U.S. Postal Service Is Not Very Neighborly

I decided it was a pleasant day to go for a walk and deliver our Christmas cards personally to each neighbor’s house. Because few were home, I let my little boy run up to the door and drop them into the mailbox or door slot. It was a lovely thing to do. The trip made me feel a deep kinship with my neighbors.

Later that day the mailman came round to our door and scolded us, saying that we’d get a fine if we ever did that again.

I suppose I understand why such a rule exists, as our boxes might be clogged with even more junk mail. But to fine someone for dropping a friendly Christmas card into a neighbor’s box? Seemed downright silly to me.

Then I got mad. It is downright scary to find out that we were violating a federal law by our friendly gesture. (I found the mail regulation on the U.S. Postal Service Web site). In this day and age, we need as much neighborhood unity as possible.

Joan Stewart Smith

Los Angeles