Depression Depression

You can’t stand in the middle of the Interstate and stop cars by holding out your hands.

The TV is off. It’s quiet down here in the family room. My feet are up on a table (sorry) and the laptop’s in my lap. I can’t bring myself to turn the TV on. The financial news has been too depressing these last few weeks.

I understand why what followed 1929 was the Great Depression. It’s more than numbers that were down.

I’m not an old guy&#185, but I’m old enough to be planning for retirement. Much of what I was going to use has now disappeared–poof. It took until 1954 to recover fully from 1929. I’ll be 83 in 25 years.

Helaine and I have stopped talking about the meltdown. I assume she’s feeling the same way and there’s nothing we can do. I was going to say “not much we can do,” but “nothing” is the reality.

We’ve got it good. We’re virtually debt free. Our mortgage is down to its last few years. I can’t imagine what it’s like for people who’d been living on the edge. The edge is moving closer to them moment-by-moment. Money is a cause of stress even in good times–but now!

I’ve made up my mind for president. I think my choice is wise, but I suspect there will be little he can do in the short term. You can’t stand in the middle of the Interstate and stop cars by holding out your hands.

And how was your day?

&#185 – After Tuesday’s debate my parents, both long retired and living with other seniors in Florida, said McCain looked old. Wow–where’s the love?

One thought on “Depression Depression”

  1. We just got our quarterly statements on our accounts that contain 401k’s rolled over from previous jobs and the accounts that our kid’s college money is in. We lost about 23%. Ouch.

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