the mail always gets delivered

For those of you who do not know, Sharon Zimmerman, Kathy Berry and I work together. We have a great deal of laughs, but today's story was the winner of the month. Here's why...

I arrived at work and Kathy tells me there is a special delivery of mail for me. My curiosity is peaked as I am not important enough to change the toilet paper, never mind get mail. Kathy retrieves the mail and proceeds to tell me that Sharon was supposed to deliver it to me...Well some time ago. At this point I am pretty sure the two of them have concocted some prank to play on me, but I play along. Kathy apologizes for the late delivery and Sharon has her hands over her mouth with her head hung low. It's apparent she is trying her hardest not to laugh.

I'm told to read the letter in the yellow flowered (kind of old-fashioned, but retro is in) stationery first. I glance at the date and it says "Feb. 20, 1974" and I begin to read "Dear Marcia..." It's a letter from Kathy while she was visiting Linda at UMASS in Amherst. Must have been February vacation from school and Kathy has taken the BIG road trip to the BIG college. Although the contents of the letter were funny, that's not the best part. The second letter is dated "Feb. 22, 1974", more info from kathy's journey to the BIG college, and in this letter, it says "I'll probably get home before this letter gets there. - love, Kathy". How true that was!

Although Kathy's hand-writing looks the same from way back then (third grade level I tell her) I think this is still some kind of joke...did she just write the letter now?? No, that's not it, the truth came out that the letters were mailed to Sharon along with letters Kathy had written her and she was supposed to deliver them to me... which she has now done, it's just that she waited 32 years to do it!

Sharon just what other type of things did you hide from us back then. I always thought my sister didn't miss me on that trip and didn't love me. 32 years I have been worrying about this, losing sleep every night and all along you could have put my mind to rest. Even Ed Jr. wouldn't have kept me waiting for 32 years. Well the worrying is over and I have my letters... albeit
32 years later! Thanks Sharon for delivering them.

marcia cioffi