John, my husband, still rushes to the mailbox every day, nearly grabbing the snail mail from the letter deliverer’s hands. John tells me that there might be a letter proclaiming him “Emperor of the World.” So far, no such proclamation has arrived. But still, I think most of us experience a flutter of excitement when a real letter or a package arrives for us.

Every few months, I try to choose a handful of greeting cards and send them to a family member or a friend with whom I’ve fallen out of touch. And I love putting together occasional “care packages.” When I contemplate sending a card or package, the individual tasks involved seem onerous. But I really do enjoy shopping for greeting cards or the contents of a package. (It’s much more fun than clothes shopping!) And I like fitting the card into an envelope, or items into a box and taping it shut as I imagine the pleasure of the recipient.

I remember looking forward to packages at summer camp. My mom always came through with at least one a week. So last week I sent a care package to Joe, a colleague who is staff director of Camp Amazing Grace, which is in its third year serving children who have an incarcerated parent. It’s a challenge to find just the right balance of small toys, magazines, useful items and edible treats and keep within a care package budget. Among other things, Joe got a “improve your brain” puzzle book, some water balloons, Charlie Brown stickers, Life savers, pretzels, M&Ms and gummy bears.

I could hear the joyful smile in his voice in the phone message I got the day Joe received the package. It made waiting in line at the post office worth it.

You can always order pre-made care packages from the Internet. I think the recipients would be just as happy with one of those. There are sites that specialize in packages for soldiers, college students, and everyday occasions.

Next week, my daughter Alice is who working for Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth in Palo Alto will get a package. I wonder what I’ll find to put inside?