Where this compulsion for order ends up  

Family circumstances have made it impossible for us to do much shopping for the holidays, but the side effect has been that we've finally done what we've been talking about doing all these years... we've ordered nearly everything online. Apart from a few issues with who ends up opening what package on the doorstep, I would call it a success, but what's really blown my mind is the extent to which UPS and Amazon have upped their game. UPS has started making more than one delivery a day at our door, despite the fact that we've had a series of intense snows and plummeting temperatures in the area (also despite my failure to shovel the walk). Amazon, for its part, has managed to get packages out the door much more quickly than expected, so that for instance some items I ordered today will arrive tomorrow even though I selected the slowest shipping option. Perhaps they will send it over via courier, as they sometimes do. Anyway, color me impressed.

It feels like I should title this post The audacity of hope. I should also probably link to this episode from the past.