madonna stamp

This may seem counterintuitive, but I can announce that yes, there are stamps at the Elmwood post office.

Isn’t that obvious, you may ask?

The answer should be yes, but for a brief period this week the Elmwood post office on College Avenue was completely out of stamps.

Jane Brooks of Berkeley went to get some stamps on Saturday, Dec. 5. She wanted to buy some of the Madonna and child stamps, but while she was waiting in line (and isn’t there always a long line at that understaffed location?) heard that there were only a few holiday stamps left. She could only get a smattering of the Madonna stamps and decided to supplement her stash with some of those bland Liberty Bells instead, only to find that the post office had run out of everything. There were no stamps. Nada.

Brooks returned on Monday, but the post office was still out of stamps. putting a serious crimp on the sending of holiday cards.

But by Wednesday morning, serenity had returned to the Elmwood post office. A Ms Brooks (no relation to Jane Brooks) assured me that the station is now well stocked. This should alleviate everyone’s fears that there will be a shortage of Christmas cards in your mailbox.

Frances Dinkelspiel, Berkeleyside and CItyside co-founder, is a journalist and author. Her first book, Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman Created California, published in November...