AND THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO RUN HEALTHCARE?

Remember this wacky looking guy that the U.S. Postal service used back in the 60's......

Well it appears he's alive and well and delivery International Packages....

Or Maybe Not.....

My friend Eli's little boy in Italy was celebrating his 2nd. birthday on October 19th.

You probably all know Eli....she's the wonderful artist that sent me that beautiful painting of the

Poppies.....

So I wanted to send Andrea a little birthday gift.....one pair of adorable red Converse high top sneakers and a really cool.......for a little toddler.....big yellow dump truck that had horns that

blew and all sorts of things that worked....a birthday coloring book and some crayons and it was

all wrapped up in Sesame Street paper and colorful ribbons.....

Why am I explaining what I sent......mainly for Eli's sake.....because Andrea never received the package.....

The post office has "flat rate" boxes and they clearly say that you can use them for both Domestic and International shipping.....I go into the local branch back in September and ask the goofy unfriendly employee behind the counter....."How much to send the flat rate box to Italy?"

Clear enough question I thought.....he says...."Oh it's only flat rate in the US.....International you have to pay by weight"......Okay...but it says "Flat Rate"......confused I go home and wrap said package in a regular brown box that I would then ship Priority.....Again because this Boob tells me that I can't use the flat rate box....I decorate it with HAPPY BIRTHDAY in big colored letters..

and go back to the post office......Big customs form all filled out... trackable with

customs numbers all over.....

The same goofy unhappy guy is there.....he takes the package.....weighs it and tells me the customs form is all wrong and the package has to go 1st. class...... I can't send it Priority because it's under 4 pounds...

I fill out a less-official looking form but also with a customs number on it and

he then tells me "But it can't be insured"......you can't insure 1st. class packages

I pay the VERY HEFTY fee....I get my receipt and I leave....

Delivery time 5-10 days....

It's now November 2nd......the package......??????????.............

Never got to Italy.....it can't be traced....the customs number doesn't mean anything according to the US Postal Service....

Okay.....so the items inside are history......gone....never to be seen again.....or perhaps it will get to Andrea when his feet have grown so much that he can use the sneakers as

Paperweights......

I was told a few weeks ago to wait 30 days.....I never expected reimbursement for the contents....

After all Mr. Post Office said it couldn't be insured....

But to add insult to injury.....this is what the

International Postal Person told me when I called to file a claim for the

shipping charges.....

"The U.S. Postal System does not guarantee delivery of any item that is not fully trackable. And we do not under any circumstances reimburse for the shipping costs.."

Now.....do people really want the government to run our health care when they can't even get some sneakers and a coloring book and crayons to it's

Destination?