A few weeks ago my family started babbling about a dead mailbox every time we drove down our street. It turns out our neighbor's mailbox had an untimely departure which I did not notice till it had been pointed out to me and loudly lamented for Quite Awhile. They have speculated about how long the neighbors will leave the fallen mailbox just lying there. They have given funeral orations. They have made jokes. It is sad, really.
~ Today we lament the departure of the R's mailbox. Its life may seem hollow and meaningless, but it was a good mailbox. However, it spent most of its life feeling empty and unfulfilled.
~ It never asked anything for itself, just willingly emptied itself and served as an intermediary, bringing communication between loved ones who were far apart, working diligently to bring them closer.
~ It faithfully served in all sorts of weather.
~ It waited patiently to do its annointed task, no matter how humble.
~ It was a first-class government official.
~ Ahh, mailbox, we never really knew you.
We hope they grant it a decent burial, soon. We nearly laid a bouquet on it for the photo, but didn't want to intrude in their grief at this time.
* sniff * * sniff * * pass the tissues* | 
