When I was a kid growing up in the sticks in South Texas, my family had their own little row of mailboxes across FM-2294, catty corner to our house. There was one box for my aunt and uncle, one for my grandparents, and one for my family. Each box had a little red flag on it. I think most boxes still have those, but anyhow...when you place mail into the box to be sent, you're supposed to lift the flag to alert the postman/woman. I don't know why...perhaps because of USPS regulations...but if you placed mail into the box and didn't lift the flag, the mail would just stay there till you lifted the flag.

When I was a teenager, I remember doing a little test. My parents were away on vacation, and I was assigned the responsibility of checking the mail. I put an unimportant letter into our mailbox Sunday night, and purposely left the red flag down. Monday afternoon came, and the letter was still there. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday...letter was still there. The postman would just place the new mail on top of my letter. Friday night, I lifted the flag. Saturday, the letter was gone.

Why would the postman not just take the letter? I mean...how often do people just put shit into their mailbox without intending to mail it somewhere. Every time I've ever put something into a mailbox, I put it there fully intending to mail it somewhere. Why is the red flag so significant? Why can't the USPS just have their employees assume that any items placed into a mailbox that have an appropriate amount of postage are there to be mailed somewhere? I don't get it.

Here are some more uninteresting satellite photos for you.

1. Where I went to school. Yes, that's the whole school. It housed all grades K-12. The actual school is the group of largish structures. "School Dr" is lined with housing for teachers, coaches, and other employees that choose to live on campus. It's hard to tell, but behind the school, there's an oval. That's the track/football field.

2. My grandparent's house. Catty corner to the intersection of FM 2294 and Molcajete Rd (to the Northwest) is my grandparent's house (my mom's parents). I spent so many great days there. So many memories...

3. "Sun Oil", as we used to call it. My aunt/uncle/cousins live there...directly across from the refinery, within that conglomeration of houses. I fucking LOVED visiting them. Why? Because they had a trampoline, a pool table, and a homemade driving range.

4. My cousin's place. Another aunt/uncle/cousins live there. I spent so many days there. So many weekends. I think I have more memories of that place than I do of any other place...aside from my home, of course.