"Care Packages"

Today, I mailed my third shipment to Paul. I have found the USPS large flat rate box to be the best bet for the money at $53.95. In the line at the Post Office, I notice people stare at me holding my parcel marked "God is watching" and "God protect this package" and have a puzzled look on their faces. I wonder what they are thinking. Since I'm in Minnesota they don't speak up, instead, they hold back on their thoughts. That's part of "Minnesota Nice", it is kind of "fa'aMinnesota"; the Minnesotan way.

Filling every space in the box has for me, become almost an art form. In the smallest of spaces, single serving packs of Crystal Light work well. Silica gel packets are another item for that purpose.

In making care package purchases or other arrangements, I've discovered pulling the Peace Corps card makes many become immediately accommodating. The people at Proex scoured through their merchandise hunting down the silica gel packets. The local music store gave me a 15% discount on the long list of music related items on my shopping list. Verizon checked into waiving the early termination fee upon proof of Paul's joining the PC as they do for those who join the military. The fee was waived in short order. How nice. I didn't expect that from a big corporation.

It will be interesting to see how long this parcel takes to reach the PC office. Oddly, Paul received the second package I sent three weeks earlier. Much like my letters, which I number, things get there in no logical order.

In this shipment, I had extra room to send along some surprise comforts of home like spices, coffee, instant oatmeal packets, post-it note page markers, extra clothes and such. I imagine it must feel a bit like Christmas going through the package.

In planning for the next shipment, I was wondering what others have sent along that has been a hit.