a cara......reports confirm north east north america......europe....ireland and england are locked in snow and ice...ironically we here in toronto are basking in mild ...above seasonal temperatures.....and as i continued to read up the weather conditions the silence was broken by the flapping of my door and the flop of an envelope on my floor.....i received a letter from an old friend extending wishes for the new year ......i got up and picked up the letter....and i began to repeat old conditioned habits.....i looked at the stamp....the post mark franking......and stared at the handwriting.........i began to drift back ....because in todays modern high tech world of e.mail....texting....on line chat forums...it seems the letter is and the writing of letters is becoming an endangered species......the old fashioned letter has almost gone into the museum of time..sadly the asking if the postman came yet seem to be words in erosion........but years ago .....an fear an phuist....was about the most important caller to our doors.......i know that experience from both sides.......one as a resident ....and then as an actual .....postman.......it appears we took letters for granted.......many years ago the postman often with heavy bags of mail would set off on his round by foot or bike......often doors had a slot....or letter box in highly polished brass.....awaited the visit of the postman....the letters were pushed through the slot......once deposited the letters glided in freefall to the floor.....they glided just like just like the paper planes we made as boys.....there was always excitement when letters glided to the floor.....we would hear the flop...look up the hall....and then run to pick up the letters......there was great excitement.....we would pick up the letters.....then look at the stamp......examine the hand writing ......then we would look at the postmark...and franking.....we would try to figure out how long it took to arrive....letters from abroad....the u.s. canada.....england...australia.....brought pictures and images of far away.....exciting places......particulary during the war years....there would be a call from the kitchen ....hurry up and bring the letters in.......we would sit around as the letters were opened ......and wonder of the news....maybe aunt cissy is sending a parcel...or comic books.....or perhaps it was a letter from england and we heard of what was going on in the midst of war.....then maybe when the letters were read and put away....we would tear off the stamps and put them into our stamp collection.....we as boys would often go up to the postbox at clarkes corner.....and look at the tag that was changed each time the post was collected,......i remember as a boy going to that red bricked post office ......and look in wonder at the shhets of stamps......with their perforated markings......the penny stamp a map of ireland.....i marvelled at how the map looked so perfect....we bought those for our saving cards.....my days as a postman were just prior to my going to england in the early '50s....under the tutelage of charlie hanley.....it was not a job i sought ....but rather dumped on me .....suddenly by my cousin "field marshall" con clarke.....con was the postman...but decided to return to england with his german wife doris.......he approached me in an urgent demand......"take over at the post office for me"....i need to get back to england.......he convinced me .....we both headed off to meet the boss....charlie hanley.......charlie knew my family well......a few basic questions made up the "interview"......my knowledge of irish....my ability to ride a bike....and being on time......i assured charlie i was amember of connradh na gaelge......and spoke fluently......then charlie informed me of my responsibilities......and in conclusion said....your bike must have applicable brakes ....and a sound bell......after all those years i still remember him making that statement......i was appointed ...and my route included spencer park.....ludeens hill....mchale road....station road....and all the villages to ballyheane.....i picked up post at ballyheane where the mcgowan family were postmasters......i remember so well my excitement the first day on the job......meeting many of my old friends.....patsy mclaughlin.....joe scully....gerry cotter....paddy corcoran.....tom mcgreal....i was trained to sort my letters....sign for the registers....and off i went.......how i remember going down mchale road....most residents waited at the front door...waiting for the post....anything for me to day olly they inquired......friday was the big day as they waited for registers friom england......lizzy cahil near ballyheane was another lady who always was excited to see me.....she often got letters from the u.s......she would ask me to open it then......she would shake it and listen to the sound of greenbacks from the states...that would bring a smile to her face.....another one of my duties was having to pick up the mail from dublin.....which arrived on the late...late train.....my partner on this mission was mick garry from baille na gcloc...many times mick forgot his job....after a night in byrnnes.......sceal eile.........
so as we prepare to embrace a new year....and perhaps advance into deeper realms of technology.......we ought to look back....and reflect on the warmth...and joy that old fashioned letter gave us.....how we read so carefully every word of the narrrative our loved ones and friends wrote......we many who left kin and the warmth of the hearth for places beyond knew the thrill of gettting a letter from home......it was a sign that all was well at home.....and it reinforced the web of family.....
and so as the sun sets on 2010........may 2011 light your life with the happiness and joy you desire......
......happy new year....to castlebar...and all...
.....tog go bog e........