Corona Virus Visit To The USPS

I was running errands early on a Friday afternoon in this, the age of the corona virus.

I had some letters to mail, one I wasn’t sure if it might require more than the regular .50 postage so I would have to go in the main building to have it weighed.
That was probably best because the last time I used the outside box I had to force the overflowing letters down into the tube to get mine in, in all of my 60+ years that has never happened to me before. I guessed that the overflow problem was a direct result of all the business people being forced to work out of their homes- and not use the mail chutes provided at many office buildings.

I pulled into the parking lot and almost ran a mask wearing patron, who was reading his newly acquired correspondence, over. I thought to myself of how rude, unsafe, thoughtless… that was, but I guess that’s fodder for another blog. I also observed, “Oh, that guy’s wearing a mask- I’ll have to remember to put mine on.” I wonder if I’ll ever get used to these new rules; my hope is that I won’t have to.

I entered and saw a line that stretched from the counter to a far wall. My spot would be approximately 3 feet from that wall, not enough room to allow the next patron to maintain the governmentally required “social distance” of 6 feet. I waited in that line for approximately one hour and 15 minutes, giving me plenty of time to observe the two clerks working hard to keep the line moving.

Next! Called the surprisingly cheerful, overworked, clerk. I handed him my collection of bills, social letters and a mass card for a friend who’s mother had died. The mass card was the post I was not sure about. “I’m not sure if this will require any additional postage.” I said to the clerk, fully expecting him to say the stamp I had already affixed was sufficient. He held the envelop and gave me a peculiar look, which made me more convinced I had waited in that long line for no reason. Then he said, “Yeah, that’s going to cost you an additional $3.50.” That was going to be one expensive mailing, it was just a card- a big heavy card, but just a card! I wondered to myself why they couldn’t afford three clerks if they were charging $4.00 to deliver a big envelope.

I paid the ransom and wished the clerk good fortunes.

I am a law abiding citizen and haven’t committed any crimes for several years, I will give you more details when I am passed the statute of limitations, but I am concerned about how the churches, schools, citizens, judges and businesses have almost unanimously consented to have our rights trampled on for a virus that has not yet passed the numbers generated by a serious outbreak of the flu.

What do you think? Am I wrong?