So, I went to the post office the other day to mail my absentee ballot.
This must be the case with all post offices all over the world--
There was a long line. In fact there were a couple of long lines.
I stood in the most likely looking one. Nervous, nonetheless that I would be directed to another line, given MY envelope would be an overseas mailing--
And that it was my ABSENTEE BALLOT. Which was loudly proclaimed all over the envelope. It also said it had to arrive in this envelope and only this envelope or the vote wouldn't be counted. I worried I would be forced to put it in one of those large Par Avion cardboard envelopes. That my ballot would arrive thus, and be tossed.
The woman in front of me engaged the man behind the counter in a long conversation. Very long. Like she was the only woman in the world at that moment, and that this particular post office was otherwise empty. The man did not hurry her. As is the wont with the French. They seem to feel this makes them easy-going and in no hurry. They are not easy going people. They take being French very seriously.
I clutched my ABSENTEE BALLOT envelope and prayed to become an easy-going French person who did not mind standing behind a woman who was telling the man her life story.
Finally, when even the easy-going French people in the line behind me began to shuffle, muted impatience barely concealed, the woman glanced around. Oh my. There were people behind her. Quel dommage. She finished her delightful conversation and left.
I stepped forward. "Par avion," I said.
He started to shake his head. Did my face turn white? He glanced at the precious envelope I was trying to hand him. Then, abruptly, he took it from me, weighed it, stamped it, told me how much.
Relief swept in. I would have babbled as much as that woman had. But, given my command of French, especially in the hostile environment of a post office, I am, shall I say, concise.
I handed him the euros. "Obama," I said, pointing to the Absentee Ballot envelope.
He broke into a huge grin. "Ah, mais oui," he said. "'E will be good for zee American people, non?"
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