as usual- maybe that's a sign of holiday stress setting in, but customers still offer to hold another's place in line so that person can go seal up their package on a nearby table (have you ever tried to tape up a medium-sized cardboard box while standing in line? it's not easy). i fill out my customs forms as the line shuffles forward. i don't mind the wait; i've brought the arts + leisure section of the times from last sunday. plus i like seeing so many ppl mailing packages. i'd like to think that mailing holiday gifts is not a tedious obligation (like family dinners), but something ppl do w/love + anticipation for the recipient's reaction. at least that's how it is for me, but i don't have many packages to mail.
32 minutes later, i'm out the door. even though this post office officially closes at 5pm, they've left the doors unlocked + ppl are still joining the line. i make eye contact + smile at the guy who's entering as i'm leaving. he smiles back.
the line to the counter stretches out through the double doors. i count 12 ppl in front of me, 4 more join the line during the time i shoulder my way in to get customs forms for my package (smoked salmon + piñon nuts to taiwan). i carry only one package, which is not the norm for this line. one man has a dolly stacked to the top w/priority mail boxes. another woman pushes a mail cart someone lent her, also full w/boxes. the woman behind me looks like she came straight from the mall, shopping bags surrounding her as she stuffs priority mail boxes. the post office music is mercifully barely audible- i say mercifully b/c i suspect it's holiday music. the soundtrack in my head is playing gym class heroes "back home".
one might expect the mood at a post office the weekend before xmasto be tense, terse + taut, but this is abq- ppl still make eye contact + smile. there's not as much chitchat between strangers as usual- maybe that's a sign of holiday stress setting in, but customers still offer to hold another's place in line so that person can go seal up their package on a nearby table (have you ever tried to tape up a medium-sized cardboard box while standing in line? it's not easy). i fill out my customs forms as the line shuffles forward. i don't mind the wait; i've brought the arts + leisure section of the times from last sunday. plus i like seeing so many ppl mailing packages. i'd like to think that mailing holiday gifts is not a tedious obligation (like family dinners), but something ppl do w/love + anticipation for the recipient's reaction. at least that's how it is for me, but i don't have many packages to mail.
32 minutes later, i'm out the door. even though this post office officially closes at 5pm, they've left the doors unlocked + ppl are still joining the line. i make eye contact + smile at the guy who's entering as i'm leaving. he smiles back.
No comments:
Post a Comment