Blog

Short blog posts, journal entries, and random thoughts. Topics include a mix of personal and the world at large. 

A stamp when you need one

When is the last time you sent an actual letter? The Internet have largely negated that part of the communication experience. It’s so much easier - and less waste of paper - to send stuff digitally. The invite to my friends’ baby shower is completely digital. Long gone are the days of receiving it in the mail and having to tick a box then send it back via post.

But sometimes I do want to send something through snail mail. What catches me always is my lack of stamps on hand. I mean, does anyone just have a stack of stamps at home these days? I certainly don’t. On the rare times I want to send a letter the traditional way, I have to make a trip to the post office. You would think then I would buy a book of stamps to keep at home, but I never seem to learn the lesson. The frequency is rare enough. Besides, I can use the walk.

Something else I don’t have readily on hand these days is cash. No, I have money, but hard cash is something I never carry with me. I can’t remember the last time I touched coins. Your restaurant is cash only? I guess I won’t be patronizing it. Sorry, nothing personal.

Unless of course a friend invites you to a luncheon celebrating his graduation, and it’s at a cafe that only accepts cash. Worse, we didn’t find out until we’ve sat down and ordered. Everybody in our table only carried credit cards. When said friend came around to our table to say hi, my first remark was jokingly, “Do you have cash?” Fortunately there was a Chase branch a few blocks away. While I never carry cash, I do at least have a debit card with me for (let’s call it) emergencies.

Will I start carrying some cash, and have a few stamps stashed at home? Yeah… Probably not.

Evening stroll.