Thank You, USPS

I know that the US Postal Service takes a lot of heat for stuff over the past decade or so and phrases have been created based on a handful of postal workers, i.e., "going postal," but I, personally, have never had an extremely difficult situation with regards to the post office.

Today, when I dropped into our local post office, I was once again astounded with the speedy and polite service the employees at the counter are able to offer to each hurried person in line.  They work quickly and yet, I don't feel like they are rushing me.  They work quickly and yet, I don't feel like they skimp on pleasantries in the process of doing business.  Our local postal employees keep smiling even during the busiest season and I, for one, really appreciate that.

I think about the kinds of difficulties they must encounter in a day and they just don't show any frustration or annoyance.  Today, I finally made it to the counter (finally because the line was out the door, not because they weren't working quickly) and I was treated like it was a Tuesday morning in July -- no hurries and yet, somehow, my whole time at the counter was under three minutes.  I wished my postal worker a Merry Christmas, which she gladly returned the greeting and then I made sure to thank her for her cheerfulness amidst a busy season.

She smiled and said, "Why thank you, Dear ... and same to you."

If only my fellow Christmas shoppers could learn a lesson from the USPS and stop ramming my cart because I pause for a moment to evaluate product and price differences.  Sigh.