I'm ba-ack... from the Post Office, that is... And what a wonderful trip it was!
Again, there was really no line to speak of, and all the extra helpers were in the line area helping people fill out the right forms, answer questions, directing them to the correct counter, etc. Of course, this time, however, there were only about three "windows" open - which eventually became two while I was there - but the line still moved, and no one really seemed harried or annoyed.
After my five or so minute wait in line, I walked up to the window and placed my parcel and forms on the counter. "Oh, Australia...," the man behind the counter said. It turns out that he has a step mother and two step-siblings (one brother, one sister), who moved to Australia a few years ago (with his father), and he has not kept in touch with them as well as he should. So, he proceeded to thank me for being his first customer for the day (they were in the middle of shift changes), and for reminding him that he should at least call them this Christmas and wish them well. He told me his tale as he went about checking my forms, printing off my postage and accepting my payment - no real hold up in the line. And as he wished me, "Merry Christmas," he extended his hand for a hand shake. I wished him a Merry Christmas, too, as I shook his hand. I walked out of the Post Office smiling.
![Cheesy :D](http://www.haineshisway.com/smf/Smileys/XarSmilies-1/cheesy.gif)
*And, yes, DR Tomovoz, you should have a small parcel from me by the New Year, if not shortly afterwards.
-And it still puzzles me with the way the USPS handles overseas mail. By sending it "Economy", the average post time (air mail) is listed as 4-7 days. However, if I had sent it "Priority", it would have taken 10-12 days - and cost more than twice as much!?!?! Now, if I had wanted to send it Parcel Post, it would have taken anywhere from 4-6 WEEKS - and would have cost THREE times as much as "Economy" air mail - well, I guess you would pay more for a longer voyage. I guess for larger, heavier packages it might make a difference, but when the send options came up on the screen, it took a moment or two to decipher.