People Never Cease to Amaze Me . . .

I ran to the post office this morning to get stamps and . . . in the ten minutes that I was there, I was just amazed by the two other people that were there with me.

The first was a woman who was probably in her early thirties and had her small (looked to be about 2 years old) child with her. The way that the local post office is configured is that you walk in the front door into a long lobby that holds all of the post office boxes. Directly across from the main door is another door that you use to access the post office office (see drawing).

The woman was in the office filling out forms and such and just letting her very small child wander around the outer area all alone. Now, the area where the kid was wandering around: a) has the door to the outside; and b) is the highest traffic area where people are coming and going while they check their boxes. The mother was in the office standing at the desk and did not have a view of the door or into the area where he kid was and she was just completely oblivious.

At one point, she heard the outdoor door open and gasped and looked up and said, “I need to make sure that my child doesn’t get out.” and just turned back to filling out her forms. Didn’t even go look to see if the kid DID get out. The outside door opened and closed again and she looked up and said, “I really need to make sure he doesn’t get out.” So I said, “Well then maybe you should go look.” and . . . she didn’t.

Instead she looked at the postal worker and reiterated her need to make sure he didn’t get out so I said, “You know, obviously you’ve never thought of this but, you could go get him and keep him with you. That way I won’t have to watch you on the evening news crying about how you don’t know how in the world your child could have disappeared.”

She looked shocked, shut her mouth, and walked out to the lobby to see if he was still there, came back into the office, finished what she was doing and left. Didn’t say another word. Idiot.

The other was the next person in line, in front of me. This was a woman who looked to be in her forties and who was mailing off two packages. She insisted on adding more tape to the packages – not a big deal but then, when she was done, the postal worker began asking questions:

Postal Worker: Would you like to insure these packages?
Dumbass: What do you mean?
PW: You can purchase insurance against the package being damaged.
DA: I don’t understand.
PW: Are the contents of the package something that you would like to insure against damage.
DA: Well, the package just showed up at my house this way. So, I don’t know.
PW: (Staring at the woman for a minute) But, I’m referring to the packages you’re sending, would you like to insure them?
DA: I’m not sure you know what you’re talking about. What you’re saying doesn’t make sense.
PW: (Obviously giving up) Would you like to track the package? It’s an additional .65 for this option.
DA: What do you mean?
PW: The post office provides a service that allows you to track the package’s progress and see where it is in the delivery process. The cost is .65.
DA: But, they deliver to the house, right?
PW: Yes, they will deliver to the house. This only has to do with being able to see the progress of the package as it is shipped. So you can see where it is and how far along it is.
DA: Why would I need that if they’re going to deliver it to the house?
PW: (Slightly disgusted) We have to offer these services, I’ll take that as a no. That you do not want to track the package.
DA: Well, I just don’t understand unless you’re saying they’re not going to deliver to the house.
PW: That’ll be $42.80.
DA: (Paying the $42.80) Here you go, I just don’t understand the question.
PW: Here’s your receipt, thank you.

I give the postal worker credit for her patience. I almost butted in to say something but decided to hold my tongue because I couldn’t trust would come out.

Maybe I’m PMSing.