Warm and pleasant greetings to all. We hope you are enjoying a good week.
Congratulations to all the individuals featured in our weekly newspaper. You are reminding our communities that there are those who care, support and make the sacrifices to make our communities better places to live.
I was recently driving down Highway 32 West and noticed the nearby community has beautiful, newly surfaced roads. It’s wonderful to see the convenience and care being invested there.
However, it raises a difficult question for us here in the Blue Cane community. We have been told for decades that our roads were on the schedule and would be next in line to be paved. Seeing others get these improvements while we remain overlooked feels unfair, especially when we’ve been promised action for so long.
It makes me wonder if we are being adequately represented or if our needs are simply not being prioritized.
Perhaps it’s time we look into whether or not we share the same supervisor or if there are other steps we need to take to ensure our community is finally heard.
Now, suppose the mailbox could talk, and be heard, what would it have to say? It’s amazing how much pride and dignity a well kept mailbox can add to a neighborhood. Driving through a community, you notice all types of mailboxes. Some are new. Some are refurbished. Some are decorated, or maybe some are old and dilapidated.
Visualize a mailbox itself. It has a big mouth, long head and a short arm. The big mouth is open to receive or send out a sealed, addressed and stamped written communication, and sealed packages. The red arm sticks up to signal a pickup.
All mailboxes should be sturdily mounted and USPS approved, numbers displayed and clearance whereas the mail carrier can reach safely from their vehicle, regardless of how straight it may stand or to what angle it may lean. The mailbox still cannot talk. It speaks silently in the mind of the observer. It’s amazing what statement the mailbox can make. It may state dignity and pride for the community. This shows up in a community and it starts with one family at a time!
Thinking of mailboxes made me think of our mail carrier. Our mail carrier delivers hundreds or maybe thousands of pieces of mail every day. Residents enjoy receiving mail and maybe some days wait for the mail carrier to make the delivery. We are always happy to speak or give a wave to our mail carrier. He is among the best!
I remember growing up in our neighborhood and the old man, Mr. Walter, across the street, asked my brothers to come over and paint his mailbox. Mr. Walter said, “Use this can to paint the mailbox and the little can to paint the numbers.” But both cans of paint were black!
My brothers still laugh about Mr. Walter and the time he asked them to paint his mailbox. I laughed when I thought about it, too, as I was writing.
A special day for my family this week was Taylor’s birthday. On Sept. 12, he turned 90 years old, and I think that’s a blessing.
He’s played a big role in shaping many minds in this community.
I could just imagine what kind of letter he would write to the world now that he’s seen so much of it change.
That mailbox would be honored indeed.
Enjoy life today.
