LOS ANGELES — It was three shipping days before Christmas, and Santa's blue-clad helpers were hard at work spreading holiday cheer at the Bellflower post office.
Pickup was imminent. Mail carriers in fuzzy hats and crisp polyester shorts scurried to and fro. Inside, a line of procrastinators in ugly sweaters and nubby fleece pajama bottoms waited to post their nick-of-time Christmas gifts and 11th-hour holiday cards.
"It's a lot of last-minute cards," said Postmaster Tania Cason, as she greeted her regulars. "We start as early as 6 a.m. delivering packages, and keep rolling until 8 or 9 at night."
