after my recent post

about waiting a long time for ice cream

i had yet another epic episode of waiting

when i stopped by the post office

(i honestly love the post office, the joy of mailing things… )

the photo above shows how many postal workers

were at the counter when i walked in

i read the sign and waited

what if there is no available clerk?

what if there is no clerk at all?

still waiting

 i’m not a person who minds waiting in line

 usually end up bonding with the line

at a certain point in the process

we support each other

by talking, guessing how long it will take

showing pictures, imagining scenarios

the line kept getting longer

and

yet longer

not one person left

a man sitting in a chair

called out

‘what happened?’

every so often.

one person called home to say

‘we’re here in line and there’s one working at the post office.’

we finally saw one worker

walk from the back to the counter

she’d been getting a pile of mail

for the man in the chair

this friendly smiling young woman

announced to our line

‘i’m the only person here until 11.’

it was 10:10

she was un-frazzled

stayed calm and professional

another person in line

called the post office from their cell phone

thinking another worker in back might pick it up

no one answered because their one employee

was at the counter

helping our long line

we reassured her

we weren’t upset with her

amazed how well she was handling it

she quietly called up each person

when it was finally my turn

i told the line

 my business would be quick

one responded

‘that’s what they all say!’

now the whole line

was laughing together

no one was upset

they were happy

when it only took a couple of minutes

to get my package on its way

right before i left

i noticed a mini post office

very detailed

made of

paper and cardboard and paint

set up on her counter

i asked who had made this

she told me it was her

wow

now this is someone

who loves her job

 is an artist

has incredible patience

even under pressure

 i would like to nominate her

to be the postmaster.

‘patience is also a form of action.’

 -auguste rodin