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MEMAW TO DIXIE …. Box 1006
© 10/12/12 Vickey Stamps
The postal clerk, while idle in part, stood sorting out paraphernalia cluttering his small working area. He lowered his glance, having noticed the blond tresses on top of a little girls head. “Hi! Need some help?” He’d asked with a smile in his voice.
The small girl announced herself to be Dixie. She was five and was concerned if an envelope she held up and out to Edwin, the clerk could be delivered. “This is for my grandma. I called her Memaw. I don’t know her address, but maybe this letter could reach her anyway.” Edwin took the letter. On the right upper corner was the correct amount of postage in the form of a pretty rose embellished stamp. The return address read
Dixie
Box 1006
(Correct city, state and zip code)

The address simply read MEMAW c/o Heaven

Edwin blinked away the emotional dampness, trying to fill his eyes. He had little ones at home, one about this age and size. “Guess you miss Memaw a lot, huh? “I sure do” replied Dixie, looking sad. “We used to look for butterflies together. I love butterflies. She was going to get me a butterfly coloring book, but she can’t come see me anymore. I miss her so much!” The clerk gave her the biggest smile he had, promising to do the best he could to get the letter to Memaw.
Edwin spoke to the post-mistress, who agreed that under the circumstances, little good would be served, if the letter ended up in the ‘dead-letter container’ kept for undeliverable mail. He could answer it for Memaw, providing he used proper postage, and with permission of Dixie’s parents. They agreed for at least a trial period, to allow Edwin to play the role of Memaw. Dixie had cried so often from her loss of the beloved grandma.
Over the years, a small ‘white-board’ had found a home in the post office’s break-room. Sometimes tiny cards, marked for Dixie PO Box 1006, and with postage on them, became attached to or upon its surface, with no clue as to how they came to be there. The first note on the white-board had read “Dixie will be six today. Happy Birthday Dixie!” a card had been put into box 1006 to mark the special occasion. A typewritten signature of Memaw c/o heaven was always added. Every week or so something ended up sent to Dixie at Box 1006. Sometimes it would be simple things like yardage of a pretty ribbon for her hair. Once there had been an embroidered butterfly in a small frame, there had been a dollar bill for a birthday gift from Memaw. The list was long and as the years passed, so did the small gifts and messages change. A nice sticker label was always put on the front of the envelope or package that read:
Dixie
Box 1006
(proper city state and zip code)

It seemed that on days that were more difficult to walk through than others, a letter would be waiting in box 1006, to bring a smile to Dixie’s heart. Sometimes it would be nothing more than a pretty post card “Wishing you a day full of smiles” from Memaw. The messages were always enough.

Dixie grew into a very nice young lady, then a woman and became a mother. Edwin would be retiring soon. His steps had slowed down. His own family had grown up, leaving him and his sweetheart an empty nest.

On day, Dixie stood before Edwin, her hand hold fast to that of a blond headed boy about six years old. In his hand was an envelope addressed to
MEMAW
c/o Heaven.
It was from Mark at Box 1006.
“Marks grandma has passed away. He called her Memaw and misses her terribly. Could you mail his letter?

Edwin knew if he couldn’t… someone here could. Edwin knew it to be true….
LIFE WAS GOOD