Postal Greetings
Stamps Of The Season
R2A Zoning laws are the best idea so far for keeping urban growth in check. Tribune photo by Ira Cohen
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B y Matt Hampton
Stressed out yet? Never fear, the Tribune has all kinds of ways to help you relax and enjoy this time of year. One way to keep from having a meltdown, of course, is to keep things in perspective.
Think you’re busy? Try this on for size: This year alone, the U.S. Postal Service will deliver more than 20 billion cards and packages between Nov. 23 and Dec. 24. Broken down, that means nearly 700 million pieces of mail must be processed every single day. So tonight, as you’re licking stamps and signing cards for Aunt Ethel and that extremely distant cousin you haven’t seen since your high school graduation (is it Jimmy or Jerry? I can’t remember), not only does the USPS know how to get there; they’re going to get your card to their door on time.
Buying stamps is easy, but it’s also easy to forget. This year, the USPS will ship stamps directly to you for only $1, plus the cost of the stamps themselves.
Nobody likes a crowd, and if you’re especially busy, the best time to hit the post office is mid-morning or mid-afternoon. This helps to avoid the pre- and post-work crowds and the lunchtime rush.
Finally, when it comes down to brass tacks, the USPS has one piece of advice that will guarantee your holiday greeting leaves a smile on Aunt Ethel’s face right on time.
“Mail early. Mail early. Mail early. Mail early,” spokesman Tom Gaynor said. “And finally, mail early.”
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