Struggling to let go

Our mailbox is large, old and dilapidated. It’s at the end of the drive - some 1.65 miles from the house. When my aunt spent summers at Squabetty back in the 70s and 80s, her mail was forwarded and she used the mailbox regularly. Not so much anymore.  In those days, we had a Cambridge address. We look in the old box about once a year - and retrieve phone books and flyers that were left there months ago. The spiders like the shelter, safety and peace. It was much to our surprise and perhaps dismay when we saw a poster of mailboxes and there ours was, looking, as it is: old and uncared for. Despite its unused nature, and decrepit condition, we can’t seem to consider taking it down. It still has Deane on the box even though the last Deane died 33 years ago. It’s been a part of our history, for decades and decades. We’ll leave this one to the next generation to deal with.