Italy Journal
Friday, November 16,
2012
Where's the Post Office?
I’ve lost lots of things in my life, but never a POST
OFFICE! I was so smart and went to the tobacci shop next door, and they put the
correct amount of stamps for air mail. Simple, now all I had to do was to hand
it to the cashier at the Post Office. I had a birthday envelope for Hugo, and I
went to the main Post Office . The building was closed until JANUARY 15th,
and even then it wasn’t going to be a post office. So, not to worry, I went to
the mailbox by the side of Via Pollenzo, but the envelope was too large to fit
in there. There was still another option, so I walked up to the Post Office
branch behind the small Coop Grocery Store. That one didn’t even have a door
anymore! Workmen were renovating the whole place, and all the windows and doors
were removed. The worker told me it was closed (duh!) and he didn’t know what I
should do with my stamped envelope! Sooooo, what to do? POST OFFICE MAN to the
rescue! I called Enzo, my back-up on all things Italian. “Oh, so you’re looking
for the Post Office, Colleen?” I can hear his voice now. “Well, the Post Office
has been moved to the main square at Piazza Alberto, next to the theater.” How
does he know all these things? Anyway, I dubbed him “Post Office Man” (along
with Translator Man and a few others) and took the envelope to the main square.
I shuddered when I walked in the door. All of the lines were long, and one man
was throwing down his number and walking out, disgruntled at having to wait so
long. But wait! I already had the stamps on Hugo’s envelope! I didn’t need to
stand in those lines. So, watching the mouths drop as I passed everyone to
stand patiently next to the person who was at the cash register, when she was
finished with one customer and the next was coming forward, I showed her my
stamped envelope and said ,”Dove?” Where does this go? She took one look at the
stamps. Her surprised look at my breaking line turned to a big smile. She said,
“OK,” and took my envelope immediately to put into her basket. I thanked her
and walked back out of the Post Office, greeting everyone that was watching in
awe! It was my crowning moment!
Auguri, Colleen! Congratulations!
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