About 10 years ago we bought one of those thick, black, plastic mailboxes because mailbox bashing is a popular sport in our town, and our metal one had been bashed so many times that it was dysfunctional.
Not long afterwards, there was another flurry of mailbox bashings. Our plastic one got dented, and the red flag was broken in half with the broken part missing.
This afternoon I arrived at home, checked the mail, and noticed that the mailbox had substantial damage. I opened it up to retrieve the mail, but the mail had not arrived yet. THE FREAKY THING IS THAT INSIDE THE MAILBOX WAS THE OTHER HALF OF THE FLAG THAT WAS BROKEN OFF ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO.
I called the police and asked if there had been any mailbox bashings reported in our neighborhood today. They said no, but they would come out and file a police report. I demonstrated to the police officer that not only when I held the newly-found half of the flag up to the other half of the flag did the jagged edge of the breakage match up, but it was the original color red rather than the faded red of the half that had remained.
The police officer hypothesized that it was the mail carrier who felt guilty. But the mail hadn't arrived yet. And why would the mail carrier keep half a flag for almost 10 years.
My husband and I are racking our brains trying to solve this mystery. Any suggestions?
I'm a little flipped out. My husband is out of town. And BTW frequent readers of this board know about our home invasion about 10 years ago when he was in Japan.
Replies
54
Meow
That is certainly bizarre! I can't imagine even having the same mail carrier after 10 years. They hardly last long enough around here to recognize! Sounds like it's time for a post office box! Keep us posted...sorry, that was a pun wasn't it?
Edited
Admin
The real mystery is why anyone would live in a place where people attack innocent mailboxes. 
picky
Someone doesn't like you, BR. 
I'd be very careful if I were you! 
No, seriously. This is what happened and there's nothing sinister at all in it. The mail box smashers went on a rampage and pieces went flying. The next day your neighbor hires some landscapers to do their lawn. The workers see the missing tip of your maibox flag but they're busy digging and planting so the flag tip gets buried.
Fast forward ten years. That same landscape is getting pretty old so your neighbor hires landscapers again. They start digging and what should they find in the earth but your missing flag tip.
Your neighbor takes one look and says "Well, I know where THAT comes from." And he marches over to the most beat-up ratty old mailbox in the neighborhood--yours--and puts your missing piece in it, knowing that you will glue it back on and keep using the mailbox he wishes you'd replaced ten years ago. Something about bringing down the tone of the neighborhood, you know.
I'd be very careful if I were you! No, seriously. This is what happened and there's nothing sinister at all in it. The mail box smashers went on a rampage and pieces went flying. The next day your neighbor hires some landscapers to do their lawn. The workers see the missing tip of your maibox flag but they're busy digging and planting so the flag tip gets buried.
Fast forward ten years. That same landscape is getting pretty old so your neighbor hires landscapers again. They start digging and what should they find in the earth but your missing flag tip.
Your neighbor takes one look and says "Well, I know where THAT comes from." And he marches over to the most beat-up ratty old mailbox in the neighborhood--yours--and puts your missing piece in it, knowing that you will glue it back on and keep using the mailbox he wishes you'd replaced ten years ago. Something about bringing down the tone of the neighborhood, you know.
SoWal Expert
The real mystery is why anyone would live in a place where people attack innocent mailboxes.
In certain parts of the country (especially out in the country), mailboxes become the enemy after Friday night football games. Those big ol' high school boys start drinking beer after the game, then drive around in their pickup trucks throwing the bottles and cans out the windows. When they get bored with that, the mailbox bashing commences.
Unfortunately for BR, I don't think her mailbox problem was due to dimwitted football players. That scenario is way too complicated for the average tight end to have ever concocted.
And my apologies in advance to any football players- but if you are participating in this discussion, you are not the kind I am talking about anyway!
beats on hoodAuthor
That is ceratinly bizarre! I can't imagine even having the same mail carrier after 10 years. They hardly last long enough around here to recognize! Sounds like it's time for a post office box! Keep us posted...sorry, that was a pun wasn't it?Funny. You are so clever - I'm totally serious!
beats on hoodAuthor
The real mystery is why anyone would live in a place where people attack innocent mailboxes.Well, my husband's job pays for us to live near our roots and family, yet have a place in SoWal which we also love.
It's not having a mailbox bashed that bothers me - it's the freakiness of a person who would keep half of a flag that long and then return it.
Beach Fanatic
BR-
I'm not a paranoid person, but that would drive me bonkers.
I put our mailbox in with three 80 pound bags of concrete. I'd love to see somebody take a swing at it. If they make contact with the pole, their wrists will be broken.
I'm not a paranoid person, but that would drive me bonkers.
I put our mailbox in with three 80 pound bags of concrete. I'd love to see somebody take a swing at it. If they make contact with the pole, their wrists will be broken.
SoWal Insider
I don't have a theory. My husband travels all the time and besides the usually, garbage disposal goes on the blink, garage door malfunctions, and random acts of people inviting me over for dinner I guess I just lead a dull life. Thank goodness! Maybe SHELLEY lives in your neighborhood and is using different tactics to scare the stew out of you!?! Maybe SJ and SS were right in an earlier post. Time to move. Your place sounds cursed.
Beach Fanatic
Maybe somebody wants to buy your house.
Funnkalicious
Actually...GTTBM, Sueshore and Mermaid did it. It's part of their hazing to get into the Funn Club.
Kurttifunn...You're next.
Land to the lock...watch out.
Smiley J...don't turn your back.
Kurttifunn...You're next.
Land to the lock...watch out.
Smiley J...don't turn your back.
beats on hoodAuthor
Someone doesn't like you, BR.Not meaning to brag, but our lot is large for an in-town lot. No way the flag could have ended up that far away. Plus, our neighbors are so rich that they have landscape maintenance people manicure their property with a fine-toothed comb. They would have found it years ago.
No, seriously. This is what happened and there's nothing sinister at all in it. The mail box smashers went on a rampage and pieces went flying. The next day your neighbor hires some landscapers to do their lawn. The workers see the missing tip of your maibox flag but they're busy digging and planting so the flag tip gets buried.
Fast forward ten years. That same landscape is getting pretty old so your neighbor hires landscapers again. They start digging and what should they find in the earth but your missing flag tip.
Your neighbor takes one look and says "Well, I know where THAT comes from." And he marches over to the most beat-up ratty old mailbox in the neighborhood--yours--and puts your missing piece in it, knowing that you will glue it back on and keep using the mailbox he wishes you'd replaced ten years ago. Something about bringing down the tone of the neighborhood, you know.
But thanks for the conjecture.
SoWal Insider
It is freaky and perplexing! I'm sure everything is o.k. - - but it will drive you crazy trying to figure it out!!
beats on hoodAuthor
Actually...GTTBM, Sueshore and Mermaid did it. It's part of their hazing to get into the Funn Club.LOLOL!
Kurttifunn...You're next.
Land to the lock...watch out.
Smiley J...don't turn your back.
kt loo
Could the flag piece have gotten stuck somewhere out of sight, like to the top of the interior, when it was first smashed? And when it was re-smashed, it fell down? That would be my first thought.
And, BR, for what it's worth, our mailbox, and our neighbors', were smashed recently too. I live outside the city limits (for now).
It's the same mentality as the "gentlemen" I saw tossing a possum onto a roof of a convenience store once. I asked them why the [heck] they were doing that, and they replied...not kidding here...."heh heh, because they're too stupid t' know how t' git down again! heh heh. " Nice. Congrats dudes, you're smarter'n a possum. And a mailbox too, I guess. (though that's debatable.)
And, BR, for what it's worth, our mailbox, and our neighbors', were smashed recently too. I live outside the city limits (for now).
It's the same mentality as the "gentlemen" I saw tossing a possum onto a roof of a convenience store once. I asked them why the [heck] they were doing that, and they replied...not kidding here...."heh heh, because they're too stupid t' know how t' git down again! heh heh. " Nice. Congrats dudes, you're smarter'n a possum. And a mailbox too, I guess. (though that's debatable.)
beats on hoodAuthor
I don't have a theory. My husband travels all the time and besides the usually, garbage disposal goes on the blink, garage door malfunctions, and random acts of people inviting me over for dinner I guess I just lead a dull life. Thank goodness! Maybe SHELLEY lives in your neighborhood and is using different tactics to scare the stew out of you!?! Maybe SJ and SS were right in an earlier post. Time to move. Your place sounds cursed.Maybe it's a student that I gave an F to years ago?
SoWal Insider
Maybe it's a student that I gave an F to years ago?
Meow
Actually...GTTBM, Sueshore and Mermaid did it. It's part of their hazing to get into the Funn Club.
Kurttifunn...You're next.
Land to the lock...watch out.
Smiley J...don't turn your back.
You didn't tell us you were going to OUT us as well!!!!!! Mermaid was the hit gull!
beats on hoodAuthor
Could the flag piece have gotten stuck somewhere out of sight, like to the top of the interior, when it was first smashed? And when it was re-smashed, it fell down? That would be my first thought.Yeah, my first thought, too. But then I remembered that in June, we were having an anniversary party and the mailbox was looking shabby. So I washed it down inside and out and repainted the post. The flag was totally not inside. And how could the broken flag that fell to the ground bounce back up on its own, open the mailbox door, and put itself back into the mailbox in a spot not detected by us for 10 years?
Good theory, though. Like I said, my first conjecture.
SoWal Insider
Actually...GTTBM, Sueshore and Mermaid did it. It's part of their hazing to get into the Funn Club.
Kurttifunn...You're next.
Land to the lock...watch out.
Smiley J...don't turn your back.
Hey Kimmi! That's supposed to be secret stuff! Geez do we have to start this process over now?!?
SoWal Expert
Yoo hoo Smiling JOe- BR needs a big Potato Cannon!
beats on hoodAuthor
In certain parts of the country (especially out in the country), mailboxes become the enemy after Friday night football games.True.dat. If you've never lived in a small Southern town you wouldn't get it. There's not much to do in a town like this. It gets pretty boring for kids. But it's a great place to live during the work week because of a lot of nice people and no traffic, but then when you want to go to the ATL to be entertained, you're closeby.
SoWal Insider
There's not much to do in a town like this. It gets pretty boring for kids. But it's a great place to live during the work week because of a lot of nice people and no traffic, but then when you want to go to the ATL to be entertained, you're closeby.
I don't know BR sounds like not everbody in your town is nice. :shock:
beats on hoodAuthor
I don't know BR sounds like not everbody in your town is nice. :shock:Good point. Like our home invaders, one of whom was released from jail a couple of years ago.
SoWal Expert
Yes, the person who originally damaged the mailbox ten years ago, kept the half of the red flag in his trophy room along with all of the other mailbox flags from that night of drunkeness so long ago. The vandals often keep their trophies like that, so that their Moms and Dads can show off their kid's abilities to the people who come to visit.
The vandals, probably about 27 years old now, have just bought their first house, and began to feel guilty as they were installing their own replacement mailboxes. To get the albatross off their back, they returned your other half of the flag, hoping you would forgive them.
My question to you is, how does your US Mail Carrier know when you have mail to collect if your flag does not stick out (for TEN YEARS!)?
p.s.- If you had replaced your mailbox, would you be having this problem today? I don't think so.
The vandals, probably about 27 years old now, have just bought their first house, and began to feel guilty as they were installing their own replacement mailboxes. To get the albatross off their back, they returned your other half of the flag, hoping you would forgive them.
My question to you is, how does your US Mail Carrier know when you have mail to collect if your flag does not stick out (for TEN YEARS!)?
p.s.- If you had replaced your mailbox, would you be having this problem today? I don't think so.
Edited
beats on hoodAuthor
Yes, the person who originally damaged the mailbox ten years ago, kept the half of the red flag in his trophy room along with all of the other mailbox flags from that night of drunkeness so long ago. The vandals often keep their trophies like that, so that their Moms and Dads can show off their kid's abilities to the people who come to visit.Well, the mail carrier has figured out that when the little half-of-a-flag is vertical, it means I have mail to be picked up. I haven't replaced the box because I don't want the vandals to have the satisfaction of knowing that it bothered me. Plus, quite a few people have commented to me that they admire me for being determined enough not to replace my mailbox and allow the vandals to get any satisfaction from their vandalism.
The vandals, probably about 27 years old now, have just bought their first house, and began to feel guilty as they were installing their own replacement mailboxes. To get the albatross off their back, they returned your other half of the flag, hoping you would forgive them.
My question to you is, how does your US Mail Carrier know when you have mail to collect if your flag does not stick out (for TEN YEARS!)?
p.s.- If you had replaced your mailbox, would you be having this problem today? I don't think so.
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