Sunday February 1, 2009...A whole nother month

It's February already! I wasn't finished with January yet. This last month disappeared quickly. Maybe it was the Changing of the guard, or the changing of the weather or my changing of household, but it really did pass through my fingers quickly.

My daughter, son-in-law and grandson are firmly ensconced in their new home here with me, along with numerous pets and many boxes. Zachary is enrolled in school and Chuck has found a job and they now have everything unloaded from storage. We have been becoming used to each other's schedule and all seems to be well. Maybe time flies by faster when you are sharing life with more people?

The economy really stinks right now and I'm afraid that it will get worse before it starts to turn around - but there isn't a lot that we can do individually except keep a positive outlook for the eventual future. The country has been through panics and recessions and depressions before and, in time, this one will also pass. At least the politicians are not ignoring the data and some are even considering the plight of the common man (for a change). It gives one some hope.

Every once in while the whole world becomes so complacent with the status quo and a bit of a rough time may wake up people to the fact that we all have to pull together as one people in order to pull our society up from the hole we have sunk into. Greed has to be overcome and sensibility and responsibility has to come to the forefront.

So many people have gambled their future by over-extending their debt assuming that the future will always be rosy and just like the present. Many haven't been through hard times before and don't realize that life isn't always fair and stable. You need to save a bit from the good years to carry you through the lean times. Droughts do occur occasionally and you must be prepared. Unfortunately, many people have not saved and have no cushion to help now. I'm afraid that many will lose their jobs and their homes in a very short time and that means they will have to start all over again just like when they first started. It's a hard way to learn, but we've seen it before. My parents came through the depression of the 1930's and that may be comparable to what is developing right now. Attitudes will have to change and people will have to adapt and hopefully we won't need another war to pull us out of the mess we are going to find ourselves in.

But that's enough bleakness for now. It's February and just 2 months away from spring. I've got family to share with and life holds much promise. The future may be memorable and will certainly be interesting.