Wednesday night I was awakened by a loud “clunk” sound coming from the street. Normally noises don’t bother me. I looked out the window at the driveway and there was a big dark thing laying on the ground next to my mailbox. Wait! It was my mailbox. Some a–hole had smashed my mailbox knocking it off it’s pedestal. I know kids like to drive along with baseball bats and smash mailboxes from the moving cars.
The next morning my priorities were clear. Get a functioning temporary mailbox and then find out what it would take to fix the box permanently. First things first though. I did my morning exercise routine.
On the way home I stopped at Home Depot and Fleetfarm to find out what a new mailbox costs. I found something similar (made out of plastic) for about $50. I didn’t buy anything because I wanted to take the old one apart first.
When I got home, our neighbor from across the street saw me picking up pieces of the broken box. She rushed out of her house and got my attention. Her first words were “I think we are responsible for your broken mailbox”. Apparently she had a group of kids from church over and when the kids were leaving, one must have backed into my mailbox. She said “they would pay for all damages and that her husband was leaving work early that day to buy a new one and fix it”. I wouldn’t have to do anything.
My fortunes went from “crap” to “euphoria”. Now it wasn’t my problem and it wasn’t going to cost me anything.
Being the impatient person I am, I solicited the lunch hour help of Grasshopper No.3. With his help, we bought a new mailbox and had it quickly installed. i gave the bill to my neighbor and they paid me immediately.
I got to bond with my neighbors across the street. They turn out to be pretty nice people.
I got a new mailbox for free.
Now I’m set up to keep getting those “bills” in the mail along with all the stupid advertising stuff. Maybe, just maybe, I should have left the mailbox lay on the ground. Then the world would have one less way of communicating with me. That would be a real improvement of fortunes.
Snow is moving into the lakeshore late this afternoon. I know some people that live in Sheboygan and they will get a chance to shovel that white stuff. Have fun.
Stay warm.
Love,
Dad