On The Fly

In this special episode,  The Mailbox Surprise . . .  Oh, the post! Oh, the mail! What a treat in the box! Not bills, not junk mail, no boring old rocks! A letter arrived, all folded and square, Like a yellow toy building block, sitting right there! From young Sierra, a friend so grand, Creative artwork, made purely by hand! My fingers fumbled, excited to see, What whimsical wonder she'd conjured for me! I unfolded the paper, and there, to my gaze, A street-side cafe, in a colorful haze! With crayons and pencils, such masterful art, A croissant, a coffee cup, warming the heart. A menu was hanging; the sign said "Cafe." A delightful small world, to brighten my day! And then, on the other half, lovely and neat, A thank-you in pencil, oh, wasn't it sweet! For a LEGO-built present, her Eleventh birthday passed, A message of kindness, meant surely to last. No tapping on screens, no digital light, Just paper and pencil, a pure, warm delight! In a world full of beeping and ...

In this episode - Santas Address – Update . . . Can you feel the holiday spirit in the air? It's all around us! You can see it in the numerous Christmas specials in our inboxes, the stores that have been twinkling with decorations since September, and the jolly old man, Santa, who's popping up in TV commercials everywhere. Speaking of Santa, don't forget to address this year's letter correctly as you prepare your wish list. But first, let's take a trip down memory lane and learn some fascinating history together. Did you know children have been sending letters to Santa for longer than the United States Postal Service (USPS) has existed to deliver them? However, today, they’re far more likely to get a response if you include the correct address. In early America, children’s holiday wish lists were often written out and left by the fireplace or burned in hearths, with the belief that the ashes would rise through the chimney and out to the holiday helper himself. Today...

In this episode - Santa’s Address . . . Christmas gift-giving may be over for this year, and Santa has retired for his long winter’s nap, but the spirit of the Holiday lingers far into the New Year. So, next year as your children (or you) prepare your wish list for Santa, be sure to address your letter as follows, but first, a little history. Did you know children have been sending letters to Santa for longer than the United States Postal Service (USPS) has existed to deliver them? Though today, they’re far more likely to get a response if you include the correct address. In early America, children’s holiday wish lists were often written out and left by the fireplace or burned in hearths, with the belief that the ashes would rise through the chimney and out to the holiday helper himself. Today, there’s no fireplace necessary — just a stamp — since the United States Postal Service gave Santa Claus his address: 123 Elf Road, North Pole, 88888. After the creation of the Postal Service in ...

In this episode - You've Got Mail . . . What's in your mailbox today? No, I'm not referring to your email; I'm talking about what's become known as "Snail Mail." Remember Postal delivery? Like all other services, it also has an acronym, USPS - United States Postal Service. Think back - I'm sure there was a time when you were excited to get the Mail? Recently I've discovered a renewed love for postal delivery. Yep, I hear you saying, "What, you must be losing it. Our mailbox is always full of bills, statements, advertisements, and junk that ends up in recycling." (Be careful; you might find an unexpected gem among all that junk.) Junk mail, you say, yes, I understand - however, through the kindness, generosity, and love of an eight-year girl, our mailbox has become a treasured friend. Taped to my office wall is a growing collection of handwritten thank you letters we unexpectedly received for small gifts of Lego toys we've given this e...