"When dawn spreads its paintbrush on the plain, spilling purple... ," Sons of the Pioneers theme for TV show "Wagon Train." Dawn on the mythic Santa Fe Trail, New Mexico, looking toward Raton from Cimarron. -- Clarkphoto. A curmudgeon artist's musings melding metaphors and journalism, for readers in more than 150 countries.

Monday, March 23, 2020

RFD--When mail wasn't ho-hum

"RFD Springtme," 8 x 10 watercolor, 140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press paper
Getting "mail" these days is so ho-hum.
First, we're deluged with "e-mail." Quarantine and digital business perhaps makes it essential in these times, but we spend more time trashing most of it than reading messages. It's become more of a ho-hum nuisance than a necessity.
Remember when you looked forward to going to the mailbox to see what might be there? 
These days, most of delivered mail, now disparagingly termed "snail mail,"  is like digital "spam," because my first stop after the mail box is the outdoor trash receptacle. Very little "mail" actually makes it into the house. It's so ho-hum.
That's why getting real mail from a person has become so extra special--it's never ho-hum to see handwriting and a signature.
That's the way it was when Rural Free Delivery was started for largely rural America more than 100 years ago. 
Mail was welcome, never ho-hum. It was like springtime flowers.
Have you sent any recently?
Today's watercolor!

1 comment:

  1. Painting is good, not many exciting stuff in the mail now.
    Merle........

    ReplyDelete

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