Bless your neighbors Sharon and what a wonderful ending to your story.

I can't believe neanderthal had the audacity to tell you your mailbox was too close to the road and rotten. What??? His only redeeming quality was that he admitted it - probably because he knew your neighbors saw and would see his license plate

The daylilies and other plants are lovely.

I don't enjoy driving to the airport either. For us, it's usually Charlotte.

I'm so glad your stressful day ended in joy and peace.

vic - who tried so hard to get that lovely red painting but I'm so grateful I have a yellow one

I took these last week and thought of your paintings - Red Volunteer and Mary Todd

Hi Vic,
Your Mary Todd looks just like mine!

My Neanderthal man just gave me another glimpse into the heart of my community. Made me realize I'm in a good place after all, even if I'm longing for my mountains.

As always, thank you, Sweet Vic!

I got so caught up in your story, became incensed reading about the audacity of Neanderthal man but quickly calmed down and smiled at the beautiful ending! Seems you have a nice community and good neighbors. And now you also have a daily reminder of that too every time you see your new mailbox!

And one clump of daylilies bloomed today! Not the side where the darks are, but the other side, toward the back of the mailbox. It looks a little rumpled in that little bed, but I can take care of that, smushed foliage is not important at the moment.

I am so fortunate to be where I am, Sue. That is the truth! First time I've run into a Neanderthal man since I taught some of the football players a few years ago!

I'd frame that $20 bill.

Thinking about it!!

"I'd frame that $20 bill."

I LOVE that idea!~ And knowing Sharon she could make a Neanderthal creature to hold the frame in its hand!

Glad your day had a happy ending, Sharon. Doubly-glad you live in "Mayberry" where the neighbors are neighborly, caring, and giving. I live in "Mayberry", too, and enjoy all the folks around. (Even Billy Hawthorne who once harassed me about some chickens I sold him....)

Love your blog! I got my eye on you!

Shoe

Shoe, you'll like this, the rest of the story:

Yesterday when I went down to see the smashed mailbox, I came back inside and called my postmaster, Patsy. (Yup, had her daughter in school too.)

Me: Ummmmm, Patsy, my mailbox got smashed. Could y'all hold my mail till I get it replaced?
Patsy: Sharon, izzat you? Again? Seems like that mailbox got crippled just a year or two ago! Sure, we'll hold your mail as long as you need us to. Just let us know when you get a new mailbox!

Thirty minutes later:

Me: Ummmmmmm Patsy, you can take me offa the list now. I got a new mailbox!
Patsy: Sharon, izzat you? You got a new mailbox already? Again?? You just called, how did you do that?
Me: Neighbors, Patsy, neighbors!
Patsy: Only you, Sharon. It could only happen to you.

See, the thing is, it was a repeat performance of 2 years ago when it got splintered for the first time. Almost the same conversation with Patsy. About the same amount of time for fixing, 30 minutes. Same neighbors, too.

So when I went in to mail the painting to Lynn today, the whole mail crew laughed as I entered.
"Only you, Sharon, it could only happen to you."

They can't decide if I live under a black cloud or a ray of sunshine. I kinda think it's probably sunshine.

Small towns

Small towns. Yep...

Ya gotta love 'em!

I loved that mailbox story, I always love Sharon's stories. Oh, what a happy place to live and so beautiful too. Wish I lived in a small town now with lots of daylilies.

You wouldn't love the Neanderthal man, Pegi.

But then nobody around here who saw him knew him, so chances are he was a foreigner from another nearby county and he crossed the line. It's a pretty close community; I doubt he'll be back anytime soon.

But thanks, I'm glad you like the stories. Sometimes I just have to write them down somewhere so I can come back and have another laugh. Here on this blog is about as good a place as any, I think.

Sure wish you lived close by, I've been out weeding daylilies this morning. I glanced out earlier and saw a weed that didn't belong and went out to yank it. Where there's one weed there are millions more. So that took care of the past 2 hours. It's a good thing I have the rest of the afternoon in front of me. I'm going to need it for sure!

What a wonderful look into the heart of your community! Your new mailbox looks great! Neanderthal man just can't drive and won't admit it.He's probably been having tantrums all of his life. If your mailbox was too close to the road, the post office would have long ago refused to deliver your mail. Of course you knew that already. I'm glad you found the good.

I remember when Jess put that homemade mailbox up. He measured so carefully to match government specs. And you're right, the Post Office people would have said if there was anything illegal about it.

I think the big as a boulder man was just embarrassed and he's probably been handling embarrassment this same way all his life. So you are right about him. Sad, isn't it? Jess said he wants to build me another one, but I suggested he might wait till this new one refuses to bounce back because I just know this isn't the end of my mailbox saga. It will happen again. I can only watch and wait.

I rarely have boring days around here; but I'm still laughing!

Maybe you can get your neighbor that built your mailbox in the first place built you a mailbox that is inbedded in bricks or stones with cement mortar and when somebody backs into it again,, they'll be the ones that have the damages..will teach them! You are such a gifted story teller..you had to be a gifted teacher I'd been proud to have or have my grandchildren and children have. Sometimes before Halloween, we have had incidents where teenaers joy ride with baseball bats and damage a lot of mailboxes in the neighborhood before police catch them. Ours was damaged that way one year.

Hi Pippi, thank you!

The story telling is a result of the way I was taught when I was little. I wasn't around children till I started school and by then I knew every plant in the mountains thanks to the stories Aunt Bett and Ninna told me when they were teaching me about the benefits of plants. I really don't know any other way to teach a lesson other than telling a story. The students liked it and I loved the students so it all worked well. I guess I still do that when I write. I always thought stories made whatever lesson I was teaching more fun to learn. Anyway, it's just what I do.

I talked with my friend who made the original mailbox last night, but he's more of a wood person and I don't think he ever mixed cement mortar in his life, besides he's way older than I am and I wouldn't ask him to even try using stones or bricks. I thought about putting something like a coiled mattress spring in the post of the mailbox. That way it would just sproing back up everytime it gets knocked down since it is now plastic.

Thanks Pippi!

Sharon, I get a little thrill of anticipation every time that I come to ATP and see that you have a new article or blog post. It is always a pleasure.

I often think of you in your teacher role, and how many people you have come to know over the years of being involved and influential in their lives. The wonderful thing about small home towns is that the majority of the people grow up, raise families of their own, and grow old there. It is a "community" in the best sense of everything that word conjures up. I grew up in the suburbs of D.C., and the block was our community, but it was always transient. Families come and go in a suburb like that, and there is never a feeling of it being a "home town". Also, I never had a teacher like you clearly were. I've been living in a small rural town for 20 years now, and love how the neighbors will jump in and lend a hand whenever and wherever it is needed. There are many multi-generations of families that reside here - to me, it is the epitome of a "home town", and I am glad every day to be a part of it, even if in a small way. I know you miss your mountains, but I know that you also love the place and the people that you have been a part of for all these years - lucky you, two "home towns"!

P.S. I'm glad your daylilies survived the assault - I like the color combo...

Thanks, Terri.

True. And even true-er when one has such a small family. I only have my two children, Ethan and my brother, plus one aunt and one uncle. So friends it must be because I really believe that we cannot live as an island, alone totally. I enjoy my privacy, but I also enjoy working in my gardens and having neighbors stop by for a chat. It's those same neighbors who will be there if I need them.

It would be difficult to move away and leave all that behind.

I hope you are having my gorgeous sunshine today!

Stunning photo - and love the blue sky in the background