ADDRESSES

I assume everyone reading this blog knows their own address. In the U.S., most buildings can be located by state, city, street and number. Some very rural addresses have only state, county, rural route or box number. This addressing system allows us to have an effective postal service and it assists us in describing and finding locations.

I also assume there are many places in the world that do not have an organized addressing system. It makes sense. It also makes sense that a country cannot become industrialized and sophisticated without one.

The U.S. Postal Service was established in 1775 under Benjamin Franklin. It became the Post Office Department in 1792. At that time, it was part of the presidential cabinet and the Postmaster General was in the line of succession to the presidency. In 1971, the Department was reorganized as a quasi-independent agency of the government. The Postmaster General is no longer in the line of succession.

The Post Office was very important in the development of our country. Now, every year it becomes less and less important. The Internet, cell phones and private companies such as UPS, DHL and FedEx have reduced our need for this service. We are now just as likely to be asked our e-mail address as our home address. We refer to 'real' mail as 'snail mail', now. Compared to e-mail, it takes so long to get here. Everything in our modern world has to happen so quickly. Being patient and waiting are out of the question.

Well, I have seldom been excited about receiving an e-mail but I love getting a handwritten letter in the mail. When I was in Vietnam, my only communication with my family for a solid year was by mail. Yes, it was real slow but oh, so welcome. Those love letters on blue stationary still carried the hint of perfume half way around the world. Real letters from real people in real mail, you can't beat it.