Around the World in 50 Days

We had good intentions. Really we did.

Holly’s birthday was coming up in mid-March so long about the last week of February, we passed the word to anyone in the family. We were going to be putting together a box for Holly’s birthday. If they wanted to get birthday gift items to us, we’d package everything and spring for the cost of shipping.

Everyone seemed to like the plan so by the first of March, we had all the items. We shipped the box.

Today, it came back home: Return to Sender. Honestly, it looked just a little weathered.

But back to early March for the rest of the story.

Lisa and I discussed ‘strategery’ about the timing of our shipment. Holly was planning to travel in mid-March. We thought it would not be a good plan to have the package arrive while she was on holiday. So, even though we’d actually be late for her birthday, we decided to time our shipment so it would arrive after she returned to Cherbourg.

Oh, we were late for her birthday, all right. We just had no idea.

You see, we’ve been shipping boxes to her since she left Knoxville back in the fall - a jar of peanut butter here; a box of macaroni there. And after a while, we pretty well figured that it was taking a box about three weeks to get from here to there (and pass through everywhere in between).

So, thinking two weeks (surely not more than three), we sent her birthday box on March 8. 

Holly traveled, as planned, in mid-March and had a great time. Then, she got back to her apartment and found no box. Day after day passed and soon it was late March. Still no box.

About the time we thought “this thing is taking forever,” we checked the tracking. By then, it was early April.

And presto, April Fools. On April 1, the box was designated 'Return to Sender.’ And back it came. Holly’s inquiry at the French post office allowed her to learn that there were two attempted deliveries. Both failed deliveries occurred while she was on holiday. 

No one bothered to leave her a delivery notice, of course. And, naturally, putting two and two together, we learned this one particular box made it across the big pond - about a week - in record time. The ONE time we were hoping for a slower shipment.

And today…it made it back across. It really did go around the world in 50 days. 

There is a post script to this parcel story. Holly asked for one last shipment of foodstuffs before she prepares to head home in a few weeks. She has been craving her beloved macaroni. So, we shipped the box weeks ago. It still hasn’t arrived. 

This one is taking an extra long time to get to her.

Wouldn’t ya know.

JG

Originally posted 4/24/2014