Goin' Postal

I’ve been a real slacker about blogging lately. Easily distracted and all that.

My neighbor removed the Mitt and Cruz and Trump bumper stickers from his truck. He’s trying to sell it, and honestly I don’t know why he bothered removing the stickers because around these parts most fine citizens would pay extra for that bullshit.

My HOA forbids yard signs, so the neighbors, being clever buggers, paste Trump signs in their bedroom windows. Why, why, I ask you?

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Yesterday I visited my local Goin’ Postal. I had an eBay item to ship and some books to donate for the book exchange (Of course they were for the book exchange. Would you donate books to a cookie exchange?). The owners are good people and do much for the community—someone in a T-Rex costume is running around outside as I write this—speaking of being distracted.

So I took my turn at the counter as another customer was asking the owners if they make political yard signs. The lady helping me said, “No, just go up the street to Republican, UH…or Democrat…headquarters.” The customer laughed and assured her she was right the first time. The husband-owner said, “Yeah, we’re all Platte Countians!”

I cleared my throat, then said, “Can you make a sign that says, 'Sorry About My Neighbors'?"

The owners laughed, the other customer did not.

***

I read an article about the new updates to MO Stand Your Ground gun laws just to make sure I understand this. I did. I do. Our lawmakers and most citizens should be ashamed. Or shot. Oh wait—that could sound like a threat and I’m not the threatening kind. Make love not war and all that, but holy baby kittens, things just piss me off lately.

So here are the updates:

* Now anyone in your home can stand your ground. Such a relief to know that while you’re out shopping for more guns and camo, your cleaning lady or babysitter or handyman can legally shoot anyone that they feel is a threat.

* You and/or other defenders of your home and person are no longer required to have a permit to conceal carry.  SMDH.

* You can now Stand Your Ground even if you are not on your ground. That’s right folks. If you’re out shoppin’ at the Piggly Wiggly and feelin’ all warm and fuzzy knowin’ your home is safe because the lawn dude is there and packin’, and while loadin’ up your groceries you FEEL THREATENED (this is usually defined as “see someone who doesn’t look exactly like you”) you can shoot them. No problem here in the shoot me state.

This law is called the Castle Doctrine but the guy who wrote the article inadvertently called it the Castle Coctrine.

Think about that.

***

I invited complete strangers to my home today. It’s common practice when selling things online to toss the stuff in the car and meet in a public place for safety. But now they can legally shoot me in public if they feel threatened by an old woman holding a chrome rooster, right? So what the hell. 

Besides, I have a plan and it’s working beautifully: I post a few nice items at cheap prices and wait. Today’s first reply was from a man who wanted to see all items. He sent his number, so I called. His wife answered and asked if I wanted to meet in public. I told her they should just come and look, as I had more. So. Much. More.

They took turns making piles of stuff they liked and telling stories (the tractor slipping out of gear and crashing into the law office where I used to work was a good one). They filled their SUV and my wallet and asked me to call them first as I find more treasure.

The next lady came for one $5 item, bought two more, and messaged later asking if she can come back tomorrow. Yes. Yes, she can.  

Mama wants to fund a vacation.

Don’t think of robbing me while I’m gone, though. The pet sitter might be packing.