For the Postal Service, 'twas a shining moment

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The U.S. Postal Service gets a lot of abuse. People grouse when their packages aren't delivered on time, such a common occurrence that it's spawned several privately owned package delivery services.

People whine when their mail gets delivered too late in the day, as if it makes a difference if you throw out your junk mail before or after lunch.

People kvetch when the price of stamps goes up like it did earlier this year. The 41 cents it now costs to mail a first-class letter is four times higher than it was in 1975. Sounds pretty bad, right?

Let's see, the median household income in the United States is four times what is was in 1975, so earnings have kept pace. What about other expenses? It costs about five times as much for a gallon of gas, a new car and a new home than it did in 1975, so we're actually doing better on stamps than those items.

Even man's best friend - the dog - is portrayed as the postman's sworn enemy.

Yet, who was that walking up to your door Christmas Day - package in hand - to help make your holiday bright? That's right, the postal worker. Local postal workers worked until the early evening Tuesday delivering about 50 holiday gifts to some very appreciative Sauk Valley-area residents.

"I love the look on their faces," said Dixon carrier William Aberle while making his rounds.

The holiday deliveries have been going on since 1991, when the U.S. Postal Service introduced Express Mail and a promise to deliver every day of the year.

No, our nation's postal system is not perfect, but it does have its shining moments and Tuesday was one of them.

On that day, some of its employees sacrificed time with their families and friends so others could have a happier holiday.

If that's not the epitome of the Christmas spirit, we don't know what is.