If you are going to have a problem, have it on Mercer Island because the people here are so nice.

On Saturday, Aug. 6, after the post office had closed at 2 p.m. I dropped a return package into a heavy metal machine in the post office lobby.

Unfortunately the edge of the package, as well as a piece of the item to be returned, caught in the machine. No one was around and the post office would be closed until Monday morning. What to do?

Fortunately for me, a nice young man named Scott Barbara walked in, tried various ways to get the package out, called for and received assistance from the closed and silent working area, crawled inside the machine along with James and Jesse, of the post office, who were called to assist by a very nice and helpful postal official named Debbie Mulholland.

Two hours later, the clothing came out of a very torn bag — undamaged except for a bent zipper.

Thanks also to a cheerful and dainty lady who offered to help hold the doors of the machine open and to the postmaster who helped straighten things out the next work day.

So, aren’t we lucky to live on Mercer Island?

Lyn Lightfoot