The note was short: "We've decided to live here."
April 21, 2023 4:13 PM Subscribe
The owner of the home decided to let them stay. Whimsy ensued.
That’s just so fucken cute.
posted by slogger at 4:20 PM on April 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by slogger at 4:20 PM on April 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
It's like a Martha Stewart Boo Radley.
posted by Flaffigan at 4:21 PM on April 21, 2023 [14 favorites]
posted by Flaffigan at 4:21 PM on April 21, 2023 [14 favorites]
The story is entirely adorable. But as someone who once tangled with the USPS about what is or is not considered a mailbox... I'm wondering how this entirely-not-what-I-was-told-a-mailbox-has-to-be "mailbox" passed muster.
posted by hippybear at 4:23 PM on April 21, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 4:23 PM on April 21, 2023 [4 favorites]
Well that's just delightful.
posted by joannemerriam at 4:26 PM on April 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by joannemerriam at 4:26 PM on April 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
Love it and with Halloween stuff.
this entirely..."mailbox" passed muster.
"Calls to the West Bloomfield Post Office went unanswered."
In Michigan, this is considered an answer.
posted by clavdivs at 4:40 PM on April 21, 2023 [16 favorites]
this entirely..."mailbox" passed muster.
"Calls to the West Bloomfield Post Office went unanswered."
In Michigan, this is considered an answer.
posted by clavdivs at 4:40 PM on April 21, 2023 [16 favorites]
But as someone who once tangled with the USPS about what is or is not considered a mailbox... I'm wondering how this entirely-not-what-I-was-told-a-mailbox-has-to-be "mailbox" passed muster.
It really depends on the situation and the people involved, but more than likely this "house" would have absolutely been loved by the mail carriers I know. Like beloved to the extent that it never would have been mentioned to that one asshole 'by the book' supervisor and everything would have continued in delightful whimsy.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:16 PM on April 21, 2023 [8 favorites]
It really depends on the situation and the people involved, but more than likely this "house" would have absolutely been loved by the mail carriers I know. Like beloved to the extent that it never would have been mentioned to that one asshole 'by the book' supervisor and everything would have continued in delightful whimsy.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:16 PM on April 21, 2023 [8 favorites]
Love it! Delightfully whimsical - but if it happened to me, it would drive me nuts not knowing who did it!
THEORY: it's the wife! Wait, no - maybe it's actually...the postal person!?
posted by davidmsc at 5:30 PM on April 21, 2023 [10 favorites]
THEORY: it's the wife! Wait, no - maybe it's actually...the postal person!?
posted by davidmsc at 5:30 PM on April 21, 2023 [10 favorites]
Could be Moxie ♥️⭐️
posted by waving at 5:39 PM on April 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by waving at 5:39 PM on April 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
What did they expect by getting a mailbox that looks like their house?
posted by jeweled accumulation at 5:52 PM on April 21, 2023
posted by jeweled accumulation at 5:52 PM on April 21, 2023
> I'm wondering how this entirely-not-what-I-was-told-a-mailbox-has-to-be "mailbox" passed muster
According to this FAQ on MailboxWorks.com, the local post office typically has its own rules and regulations on what is an acceptable mailbox, so even though the PO didn't answer the writer's calls, the homeowner probably okayed the design and placement with the local PO.
posted by lhauser at 5:56 PM on April 21, 2023
According to this FAQ on MailboxWorks.com, the local post office typically has its own rules and regulations on what is an acceptable mailbox, so even though the PO didn't answer the writer's calls, the homeowner probably okayed the design and placement with the local PO.
posted by lhauser at 5:56 PM on April 21, 2023
Funny, quirky story.
However, this would not pass muster where I live. We have too many stories of mail being stolen for purposes of ID theft. I wouldn't want someone inserting assorted characters into my mailbox - unless all this is done by the mail delivery person.
But still, a charming story.
posted by seawallrunner at 6:02 PM on April 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
However, this would not pass muster where I live. We have too many stories of mail being stolen for purposes of ID theft. I wouldn't want someone inserting assorted characters into my mailbox - unless all this is done by the mail delivery person.
But still, a charming story.
posted by seawallrunner at 6:02 PM on April 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
At a time when we're seeing daily reports of people shooting strangers for ringing their doorbell or driving up to their house, it is important to be reminded that we can still choose to take joy in life and in the unknown neighbors who share our community. It is so wonderful that someone placed the dolls in that mailbox, and equally wonderful that the mailbox owners responded the way they did.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 6:25 PM on April 21, 2023 [20 favorites]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 6:25 PM on April 21, 2023 [20 favorites]
I would love to put up a mailbox like this but mine is usually knocked over a couple of time a year by hop trucks and snow plows.
posted by Tenuki at 6:34 PM on April 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Tenuki at 6:34 PM on April 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
Sure, but where do the dolls get their mail? And what's in that box?
posted by Inkslinger at 6:57 PM on April 21, 2023 [13 favorites]
posted by Inkslinger at 6:57 PM on April 21, 2023 [13 favorites]
the dolls are coming from inside the house
posted by chavenet at 2:54 AM on April 22, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by chavenet at 2:54 AM on April 22, 2023 [6 favorites]
the local post office typically has its own rules and regulations on what is an acceptable mailbox</
.
This. I live just up the block from a neighbors with a) a mailbox that looks like a robot giraffe and b) neighbors with a mailbox that is shaped like a pig with wings
posted by thivaia at 4:18 AM on April 22, 2023 [3 favorites]
.
This. I live just up the block from a neighbors with a) a mailbox that looks like a robot giraffe and b) neighbors with a mailbox that is shaped like a pig with wings
posted by thivaia at 4:18 AM on April 22, 2023 [3 favorites]
rules and regulations
For convenience, I used to keep a pair of gloves in my mailbox. Then one day the gloves were sealed in a plastic bag with a card from the postmaster: "returned for insufficient postage, no address"
posted by StickyCarpet at 4:56 AM on April 22, 2023 [7 favorites]
For convenience, I used to keep a pair of gloves in my mailbox. Then one day the gloves were sealed in a plastic bag with a card from the postmaster: "returned for insufficient postage, no address"
posted by StickyCarpet at 4:56 AM on April 22, 2023 [7 favorites]
The article describes the dolls as "a man and a woman" but given that their names are Mary and Shelley, perhaps what we have here is a case of Sappho and her Friend. Regardless, the sideswiped literary reference in their naming adds another level to the fun.
posted by Morpeth at 5:34 AM on April 22, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by Morpeth at 5:34 AM on April 22, 2023 [3 favorites]
The rare (only?) wholesome article to namedrop Nextdoor.
posted by Pachylad at 5:50 AM on April 22, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Pachylad at 5:50 AM on April 22, 2023 [1 favorite]
And what's in that box?
Don and Nancy
So this story can only end with a 70-foot- long envelope appearing mysteriously on their lawn, right?
posted by jackbishop at 6:34 AM on April 22, 2023 [3 favorites]
Don and Nancy
So this story can only end with a 70-foot- long envelope appearing mysteriously on their lawn, right?
posted by jackbishop at 6:34 AM on April 22, 2023 [3 favorites]
This made me feel nice, thank you
posted by signsofrain at 6:35 AM on April 22, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by signsofrain at 6:35 AM on April 22, 2023 [1 favorite]
The article describes the dolls as "a man and a woman" but given that their names are Mary and Shelley, perhaps what we have here is a case of Sappho and her Friend.
Honestly I had to check the pictures to see that they were a (nominally) straight couple!
posted by praemunire at 8:44 AM on April 22, 2023
Honestly I had to check the pictures to see that they were a (nominally) straight couple!
posted by praemunire at 8:44 AM on April 22, 2023
"returned for insufficient postage, no address"
Now that is a mixture of malicious compliance, passive aggression and light ribbing that I can get behind.
posted by tigrrrlily at 11:26 AM on April 22, 2023 [3 favorites]
Now that is a mixture of malicious compliance, passive aggression and light ribbing that I can get behind.
posted by tigrrrlily at 11:26 AM on April 22, 2023 [3 favorites]
This is hilarious! Mailboxes that are replicas of their house are inherently funny, but the family moving in (Shelley is a man’s name some places, not that it matters really) is icing on the cake. I’m looking forward to the next installment when Shirley visits.
It reminds me of a cemetery in a tiny town in Indiana I visited many times growing up. There was a grave for a young girl there who had died and her parents used a dollhouse as her marker. Home as a concept has so much emotional weight, it’s great to see that expressed.
posted by bendy at 4:23 PM on April 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
It reminds me of a cemetery in a tiny town in Indiana I visited many times growing up. There was a grave for a young girl there who had died and her parents used a dollhouse as her marker. Home as a concept has so much emotional weight, it’s great to see that expressed.
posted by bendy at 4:23 PM on April 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
Guys it’s Mary Shelley and Percy Bysshe Shelley
Clearly
posted by bq at 6:51 AM on April 24, 2023 [2 favorites]
Clearly
posted by bq at 6:51 AM on April 24, 2023 [2 favorites]
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