A Salute to The United States Postal Service!

Hi Readers, it’s co-editor Gail.

A wise man once said:

Here’s the mail, it never fails.

It makes me want to wag my tail.

When it comes I want to wail – MAIL!!!!!!!!!!”

With all of the outrageous mishegas going on with the United States Postal Service, I thought I would use my blog this week to pay tribute to the USPS and give you some information on how you can support them during this time where they are under attack.

Television and entertainment has been long blessed with many wonderful postal worker characters from Fred Astaire in Rankin Bass’s Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town, Mr. McFeely on Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, Reba from Peewee’s Playhouse and even Sam Porter Bridges from Hideo Kojima’s game Death Stranding

And who can forget Wayne Knights iconic performance as Newman on Seinfeld? While not the most valiant of mail carriers, often using his connections for scams and schemes (much like our president), Newman ultimately revere’s his position because he understands the importance of it to society. Like he says in one episode:

“When you control the mail, you control..information!”

Hello… Newman.

To me, and I am sure like most of you, the USPS has been a reliable entity that has always been there throughout my life allowing me to send and receive cards and gifts from loved ones, my college acceptance letter and diploma four years later and the dumb but delightful things I choose to spend my money on online. Being stuck inside during this pandemic has only heightened my appreciation of the USPS and its workers.

This is why it is so infuriating to see it being destroyed from the inside out and weaponized to suppress votes in an election that will have a majority mail-in vote. While this is an issue that I wish could be solved entirely by our elected officials having the common sense and fortitude to do what they know is right, unfortunately things aren’t that simple in this political climate, So in light if this, here are some ways we as individuals can help the USPS during this ridiculousness.

USPS Store:

Go online and check out the USPS online store. Buy some stamps! There are lots of cool designs from inspiring historical figures, holidays, Scooby-Doo, some cute frogs and even some spooky ones for Halloween! They also have other gifts and supplies such as clothing, a mail carrier costume for dogs, a magic kit, tote bags and all sorts of things. If you can spare anything please do because it  really helps.

AOC Pen Pal Program?:

The other day congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez posted to her Instagram story that she is working on a national progressive pen pal program. While not much is known about it yet, I think this is a really awesome idea and encourage you to watch her Instagram account for any updates.

Email the PostMaster General:

If you are as pissed as I am but understandably don’t have the money to spare right now, something you can do for free is email our new PostMaster General Louis DeJoy at

 louis.dejoy@usps.gov

And let him know EXACTLY how you feel about all of these sudden policy changes.

So to our postal workers out there, we salute you and support you in your efforts to get proper funding, equipment and supplies as well as leadership that will help you thrive instead of flounder.

P.S. Please if you haven’t already, register to vote and find out how your state is doing mail-in ballots, get one and send yours out as soon as possible once you have filled it out. DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS ELECTION! 

-Gail

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Gail Bello is a poet and playwright from Waltham, Massachusetts. She graduated in 2019 with a BFA in Creative Writing and a minor in Theatre from The University of Maine at Farmington. Find her previous publications at https://thaumaturgedramaturge.wordpress.com and follow her on Twitter @AquajadeGail