I don't know how to thank the mailing service employees at Longs in Saratoga.

Two days ago, I was at Longs, juggling presents, trying to buy boxes and develop Christmas photos. Once at the mailing counter, I realized I could not find the Christmas gift to my Aunt Ginny, who is in a nursing home in Vermont. I went back to the car, then home, turned my house and car (would you believe, even the garbage) upside-down looking for it and felt really sad about having lost her precious package.

Yesterday, when my husband stopped to pick up the photos, he asked the department if by chance they had seen a small package addressed to Vermont with no return address.

It turns out, they had found it, realized it needed to go to someone at Christmas, and they mailed it. I was stunned. Longs. The place to mail things. (Did you know at the bottom of their receipt, it says "Live healthy. Live happy. Love Longs"?) I'm a new fan.

This never would have happened with the U.S. Postal Service. They probably would have put it in quarantine or blown up the package, perfume and soaps scattering everywhere. Aunt Ginny will be happy this Christmas, thanks to the good employees at Longs on Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road. And I'm very grateful.

—Gay J. Crawford, Aloha Avenue