Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Round Robin Photo Challenge: Mailbox

Click on the above image to view it in a larger size.

"Did you ever feel like the whole world was going to a party, and your invitation got lost in the mail?"

-Unknown

I was kind of surprised to find out, that over the last 3 years or so, I have photographed a number of lovely mailboxes in my travels. I am not sure why they have been catching my eye. Maybe they have because I knew some creative, talented and innovative person might just suggest "Mailbox" as a subject for a Round Robin Challenge! Well guess what? They did! Gattina, author of the blog, "Keyhole Pictures" did just that thing, and now I get to share with you, some of the interesting mailboxes my camera and I have found, such as this mailbox...




I took that photo, in October of 2005, somewhere in the Sierra, just south of the Truckee river. I was sitting in the car, waiting for Alan to return from this quaint little general store, when I heard the familiar sound of leaves rustling. The wind had really kicked up, and they were blowing across the street, which was just covered in red and gold color. There was a slight chill in the late afternoon air, and a fire in a fireplace not far away brought the whole thing together. Across the lot, I saw this mailbox, with the leaves surrounding it, and I just knew... I needed that photo! The bright colors next to the silver box, was amazing. The photo really doesn't do the scene that was in front of me that day justice.


This second mailbox, was taken in January, 2005 just north of the Bixby Creek Bridge, in Monterey County, California. I love the tribute on the side to the lovely old bridge! And aren't the calla lilies inside, behind the glass top unusual and fun? Someone was quite innovative indeed! I adore it. Someday, should I have a house that sits back from the road, I might do something similar. :)



Lastly, we come to my personal mailboxes. I have three in all. My P.O. Box, my home address mailbox, and my AOL E-Mail box. I hardly ever get mail at my home address, unless you consider letters and ads addressed to "occupant" mail. LOL. Most of my personal mail comes to my P.O. Box. Actually, the P. O. Box had belonged to my father when he was alive, and I inherited it after his passing. Silly, sentimental, old me didn't have the heart to close it out. So now I drive a couple times a week from Berkeley, to Castro Valley to pick up my mail. It's ok, I enjoy visiting there, and it gives me a chance to visit with some friends I still have there.

"I turn on my computer. I wait patiently as it connects. I go online. My breath catches in my chest until I hear 3 little words. "You've got mail." I hear nothing, not a sound on the streets of New York. Just the beat of my own heart. I have mail... from you."


- Kathleen Kelly ( Meg Ryan) - From the movie "You've Got Mail."


The majority of my correspondence comes in and out of my E-Mail address now. I love hearing, "You've Got Mail!" The most emails I have ever had in it at one time, topped out at 194, the least amout of email was three days, when I didn't receive a singlepiece email. That was well before my blogging days. :) Since then, you guys keep me company, with comments and emails from my dear friends... at least the ones who aren't completely tired of me. :) I wish sometimes we could decorate our AOL E-Mail boxes. You know, with banners or signs, like the ones you see in people's yards. I save all my emails... as you can see. Can you imagine how big the mailbox would have to be to store 13,092 pieces of individual snail mail? LOL.

Thank you Gattina, for suggesting such an interesting challenge. :) Be sure to pay her, and all the participating Robins a visit, by simply following the links below. Also, be sure to drop by the official Round Robin blog on Thursday of this week, to find out what our next challenge will be. :)

-OndineMonet



Linking List

1. Gattina... Keyhole Pictures
POSTED!

2. Steven... (sometimes) photoblog
POSTED!

3. Karen... Outpost Mavarin
POSTED!

4. Marie... Photographs And Memories Too


5. Janet... Fond of Photography
POSTED!

6. Cosette... Birds of Venus
POSTED!

7. Suzanne R... New Suzanne R's Life
POSTED!

8. boliyou... Percolation
POSTED!

9. Carly... Ellipsis... Suddenly Carly
POSTED!

10. Teena... It's all about me!
POSTED!


8 comments:

Anonymous said...

What awesome shots! And I love the stories that went along with them :-)

Anonymous said...

My email box, of course! Didn't think of that one.

Unknown said...

Great shots! I love the big red one.

Steven said...

Nice boxes! The one with the leaves is neat. The e-mail in box is the mailbox of the future. I do like the P.O. boxes; plenty of lines :-)

Suzanne R said...

I think my poor ancient computer would just pass out and go into a coma from which I couldn't awaken it if I had that much e-mail saved in it. LOL! I do need a new one. ;-) I like your pictures and narrative very much.

Karen Funk Blocher said...

Two hours later, I've opened this one entry in a new tab to see the missing photos! It was worth it. I love the bridge, and the mailbox bu the bridge, and the autumn leaves mailbox, but it's the p o boxes photo that's getting to me. It looks like a mysterious, golden vault, full of hidden wonders.

Teena in Toronto said...

Very clever!

Thanks for stopping by mine :)

MariesImages said...

All lovely shots...The top one is my favorite.
Marie