A VISIT TO THE LOCAL ITALIAN POST OFFICE

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So here we are standing on line at the Post Office. We're going to be here for a while, so my favorite Eudora Welty short story, "Why I live at the PO" comes to mind. (If you haven't read it, I hope you will. And if you can hear it read by the author herself, in her inimitable Jackson, Mississippi voice, even better!) But now, back to the topic at hand.

There's a handy sign posted overhead to remind us of the day, date and time. Let's have a look.

  
Wednesday, November 14, 11:50. Sounds good, except that today is Monday, and last I noticed, it's actually July 15. "Well, at least did they get the time right?" asks Jim, a glass-is-half-full kind of guy. Nope. My watch says 11:30, and it's always set fast to make up for my lack of punctuality.

How do I know I'm in Italy? The clientele offers a clue. Where else would you see patrons like these?



And in what other PO could you buy Dan Brown's new book, “Inferno”? That might actually come in handy here, since a person could get quite a ways into it during the time it takes to buy a stamp.


In addition to the distinguished-looking friar who must be enduring his personal inferno under all those heavy robes, we see the back of two unusual-looking gray-robed people.



With our cine-club showing this week the scary thriller, "Don't Look Now," an unfortunate association comes to mind.
  
We are not so sure about the sex of these individuals, but one is just the size of one of the most frightening characters in movie history. But she's not wearing a red-hooded outfit (saving that for winter?), and when she turns her head, we see that she's probably no relation to the creature in the film. PHEW!


So there you have it:just another Monday (NOT Wednesday) at the Italian PO! 

BTW, always bring your iPhone along when you visit your local Italian post office. Then while waiting on line, you have a choice:read Dan Brown, or write a piece like this.

 PS:If you would like to comment, please do so by clicking below.

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