Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Ptah

(33,974 posts)
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 06:14 PM Thursday

I received a letter today mailed from about 60 miles away.

How long do you think it took to arrive?


40 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
3 days
12 (30%)
1 week
17 (43%)
1 month
3 (8%)
2 months
8 (20%)
Show usernames
Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll
8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
I received a letter today mailed from about 60 miles away. (Original Post) Ptah Thursday OP
Not a fair question to ask True Dough Thursday #1
It traveled 270 land miles. Ptah Thursday #2
Also depends on the airspeed of a laden messenger pigeon. LudwigPastorius Yesterday #4
hint: It was not by pony express Ptah Thursday #3
Depends whether the address was handwritten or typed. Doc_Technical Yesterday #5
Normally, I'd say 3 days tops... malthaussen Yesterday #6
The letter was in the post office in Dragoon early Monday, Dec. 1 Ptah 50 min ago #7
When I moved to Colorado and my folks were in NJ Nittersing 2 min ago #8

True Dough

(25,428 posts)
1. Not a fair question to ask
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 07:18 PM
Thursday

until we know whether those were 60 land miles or nautical miles.

Doc_Technical

(3,721 posts)
5. Depends whether the address was handwritten or typed.
Fri Dec 5, 2025, 11:15 AM
Yesterday

The Post Office optical character reader has difficulty
reading the former.

malthaussen

(18,354 posts)
6. Normally, I'd say 3 days tops...
Fri Dec 5, 2025, 01:32 PM
Yesterday

... but these are not normal times.

A friend of mine lived in the middle of Nowhere, Kentucky one summer in the '50s. There were still two mail deliveries a day then. She put a request for a song from the local DJ in the morning post one day -- and the song was played that evening.

-- Mal

Ptah

(33,974 posts)
7. The letter was in the post office in Dragoon early Monday, Dec. 1
Sat Dec 6, 2025, 01:49 PM
50 min ago

It was in my mail box in Tucson, Thursday, Dec 4.
The address was hand written
It was postmarked Dec. 3, in Phoenix.

Nittersing

(8,000 posts)
8. When I moved to Colorado and my folks were in NJ
Sat Dec 6, 2025, 02:37 PM
2 min ago

My dad would write me a letter every week. (I have a box full of them) They, routinely, arrived in two days.

I just got a Thanksgiving card from my cousin in NH. Took TWO WEEKS!!

Latest Discussions»The DU Lounge»I received a letter today...