AT LEAST 100 words about checking the mail

What Happens: I am always a little excited when preparing to check the mail, as there might be something fun in there addressed to me. I look initially at the gap between the lid and the bottom of the box, because if we have mail it usually pokes out this hole, but the majority of the time the gap is empty and I have to investigate further. The next step is to look in the slit, and if still inconclusive, then I have to check the mail by putting my hand into the box. When checking the box, I am a little too short to look directly into the gap, so I always put all my weight on my right leg and go up on my tippie-toes to look in through the gap. Then I use a little hole in the bottom of the box as an indication of whether we have mail or not. To see this properly I wink, by closing my left eye.  If there is no mail, no touch is required. 

Sounds: Sounds can be divided into related and unrelated to the mailbox checking. Unrelated noises I hear are birds chirping, car motors and the rubbing of rubber against the asphalt. Dogs barking, grass moving in the wind and a plane overhead. The sound of wind is also present, although temporary depending on the weather.  Describing the sound of wind is tough, but my interpretation would be a whooshing sound in your ears that blocks other sounds from being heard clearly. Noises associated with the mailbox are the metal grinding against metal when opening the box, and the newspaper ripping sound when I pull the mail out the front way through the slot.

Smells: I smell grass and dirt, and sometimes petrol from car exhausts. The inside of the mailbox has a dirty, musty smell, and the somewhat inky smell of the magazines that make up the majority of the mail. The inky smell reminds me of when I worked in a printing business and smelt a lot of ink.

Taste: Taste and smell are related, so the dominant taste would be an inky nostalgic taste. 

Sight: When looking at the letterbox I see the reflective shiny burgundy metal, and also the wood the mailbox stands on. Many flax bushes and trees surround the letterbox, and also a large rock on the ground in front of it. There is rust on much of the letterbox, and I notice the coating on the metal peeling off in some parts. Sight is the first sense I use to determine whether we have mail. I use sight for the initial check, when I see the shiny metal, and sometimes the newspaper or magazines poking out the tops.  When I am unsure if there is mail, I go on my right tippie-toes, and close my left eye to search the insides of the box with my vision. I use a little hole at the bottom of the letterbox to determine whether we have mail for sure. Less light is allowed into the box if we do not have mail which results in mild disappointment. 

Touch:  Touch is only used when I have checked using sight, and the mailbox inside is too dark. If dark, I know something is blocking the hole in the bottom and I need to clear the box.  I put my hand into the box and scrap along the bottom of the cold metal until I can grasp the papery contents.

Emotion / Other

Excitement accompanies all mail checks as I am hoping for a nice surprise, which will make me happy. Disappointment follows close behind when the mailbox is empty, particularly when I am expecting something.

Surprises:

I go up on tippie-toes to check the box.

I wink to see into the box.

I use the light coming through the bottom of the metal to judge whether I have received any mail.

 I think the checking the mail series of images is my favourite. This picture portrays what my mailbox looks like, and how run down it is. The white text is again emotion related, and the font was chosen to be similar to what would be on letters. Green was chosen as the dominant colour as there is so much outdoor greenery around when checking.

  I love this image. the circle - over saturated is representing the tension that goes on my tippie-toes when I check the mail.

 The hole in the bottom of my letterbox which I use to determine whether I have received any mail.