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March 19, 2013

Mailbox will stay put despite newest decree

The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — Editor, The Transcript:

This comment is in regard to the letter we received from the U.S. Postal Service a few weeks ago, telling us in no uncertain terms that we had but a short span of time to remove our mailboxes from our homes and put them up on curbside or they would begin holding our mail for pickup at the post offices until we complied.

It was with no small amount of regret that I did as I was ordered, and to the cost of nearly $100. There are no words to describe my complete disgust when I read the piece on the front page of this morning’s paper and saw the words, and I am paraphrasing, ‘We changed our minds. Just tear them down and put them back on your houses.’ I saw another $100, possibly more, flash before my eyes because my curbside mailbox was safely erected with the post in cement. At that point, I decided enough is enough.

It seems the Postal Service cannot make up their minds, but I can. My mailbox is on the curb and it’s staying on the curb, even though it will be extremely inconvenient. It will probably be the only one in the whole entire neighborhood, but that’s fine because I don’t mind being different. What I mind is bureaucracy.

I have named my mailbox The Folly. I will be painting the name upon the post in the near future just as a reminder to myself that stupidity exists at all levels and that obeying directions does not always get you to the proper destination.

Sharon Sala

Norman

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