So, apparently it takes six weeks now for a simple package from the US to make its way to Germany. This is not surprising, since it involves said package having to magically grow fins and to swim through the ocean all by itself - which is, truly, the only feasible explanation for the state of the Nanny's Christmas package once it arrived at the Mommy and Daddy's door. Expecting a perfectly normal, square cardboard box, they were already a little wary when the delivery man dumped this on their doorstep:
Their worst fears were confirmed when they opened the package and found that it was, literally, soaking wet. Outside
and inside. And since both cardboard and contents were already moldy in some places, it obviously hadn't been doused just yesterday, either. It was, however, very considerate of the postal service to make sure they wrapped it nice and airtight in packing tape so that none of the moisture might actually have a chance to escape:
So, while carefully peeling layers of moist wrapping paper from soggy toy cartons, and sorting the contents into three piles (heater, laundry, dead), the Mommy and Daddy quickly concocted a story for the Twosome revolving around a poor little package falling off a delivery truck and having to crawl through dark, snowy, dangerous alleyways to bring two little kids their Christmas presents - all the while mentally drafting an entirely different version of that story to send to the US and/or German postal service later on... Luckily, the most important and anxiously awaited items, the Nanny's hand-sewn duvet covers, were fine after a round in the washer and dryer, and Lautje was ecstatic about having his own snuggly blanket - especially since Timmy got one, too!
Needless to say, Anneke is similarly attached to her "Schmusedecke", and even her dolls obviously would rather share a bed than do without:
So, all's well that ends well. However, for 70€ postage, instead of a (largely useless) tracking number the postal service could perhaps include a simple explanation as to how a square, dry cardboard box turned into a mushy, stinky ball-shaped mess of wet cardboard held together by a layer of packing tape - because there has to be a story there, somewhere! Of course, an apology is never amiss, either. Just a suggestion...
