Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.life From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Neither snow nor rain - nor loose boxes Date: Sat, 31 Oct 92 14:00:15 EST Message-ID: \SE B;LIFE;COMICS;DEAR ABBY \SS (WS) \HD Neither snow nor rain - nor loose boxes \BY Abigail Van Buren \CR UNIVERSAL PRESS SYNDICATE DEAR ABBY: I am a female mail carrier in a small town. I have a small mail route with only 300 patrons. I try to give them the best service possible, but I would love a little support from them. If anyone is interested, here are a few suggestions: 1. Check your mailbox and make sure it is attached securely to its post. 2. If it is in a group of other boxes, please make sure it is even with the others. (Also, check the height of your mailbox.) 3. Cut all bushes, trees, vines and shrubs from around your mailbox. And, if you have a problem with ants, spiders, roaches or other bugs in the mailbox, keep a few mothballs in there. It really works! 4. Please keep the approach to your box clear. Don't park cars or let the children leave their toys in the area. 5. The little flag on your mailbox is to let the carrier know you have mail to be picked up. Use it only for that purpose. 6. Keep the mailbox door closed. It is very difficult to drive up to a box with the door open. 7. Please, and this is most important, don't let children run up to the mail carrier's vehicle! Be sure they wait until after the carrier leaves to go to the mailbox. Abby, if people would get into their cars, imagine that they are mail carriers and drive up to their boxes, I am sure most would be shocked at the condition their mailboxes are in. Help your carrier. Carriers work hard; some work six days a week in all kinds of weather, but they still come through. I am sure this is too long for publication, Abby, but maybe you can condense it and say what needs to be said. Thank you for the many years of enjoyment you have given me and my family. - A MAIL LADY DEAR MAIL LADY: Your letter was important enough to publish. You are sending a vital message. Everyone wants mail delivered in a timely fashion, and your helpful suggestions will facilitate that. Thank you for writing. DEAR ABBY: I am sick of hearing about the "poor addicts." What about their victims whose lives they ruined? What about the elderly who are afraid to go out alone? What about the people who have been terrorized and robbed because some addict had to support a habit he or she voluntarily chose to begin? No one forced them to take drugs - they had a choice. What kind of choice did their victims have? None! My wife was one of those people who believed she could help a drug addict. For eight years, she stood by this animal - then one day, for all her kindness, he took a hammer and crushed her skull, leaving her to die! I found her two hours later. She suffered massive brain damage, and her entire left side is now paralyzed. So much for trying to help a drug addict. With all the available information concerning drugs, there is no excuse for anyone's beginning the habit. These are people who care only for themselves. My wife was a teacher. She worked with disadvantaged children, but her teaching career ended when she was assaulted. How sad that society lost a woman who had dedicated her life to helping others. She had even taken children into our home to care for along with her own. You may use my name. - ARTHUR M. ROCKWELL JR., WYNANTSKILL, N.Y. DEAR MR. ROCKWELL: What happened to your wife was a senseless tragedy. My heart goes out to you. To get Abby's booklet "How to Write Letters for All Occasions," send a long, business-size, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $3.95 ($4.50 in Canada) to: Dear Abby, Letter Booklet, PO Box 447, Mount Morris, Ill. 61054. (Postage is included.) This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM