Liam checking his messages, while waiting for the mail
The mail must go through motto of the Pony Express-1860
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Our storm door blew off a few weeks ago on a windy Wednesday, November 17 to be exact.. Actually it was still hanging when I returned home that day. We ripped it off the following Saturday, put it out for the garbage collection. Someone collected it from the street -guess for a few bucks for scrap metal. I was happy it was gone as it had been less than fully functional for quite a number of years. Did not close all the way, flew open on a windy day, and had a lot of duct tape at various points. We found the store as advertised on TV-
Unified and bought two new ones, figuring the side one ready to blow also. It had to be a custom order-old house- the doors would not arrive til January. This meant we were exposed. Nothing between us and the outside but one old wooden door. I did not understand the extent of the problem until we failed to get a mail delivery the next day. Our wooden door has a mail slot. We do not have an outside mailbox. The slot has worked well except for the 5 month period when puppy Liam ate everything that came through the slot. When this phase passed all was well and mail got through in true Pony Express tradition.
Our door slot was carved and installed at a time when mail was smaller. Just letters and postcards. Now the mail is longer, thicker, wider and slicker.
A magazine must be folded to fit through, A big envelope rolled. The mail carriers usually rubber band the mail and leave it between the storm door and the wooden door. With no storm door. the slot was the only possibility. At this time of year we a have a rotating group of mail carriers. Our regular carrier must be on leave.
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| Liam waiting for the mail |
I thought I should be present when the mail arrived and tell the mail carrier about the temporary situation. Another problem. The schedule for our mail delivery can span an entire afternoon. It may arrive anywhere from 12:30-5:30. I could become a prisoner to this task. I spoke to one carrier who said to put a note on the door over the slot. I did. Twice the mail was left on the porch. Thank goodness both days were clear. Once no mail, followed by a double delivery the next day. I have now met 5 different letter carriers. One young woman explained that the loud barking dog intimidated her and she feared putting the mail through the slot. I brought out Liam, the beast.
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| The mail beast |
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| Barking and waiting |
He kissed and licked her. She said she would now be okay to approach the slot, having seen that the big voice was coming out of a little sweet dog. I have been present 3 out of the 5 days this week and received the mail in my hands. Liam does bark furiously whenever the carrier approaches. With just one door between the mail carrier and such ferocious barking I guess the perceived danger might be great to those approaching.
The mail is voluminous during this time of year- a large rolled rubber banded delivery. To place each piece through our antediluvian slot would add time to the job. A lot of time. Add the fear of the great barking dog beast pulling on each missive and possibly snaring a finger or two might preclude attempted slot tries.
Another issue is the escaping Liam. He loves greeting people. When I am alerted to the mail carrier's arrival, he is at the ready by my side to greet the visitor. I open the door and he leaps out, Our front yard is not fenced and he is free to run if he wants.
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| Liam escapes |
So far he is only focused on the mail carrier but I worry if another dog appears or a squirrel how quickly he might dart after it. Danger.
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| Liam lured back by greenies |
Solution-have the leash at hand. Be home all day. Make sure the sign is pasted on the door.. As I am writing this story I am looking at a poster I purchased in Dublin in 1999. Title-Doors of Dublin, directly in front of me. I just hung it up here this week as its length covers a long vertical crack in the wall. I notice something I have never seen in this poster. No storm doors here. The doors have mail slots And I see that the photographer is Liam, last name hidden by the frame. An old tourism collage poster of collected door photos. Did the folks behind those doors get their mail?
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http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ALandmks/DoorsofDublin.html
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| Our Dublin Door with sign above slot |
The mail must go through.
Pony Express motto.
Through slots also? only sometimes.
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| Liam spots the mail carrier |
Woof, woof.
