On July 12, I got a notice in my mailbox that there was a package  (a PBS package)   that was too big to fit in my mailbox and it would be at the post office after 4 pm for me to pick up. No problem.  I would rather pick up a package at the post office than have it sit beside the mailbox and look "attractive"  to someone passing by. My daughter went to the post office to pick it up for me but it seems they looked for it there and couldn't find it.  They said that a substitue carrier was on because my mail carrier was on vacation  and they didn't know where she put it. My daughter said ok and we went back the next day to get the package. Well, the story goes that the substitute only works the one day a week and they could not get ahold of her by phone for several days.. Meanwhile, they looked everywhere for the package and still couldn't find it. Yesterday afternoon, I called again to see if it had turned up and they told me it just came in from the Distribution Center. It was too late for me to pick it up yesterday so I will pick it up today. I asked them why it was sent back to the Distribution Center and they said that the carrier didn't know what to do with it. ( It appears to me that she was not trained adequately.)  But I ask you---if you were the one who filled out the card  to put in someone's mailbox to tell them that their package could be picked up at the post office after four o'clock, why would you send it somewhere else?  Or at least ask another postal worker that is there what to do with it? It boggles the mind.

Well, then I started remembering the other things that have been happening with our mail lately. It got me to wondering.....my husband's payroll check never arrived  a few weeks ago and we had to get a replacement check issued which took ten days to get it , one PBS package to me was declared lost in the mail and an another will be declared lost too in a few days if it doesn't turn up. My  several  PBS packages that I sent out from my mailbox has been unusually slow getting received to get my credits. Could it be the substitue carrier ? Who knows? I just hope every one I sent books to gets them and my regular mail carrier enjoys her vacation and gets back soon.

We have had substitute carriers for the past 3 or 4 YEARS!  Someone new every couple of weeks.    Now 3 weeks ago, I spoke to our carrier, and she has been assigned the route!  And there will be a regular person doing the 6th day!!!!  You can bet I am being very nice to both of them!  What a difference a regular carrier makes!

Just an update:

I got my package finally yesterday. I had to smile when I saw the card in the mailbox,  this time telling me...."too big for box--this time for real!"

The clerk at the window could not thank me enough for being so understanding and patient until I finally got my package. I knew that they were embarrased about what happened. I am glad I kept my cool. My post office is small and everyone that works there is so nice. I just hope that the "sub" gets trained a little better or at least will ask if she doesnt know what to do about something. Anyway, I got my books,  the other member got her credits and all is well.

Oh, no!  I heard my  sub was back on last week and they found several packages that she picked up  on her route in her trunk and never sent out. She forgot about them! Wonder if any of them were mine being sent out for PBS? With my luck they are. My apologies to any one who gets their books  late because of this.