A tip of the hat to all who write weekly community news columns. Pat Deck, who I have read for years, and all you other columnists, this is hard work! I was co-editor of a weekly newspaper (Aberdeen) and then moved to The Memphis Commercial Appeal serving as bureau chief for northwest Mississippi and had daily deadlines for years. But, somehow, this weekly column comes around more often than the daily deadlines did. I understand that is impossible, but ... that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
I’m going to write about beautifying mailboxes, engineers and death this week. How about that for a combination?
Let’s start with Engineers Week. That’s this week and it is celebrated nationally. The theme for Engineers Week 2026 (Feb. 22-28) is “Transform Your Future.” The week is designed to show appreciation of engineers and interest young people in engineering careers. I wondered how many kinds of engineers there are and got a list reminiscent of how Forrest Gump’s friend Bubba went on and on about ways to cook shrimp. Here is a range of different engineering fields: civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, software, aerospace, biomedical, environmental, industrial/manufacturing, materials, petroleum, computer/hardware and nuclear. So, if you drive or ride in a car, go across a bridge, turn on your lights, take medicine, use a computer, have bank transactions, fly or go into outer space, have an X-ray or scan, go in a public building or a long list of other things, thank an engineer. They are problem-solvers who use math and science skills to move us forward.
Now, I’m going to move to something much easier for the artsy crowd — mailbox beautification! I had no idea there is a national week for mailbox improvements sponsored by the U.S. Post Office. Friends, we are ahead of the crowd on this one. We can lead the nation in beautifying mailboxes.
The national celebration doesn’t happen until the third week of May. As I was driving through my neighborhood Friday, I noticed several mailboxes that need attention! Some need the box and post replaced, others need one or the other and some just need cleaning. Mine is in the “needs cleaning” category. I Googled mailbox beautification when I got home and, boom, mailbox improvement week came up! Key tasks, according to the U.S. Post Office, include fixing hinges, painting, tightening posts, clearing debris and ensuring house numbers are visible, ultimately improving curb appeal and protecting mail from weather.
Visible numbers also help emergency responders find you. After the winter weather, mine looks like it has taken a real beating. As soon as this next cold front comes and goes, I’m going to get it cleaned up. My son’s in Oakland needs replacing and we are going to have a gentle conversation about that! Send me pictures if you’d like to show off your beautified mailboxes between now and the third week of May. Email me at oaklandareachamber@gmail.com.
Finally, to wrap up this week’s topics, let’s chat about death. I read the most interesting article last week about a group of ladies in Virginia, ages 78 to 89, who initially met each other in a workshop series about preparing wills, end-of-life wishes, and obituaries. The workshops ended, but a small group stayed together and have become dear friends. They meet monthly to continue the discussions they started in the workshop. They hold each other accountable (“Have you finished writing your obituary, Mary?” “Hattie, did you get that do not resuscitate order signed?”)
The article said it may sound depressing, but the women say it has been just the opposite: “a life-affirming exercise that has given new meaning to their final chapters. It seems that by demystifying death, by refusing to deny that their lives are near the end, they have freed themselves from some of the fear of dying.
“That is what is so magic about this: It gives you a safe, comfortable, un-frightening way to talk about death,” said Daphne Hutchinson, who survived a major heart attack some years back. “Talk about death when you are feeling good. Talk about death when you can still do something to change the path that you’re on.”
They call themselves the “RONettes” because they came together through a local program called Ready or Not.
While helping a friend on her death journey, I witnessed how important all of this is. Being prepared to slip “the surly bonds of earth” is not a small task and much better done when you’re feeling good. After my friend’s death, I learned the hard way that she was too specific in some parts of her will. There are some things that are best left in a Letter of Instruction. A will or trust is necessary for legally handling the distribution of property, while a letter of instruction is an informal, non-binding document providing personal, detailed guidance to loved ones and executors, covering such things as funeral wishes, personal items, and explanations for decisions. It also helps the executor of your estate if you list bank accounts, insurance policies and who to contact at the insurance company, and passwords to accounts they will need.
This week, I’m going to thank an engineer, work on getting Oakland a fire truck and the W some nursing expansion money, encourage legislators to assist our small towns and counties with debris removal and recovery funds, work on my death wishes by updating my Letter of Instruction, and wash my dirty mailbox.
Don’t forget! May 2 is the Yalo- Ribbon Festival in Oakland featuring Danica Hart, formerly of Chapel Hart.
If you are vendor, contact Sue Donohue Smith by email at execdir.oaklandareachamber@gmail.com or 662-852-1110 to reserve your space.
