The Mystery of the New Years New Mailbox

Wasn't THIS bad, but close!

Okay, so, we get home from our Christmas vacation on the second day of the new year. I had asked to have our mail held until December 30^th because that was our original date to get home, so I checked on the front porch first to see if our mail might be there, mainly because I was expecting a package that I knew would not fit in the mailbox. Sure enough, our mail was on the porch by our little

Guardian Dragon by front door

dragon, our guardian of the front door. I explain this to give you a better understanding why we didn’t discover the mysterious new mailbox until the third day of the new year. On the third, out I go to check the mail, with my little dog accompanying me as usual, and low and behold, not only is the mailbox looking very clean, but the latch, which has been messed up for months, is miraculously fixed! No, not fixed, brand new. The mailbox is completely brand new. My husband stood on the front porch enjoying the momentarily beautiful weather and I yelled to him, “We have a brand new mailbox!” I had to repeat myself because neither one of us could believe it.

Later, at dinner with friends, I related the mystery of the new mailbox and asked Brad, who used to work for the USPS, if the postal service ever replaced mailboxes that were in need of repair, and of course he said no. It is the customer’s responsibility to provide the mailbox. Which I already knew, but since we didn’t replace our old rusting box, I was searching for possibilities. Nancy, Brad’s wife, suggested that our mutual friends and neighbors, who live four houses down from us, might have replaced our mailbox as a Christmas present, as they had just had theirs replaced a few weeks ago. Now I did ask those friends, and they looked as mystified as I was.

On the off chance, and the only other thing I could think of, I put a note in our new mailbox asking our postal carrier if she might be the Christmas elf, and guess what? She was! She and my husband, right before Christmas, had had a long talk one day and during the conversation he mentioned he

wanted to teach. Evidently, she thought this was a great idea. We had also, before the holidays, left her a Christmas gift, because she really is awesome, just as we did last year.

You can never tell how what you do for others, just because you want to, will influence an unanticipated reaction. And yes, we offered to pay her for the mailbox but she said it was a gift, that anyone who wanted to teach deserved it. Our postal carrier has a truly giving spirit, which made this mystery a joy to solve. Happy New Year everyone! 

Brand Spankin' New Mailbox!!!

old mailbox image from:

pinterest.com

OMG It's 2015 -IWSG - The New-Bee

IWSG LINK

So, it’s the first post of the new year and my mind is hopping, doing a dance, happy to have a new year begin. But as an IWSG co-host this month, I don’t want to write about the new year, since that’s what everyone is doing, really, I mean, it’s a no brainer. We’re all excited about the new, fresh start, right?! Of course!

Still, I want to write about a new challenge in my life. I have a chance to choose a new path and I want to take it. I no longer make “New Year’s Resolutions” because last year I didn’t and that really worked for me. However, I do want to write more short stories for my blog, for my peace of mind, and for practice. So, I’m starting this year out with a new story for you. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Feel free to visit the other blogs participating and remember to thank my awesome co-hosts: Elizabeth Seckman, Chrys Fey, and Michelle Wallace!

Now, as the saying goes…Without Further Ado…

No flight without a pre-flight check!

THE NEW BEE

“Hey Wiser-bee, I’m excited about my first trip out. Are you ready yet?”

“New-bee, don’t be so pushy. We always have a pre-flight check before leaving the hive. Got it?”

“Right, sorry Wiser-bee. I forgot.”

“Which is why we have the check. You can’t forget anything. If you do, you might not make it back to the hive and that’s not only bad for you, but for the colony as well. We don’t ever want to do anything to disappoint the queen, our great mother.”

“Oh. I didn’t think of that.”

“Another reason for the pre-flight check. Okay, ready now?”

“Yes sir.”

“I’ll start. You take over when you’re ready.”

New-bee nodded.

Wiser-Bee said, “First, wings. Everything in working order?” He buzzed his wings in example.

New-bee buzzed his in response. “Working order.”

“Second, antennae?” Wiser-bee moved his up and down then left and right.

New-bee followed suit. “Antennae working fine. May I say the next one?”

“Of course, if you think you’re ready…?”

“Oh yes.  I am. Third, fur on legs fluffed and ready for pollen load.” New-bee shifted his back legs and wiggled them to emphasis the fact that his leg fur was standing on end. Wiser-bee mimicked him while nodding with pride.

“Last, but not least,” New-bee said, “stomach full of honey for the trip out and back.”

Wiser-bee would have smiled if he’d been able to. Instead he patted New-bee on the head and said, “Lead on little New-bee. Pre-flight check impeccable and you’re now ready for your maiden voyage.”

Wiser-Bee & New-Bee

New-bee, now that he’d made it through the rough taking down he’d deserved for forgetting procedure,  and then making it through his first pre-flight check with shining stars, now remembered protocol, and his manners. “Thank you, sir. Would you like to go first?”

Wiser-bee nodded and took off, leading the way out into the bright new world New-bee had yet to experience. New-bee didn’t know what the day would bring, but he hoped he came home with so much pollen that even the queen would sit up and take notice. But, he reminded himself, if he didn’t…well, it was, after all, his first run. Thankful to have Wiser-bee to guide him, New-bee buzzed his wings, lifted off and flew joyously into his new life.

New-Bee's goal!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Images from:

www.bbc.co.uk

www.grit.com

www.honeybeehaven.org