I purchased a tropical fish book on eBay recently. The seller's payment options were check or money order. I prefer using PayPal, but I did not check the payment options before I agreed to the purchase.

Paying online lets you take care of it right then and there. In my case, because I was still shopping, so I let the payment go until the next day. The next day, I was busy with work, extra hours, and other details. So the payment was put off another day. Finally, a few days later, when looking over my email, I saw the notice from eBay on the day I purchased the book.

By now, a few days had passed and I contacted the seller to let him know that I intended to make payment the very next day. Again, other priorities intervened. so yesterday, I made it a point to sit down and write the check. I had originally intended to purchase a money order, but the expense seemed ridiculous in comparison to the price I paid for the book. So, on to writing a check.

So here is where I realized not only the convenience of immediate payment was something I took for granted, but the technology itself as well. I dug out the check book... something I don't use often. I wrote out the check... now, I'm thinking... do I have any envelopes? Found an envelope and filled out all the necessary information... next, uh oh.. stamps... what is the cost of mailing a letter these days anyway? Here's one for technology... why call the post office when you can check their website? lol. By the way, I was really impressed with their Star Wars experience versus the typically plain post office web site design.

Ok, so I got the stamp on ok (I had to use an old one, plus a 2 cent stamp to get the correct postage) and now to mail the envelope. hmm... seems like I heard somewhere that you can download and print stamps from the post office web site. Anyway, where I live, the mail boxes are in a common location, instead of on each house. Time to put on a coat and shoes and drive over to the mail boxes. I suppose I could have walked, but then, I am certainly glad I didn't have to drive into town to mail the letter.

So, bottom line here folks is, it's easy to take for granted the things that make our lives easier... a car is another for certain. With a couple of clicks I could pay for my purchase or spend several minutes and require additional materials such as checks, envelopes, stamps and a pen to get the same job done. While it is sometimes quaint to choose the old fashioned method for personal communications, I vote for technology where doing business is concerned.

Lol. Seems like you had a tough weekened. lol. But at least you paid for the book.

I know EXACTLY what you mean. The other day I went to the post office to mail a box. The line was so long, it wrapped around the inside of the building all the way to the front door. About half an hour into the wait, I spotted a couple of machines off to the side. It took me a while to grasp what I was staring at, because I didn't have to wait in line or anything, these machines would print out my label and postage, and take the package, too. After I finished, I did the poor post office employees a favor and made a loud exclamation "Gee, that was a LOT better than standing in line, these things can do anything they can"... about 20 people stepped out of line to use the machines after that. What is it that GI Joe used to say... knowing is half the battle... or something like that.