You Know You Live in Europe When . . .

UPDATE-I went back to the post office today. This time I drove. Which was also a stupid idea because I went during prime traffic time . . Anyway, I was finally at the counter to pick up my package and I found that it was not a package, but rather an official letter of some sort. And it wasn't even for us. It was for someone who used to live at our address. Now how is that for 2 days of disappointment?

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. . . .75% of the shops are closed for MOST of the month of August.

Why are they closed you ask? Is it a mandatory renovation period for businesses?

No no. They are closed for a much more believable reason: Everyone is on vacation.

Today I walked to the post office to pick up a package. Packages cost a lot to send, so when we get one, it's like finding 100 dollars (no, wait euros) in your mailbox. You open up your little box and there is the slip that says, "You have a package waiting for you!!!! We can't wait to place it in your hands so please hurry down to your nearest post office to retrieve it!!" Well, at least that's how I read it. Now stay with me here. I know you are wondering why I jumped from businesses being closed, to talk about packages in the mail.

Yesterday, I found that golden ticket in my mailbox, and couldn't wait to get down to our post office today. I anxiously waited for Renae to wake up from her nap. I shoved a snack in her face, changed her diaper and loaded her up in the stroller. We walked the 15 minute trip at a brisk pace. Along the way I passed 3-5 restaurants, stores, and other places of business and they all had signs in their windows that said they were closed for vacation. Most of them are closed almost the entire month of August. Can you imagine Great Plains Pizza just shutting down for a month? The entire city would be in an uproar! I would at least . . .

I digress . . . so I'm picking up my pace, anxious to get to the post office. I'm thinking to myself, "I'm so glad the post office doesn't close in August." The last time I picked up a package, I went around 6:30 in the afternoon. Today, I was going to get there around 6:00. I got excited as I turned onto the street where the post office was located. As I saw the signature yellow building, my pace quickened and there was a little skip in my step. I went to open the door and lo and behold it was CLOSED.

You can only guess was the sign said: Summer hours (August 1-31) 9:00-2:30. You have got to be kidding me . . . I guess I will pick up that package (which is probably from my sister in law Julie!!!) tomorrow morning. As Peter said in the dubbed Jesus Videos, "Awww man . . ."