Living and Learning

(Unrelated to the post subject, I've included a couple of pictures from the yard.)

The view out the kitchen window of the neighbor's maple.

When Wally was a boy, he told me that we could tell him something all we wanted, but he wouldn't really learn it until he experienced it for himself. Never were truer words spoken.

However, I think a few things can be learned from others' experiences. And here is one of them I hope you can learn from me.

When my sisters and I were sorting through old papers, we found my uncle's graduation announcement. I texted my cousin to see if she would like it, and she was thrilled because she didn't have one. So I promptly got it ready for mailing. I used a small padded envelope with a piece of cardboard inside to prevent bending.

The camellia has started to bloom.

When it was weighed at the post office, the light package would cost $1.11 to mail first-class. HOWEVER, since the package was stiff from the cardboard, it had to go as a parcel, and then the cheapest price was $8.65! I almost ripped the envelope open at the window to take the cardboard out, but then I thought that the announcement couldn't be replaced and it was better if it arrived undamaged. And it did.

Another view out of a kitchen window.

I have many times added a piece of cardboard to an envelope to prevent accidental bending, and it was never classified as a package. I don't know when this new policy took effect or why. Maybe they have new sorting machines? Maybe it's another way to earn revenue in the never-ending deficit they seem to have?

Anyway, if you do any snail-mailing these days, pay attention to how stiff your envelope is.

The confused lilac is still blooming.

Until next time..