Santa still came

Editor, The Times:

Watching the immense challenges that package-delivery organizations like UPS, FedEx and the U.S. Postal Service have endured with this holiday season should make all of us very grateful -- grateful that we have such dedicated, hardworking members of our community who have somehow gotten many of our packages to us ["Mother Nature plays havoc with speedy holiday deliveries," Times, News, Dec. 24].

For those of us who have some packages that were not delivered in time for Christmas Day, we are better off for being reminded of all of the years these packages made it on time, and we will gladly have a second celebration when the packages do arrive.

Please consider the efforts of others on our behalf; they are a gift we need to appreciate more often.

-- Tom Zylstra, Bellevue

Mornings as usual

I'd like to thank those who report for, write, print and deliver The Seattle Times. My husband and I have been enjoying the paper even more than usual, as we stay home and feel connected to the city and the world.

Most days it's been hard to believe that when we open our front door, the paper has been waiting for us. Thank you to The Times' staff, who have overcome obstacles to get to work and produce the newspaper.

-- Jan Schwert, Seattle

I'm still warm

Private citizens kept me from being stuck in the freezing cold at 2 a.m. They've pushed us, dug us out and told us what roads were "passable." I've spent more time pushing cars out of the snow this last week than I have Christmas shopping.

To the people who showed up out of nowhere in their four-wheel-drive truck with a shovel and an able body, thank you. To the pedestrian who pushed us out of the parking lot where the snowplow had buried us, thank you. To the people in line who were patient and waited, joked and raised spirits while everyone was waiting for chains, thank you. To the plow workers who are forgoing time with their families during the holiday season, thank you.

To the cities and other "decision makers," you should be ashamed.

-- Valarie Fletcher, Lynnwood

Give thanks

I'm tired of all the griping.

How about a heartfelt hurray for the hardworking crews who worked 12-hour shifts to clear our roads during this record snowfall?

These crews have had to contend with jaywalkers, drivers cutting in front of them, and inconsiderate folks who left their abandoned cars in the middle of the street. Why do some people insist on their right to drive a car in all weather?

You can be darn sure snowplow crews would rather be home with their families than working around the clock to shovel snow and slush.

Let's give a heartfelt "thank you" to those who did the most thankless of jobs.

-- Patricia Saunders, Seattle