This post is a little...okay, A LOT...delayed but no less important than it was when we first got the news.
81138 has survived through another threat of closure. That's right, this wasn't our first rodeo and we know - thank you for all the warnings in advance all the same - that this won't be the last time our small office comes under the hammer. We have been prepared before, now, and I have faith we will be just as prepared the next time our office comes up.
We had the meeting with representatives from the county office, the senators offices, the newspaper, and the postal representatives on November the 9th. It was a week later that we got word our office was removed from the list. Our little town had made the headlines before this week - those efforts of our tenacity did not go without notice - but the publicity after the meeting made the humble writer of this blog teary eyed. It was the very next day our names and town was mentioned on the radio. The article mentioning our efforts to save the office hit the paper on the following Friday - front page by the way. To say we made a positive impression was an understatement. Or...so I've heard it said. I think it's because we had cookies :)
By their coming down to our isolated part of the world I think they realized just how vital the post office is. It is our connection to civilization - as I believe I've mentioned a few times. It was quite a drive from their comforts of convenience stores, public restrooms, and consistent cell service. I'm almost positive they were warned to fill up their gas tanks before making the trip. One representative said he had not received a text message since 2:00 that afternoon. The meeting was held at 5:00 so it would be another 3-4 hours before he returned to an area where the phone could receive messages and internet once again.
Did I mention the positive impression our town gave? Despite the 'coming to the middle of nowhere' there was a feeling of safety when they arrived. I call it the feeling of 'coming home'. They were impressed with just how community our post office was - the local artwork on display. They were impressed with just how traditional the office was - the historic boxes to the historic counter left here when the bank closed. They were impressed with the number of community members that showed up to the meeting and how organized the community was in preparation for this meeting. They were impressed with the team effort shown by community and how prepared we were to fight this closure to the very end. Also impressive was the concern community members had - not only for the loss of the post office but also for the post mistress's employment status should the post office close. And...we had cookies and coffee for them - knowing just how long a day and drive they'd had in getting to Jaroso.
So what was it that kept us alive?
It could have been the realization of distance between our town and the next closest post office that saved us - a 76 mile round trip. It could have been the lack of technological advancement that has yet to reach the middle of nowhere with consistent accuracy - smart phones here for aesthetic purposes only. It could have been the intelligence, tenacity, and teamwork shown by the community (a rare find, I've been told). It could have been the sense of family this community held with it - something ALL communities should have. It could have been a combination of all the above.
So it might not just have been the cookies - but they certainly did help. :)
A big hand of congratulations to all those served by the 81138 office and those that served to prove our worth. Yeah...THIS is my town!!!!
