last of days

I have entered that stage where I am calculating the last of things.


You know.


Last Monday in Mexico.  Last church service in Mexico.  Last camarones a la diabla in Mexico.  Or, at least, the last until November.


Thursday was my last trip to Manzanillo to pick up mail.


Picking up mail has always been an exotic pursuit for me.  It probably started with me impatiently waiting for that special toy Roy Rogers promised on the back of the Sugar Pops box. 


But it did not die with my pre-school years.  While I was in high school,. I awaited responses from senators and representatives to my political missives -- just as avidly as I would await letters from girl friends or banana bread from my grandmother while I was in the military.


When I moved to Mexico, I knew that I would not be very happy unless I could receive my regular pile of magazines.  I initially wanted to set up a mail box at the local post office.


But the woman, whose house I was sitting, convinced me not to do that.  Instead, she suggested that having the magazines delivered to the house would work out fine.


It didn't.  I tried it for one month.  The magazines usually arrived three weeks or so after they were published.


Then, I discovered Mailboxes, Etc.  I concluded that if I had a Laredo mail box with them, it certainly would not take three weeks for magazines to arrive in Manzanillo.  Certainly, they were more efficient than the Mexican mail service.


Alas, no.  For the past ten months, my magazines have been showing up in my mail box about three weeks after publication.  Sometimes, two editions would arrive on the same day.


I would not mind that so much (after all, I do get the enjoyment of driving to Manzanillo) if the service was not as costly as it is.


The only thing that kept me using the service was the two young people at the desk.  They have always been helpful and cheerful.  And it was a joy to see them each week.


When I return in November, I will need to reassess whether I will use heir services or revert to my original idea of a Mexican post office box.


But today was my last day to pick up mail from them -- for now.


And on Saturday afternoon, "the last of days" will end.