Save The Mailboxes

Whales are cool, but I say Save the Mailboxes!

Recently, in Lakewood, California, Postal officials began removing some of the familiar blue mailboxes. It's actually a national phenomenon; as more people look to the internet to stay in touch and pay bills, more and more of the mailboxes are disappearing.

Also, in a post-9/11 world, there is heightened concern that the mailboxes could be used for nefarious purposes. Hasn't happened so far.

I hope the Postal service can leave some of these boxes in place. They're more than just a hunk of steel and rivets. They're a gathering point, an opportunity to create community. When you walk to a mailbox, you just may encounter a neighbor. And you just may have an opportunity to interact, meet a need, give encouragement, or just plain chew the fat. Too many of these opportunities to create community, such as the sidewalk, are declining in numbers.

If you see these icons of community being taken out of your neighborhood, I encourage you to petition the Postal Service to have them replaced.