STRESSED OUT

It has been a long and stressful 6 weeks since I last posted. Most of the stress revolves around a major remodel at my workplace. If you can imagine trying to talk on the phone, or converse in person, or even think while listening to the din of sawzalls, nail guns, hammers and all the other noise inherent to demolition and construction, you will know what I mean. Now it is mostly done and it is stunning, well worth the inconveniences, which were legion.

In addition, there was (is) the whole H1N1 virus (aka "swine flu") outbreak. Is it bad? Is it trivial? Do we really want to know? What can we do to protect ourselves? (I'm sorry, but the whole surgical mask thing is a little bit too "Chinese" for me.) It did not help that this scare occurred right at Spring allergy season here in Michigan. Excuse me, did you just sneeze due to the pollen, or do you have a potentially fatal communicable disease?

And don't even think about the automotive industry, the lifeblood of this region, not to mention the indirect source of my livelihood. The killer Bs of Bailouts and Bankruptcy have dominated the headlines for months. The news is not good. Now GM and Chrysler have announced that they're dropping 25 - 30% of their dealers. I just hope that none of my customers are among them.

I won't belabor you with news of my 401k and other investments. Many, if not all, of you are in the same situation. Now the government tells us that Social Security and Medicare will become insolvent in the next decade. It makes me wonder, "How many greeters does WalMart need?" as we approach the possibility of quite literally working until we drop.

As I walk through my neighborhood I see many houses either for sale or vacant due to foreclosures. What will happen to them? I do not relish the though of their purchase by speculators who will rent tham out. Our neighborhood has always been one of owner occupied dwellings, and they are mostly well cared for.

But there is an upside too. It is really Spring, after a long miserable Winter (see previous post.) The flowers are blooming and the birds are singing. I still have a job, and some days can even say I enjoy it. I have a comfortable house that is mortgage free. I have a loving family and circle of friends who I see regularly. I am healthy. For these things I am thankful on a daily basis. I am hopeful that, together, all of us will weather the current storms. And it is this hope, and the aforementioned friends and family, that keep me going.