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UPHEAVAL - DOWNHEAVAL
Saturday Jan. 9, 2016
My weekend, combo of mopping up, and preparing for week ahead …
Reading gloom and doom.
Headlines blasting fear and worry from every media orifice.
Then I turn on the TV to see Presidential tears, Trump fears and political rhetoric suggesting Mideast powder-keg is worse than ever, risks of nuclear conflict go well beyond North Korea, Iran and Saudi’s wanting to buy a bomb …
Oh bother, what to do?
Is it bad and getting worse?
Or tough and getting better?
I checked my lottery numbers this morning – I didn’t win the big prize. Nobody did. We are currently under a blanket of cold air and nervous citizens who find cold comfort in government deficits, low oil prices and a multitude of job losses, layoffs, mergers and failures. Yes, real estate values have eroded – which makes everything more affordable. Heady times, having things too good for too long (SB, thanks, I borrowed your words) is now history, unlikely to be repeated for a long time … perhaps not till the next boom-bust cycle. Yes, we have 7.7% unemployment. But that means we have 92.3% employment! That’s pretty good. I believe things are getting better.
Some days, weeks too, are rather ordinary. Some are exceptional. The rest falling between those bookends. First work week, first business week, of this year is done. I had a good week. I didn’t set any records, but in terms of completed business – I’m pretty happy. I’m not planning any pricey winter vacations yet, but I’m thinking about one …
We haven’t tasted tough yet.
As I look outside at a very cold Saturday morning, I feel lucky.
Mark Kolke
written / published from Calgary, AB
morning walk: -25C/-12F, ice crystals, Brrrrrrrrrrrrr … (little comfort that the weatherman says we’re going to have balmy by Tuesday), Gusta toughed it out in search of a fresh flat place to poop – and she made her deposit confidently, as if nothing was wrong but the cold. And she wears a fur coat, so that’s OK too …
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