Missing the Snail Mail

Snail mail is a slang term for the regular postal service (for example, the Philippine Postal Service) with the implication that it is a lot slower than e-mail . It's worth noting, perhaps, that in the early days of the Internet, it was proposed that the Philippine Post Office manage e-mail. Electronic messages would come to your local post office and then be delivered to you along with the regular mail. The proposal was not considered for very long.

 

Snail mail or not, one must acknowledge that regular postal services offer a number of valuable services not likely to be available soon on the World Wide Web.

Normal postal mail, where an actual physical letter or package is delivered. The term didn't exist until electronic mail (e-mail) became so prevalent that there was a requirement to differentiate the two. Obviously, the term was invented by e-mail aficionados as a small barb directed at the relative slowness of physical transportation. 

 

 Snail mail experienced

 

  Before e-mail became the fashion, the Philippine Postal Office was my favorite bearer of (good or bad) news. As fate would have it, my young romantic relationships were carried long distance and receiving letters through the mail was my most cherished occasion. You see, the mailman often brought me letters from loved ones.

With the advent of modern technology came the most precious cyber invention ever (at least in my book)… e-mail!  Not only do we save in paper and postage costs (which has probably contributed to the Philippine Postal Service financial hardship), but people whose communication of choice is the e-mail system have found a valuable time-saver in their contact method with the people in their lives.

These days people can talk to each other despite the barrier of distance and time zones… in real time.  No doubt about it, we live in a technologically amazing world where information is available at the click of the keyboard 24/7.

 

But, honestly, I can’t help but reminisce the good old days when a handwritten postmarked letter would bring joy to my heart.  When I was much, much younger, Mr. Postman was my favorite person in the whole universe.  I longed for the moment when he would make his presence known by announcing mail in our mailbox.  The truth is, being such an incurable romantic, I lived for that moment.  Nothing else mattered but the feel of a handwritten, postmarked and stamped envelope in my young hand.

These days I am still fond of the mailman even though letters via the PPS hardly comes to me anymore.  All I get now are unsolicited mail from entrepreneurs who want my involvement in their business or letters from charities who are interested in my donation.   And because it’s election time in my neck of the woods, I receive a great deal of campaign materials from candidates who are courting my vote.

No doubt about it, we live in a fast-paced universe.  People are moving at a speedy rate as though there is no tomorrow.  Although I prefer the swift and efficient turnaround of things, I sometimes crave for the slowness of tempo… taking each moment at leisure and savoring the joy it brings.  Maybe that is why I miss letters from Mr. Postman.  You see, reading a letter gives me an excuse to pause and savor that luxury. 

On that rare occasion, the world can simply wait!