WATERVILLE -- Linda Pottle's arms were loaded down with boxes as she navigated her way through the post office doors and set the parcels down on the counter. "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer" played on the television, offering entertainment for those waiting in line, as Pottle chatted amiably with the men behind the counter as they weighed her shipments and marked them for delivery.

Pottle shipped five boxes loaded with Christmas goodies on Thursday, roughly a third of what she will mail out during the holidays to family and friends across the country and serving in the U.S. Army in Germany and Iraq. As far as Pottle is concerned, the post office is still the best way to get those packages to those she loves.

"I like the post office men here," said the Winslow woman. "They're fast and they're courteous and they've always been just great."

Pottle is one of thousands of Mainers across the state who scurry into local post offices this time of year to mail everything from envelopes filled with greeting cards to boxes stuffed with cookies.

On the busiest day of the year, which will roll around on Monday, Maine post offices will process about 4.4 million pieces of mail, double the amount they handle on a typical day in July, said Leanne Payeur, acting district communication coordinator for the U.S. Postal Service. In the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the state's postal workers will handle 158 million pieces of mail. Nationwide, the Postal Service will process 20 billion pieces of mail during the same monthlong holiday season.

Though the extra business might mean a little extra time in line for some, postal officials hear few complaints.

"Occasionally you get the Christmas curmudgeon, but people are largely patient and tolerant," Payeur said. "It's a wait-in-line time of year."

Most often, customers appreciate postal workers' effort.

"That's why I come here," Pottle said. "Even if there is a line it's like boom, boom, boom. They're very good."

The Postal Service has taken a number of steps to help process all that extra mail, beginning with the addition of 80 temporary workers statewide. The agency also offers online shipping (usps.com) that allows shippers to weigh packages on their bathroom scales, enter the information into their computers and print out a stamp. Postal carriers will pick up the packages as part of their regular route. Use of the online option is up at least 50 percent from last year, making lines at post offices a little shorter, Payeur said.

"It's helped us out incredibly," she said. "It's a handy option and a huge time saver for people."

Still, there is a sizable segment of the population that is either without Internet access or who, like Pottle, just feel better going to the post office to deliver their most important packages.

"We like the post office," said Leo Goulette of Waterville after shipping his last package of the season.

Even if there is a line, people often would rather wait than travel a few minutes down the road to another post office, Payeur said.

"People get attached to their post office," she said. "You get real loyalty from customers, especially this time of year. Christmas packages are especially important to them. They want to hand it over to someone they trust."

Last week, for example, Dennis Rollins of Winslow sent packages to his son-in-law, who serves with the National Guard in Afghanistan. The gifts included a small Christmas tree, food, presents and an electric blanket. Afghanistan, Rollins said, has already received a blanket of snow.

"It gets pretty cold over there," Rollins said.

Deliveries to U.S. forces overseas rise 25 percent from the average this time of year, Payeur said.

"We encourage people to get mail in for the troops early," she said.

Rollins was back at the post office on Monday and spent another $200 mailing presents to family out of state.

"If it had been a bigger package I probably would have gone through UPS," Rollins said.

Jeanne Codere of Wayne used to use the name carriers, such as UPS or FedEx, until she moved to Wayne and got to know the postmaster. She was in Waterville on Thursday and decided to mail two gifts to family in Michigan.

"It's like culture shock coming here," she laughed.

Like thousands of others, Codere was anxious to get her packages under way.

"I do a lot of baking," she said. "There are nephews and family waiting for their homemade goodies."

Craig Crosby -- 861-9253

ccrosby@centralmaine.com