Another beautiful morning here in San Diego County, although we are under fire watch through the weekend due to our hot dry weather. Our temperature is supposed to drop a couple of degrees per day for the next few days leading us back to unbelievably perfect temperatures. I love this time of the year. I grew up on a farm in Southern Illinois, and fall was always my favorite season. I loved school, and it meant it was time to go back to school. I loved the holidays, and fall arriving also meant that Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas were just around the corner. All of these holidays were highly celebrated events both at home and school. Each year, our little one room country school presented a play for families. I always had a significant role to play and loved it. I guess one room schools are a thing of the past now. I always loved the fact that I could hear the lessons of every grade and believe it helped enhance my education.
Although it is a favorite time of the year for me, it is a bad time for some of our friends. The economy is taking its toll on both large and small businesses.
Friends are struggling to keep their businesses going, and others are concerned about job layoffs. Since we are sixty six years old, some friends are watching their 401-K retirement funds and stock investments dwindle away. It's really frightening for people who know they are too old and if not too old, too tired to start all over.
Jerry spent yesterday with a dear friend, who is like a son to Jerry. We both love this guy. He is in his 40's, has been very successful and is now selling off prized possessions and choosing which properties will have to go into foreclosure. In other words, he's trying to decide what goes first. He has a beautiful wife and two daughters. I am scared for him. I am most concerned right now with his mental health. He just looks defeated. He has always been vibrant and energetic. He has worked so hard the past fifteen years developing his business. Fifteen years ago, he lost a beautiful infant daughter. When we met him, it was shortly after the baby died. He was grieving. His marriage was in trouble, and he had an overwhelming amount of hospital bills. He came out of that period stronger....stronger marriage...greater appreciation for life and an intense love of his two little daughters. Yesterday he was walking around like a very old man. He isn't sleeping at night, and I know the lonely feeling one has when they wake up in the middle of the night due to a troubled mind. It must be even tougher for him, since this is a second time around that he is having to deal with a financial disaster. I know he isn't thinking of himself. He is concerned for his family. We are already reading of suicides believed to be caused by the collapse of our economy. We didn't know until yesterday just how hard he was being hit. He sells "toy haulers," campers and motorhomes. He has several locations and of course, leases and mortgages to pay. People aren't buying much of anything these days except necessities. Mike is on my prayer list, and we will try to stay close with him.
I think all of America is ready for us to select a president, which should go a long way in taking the "politics" out of the decision making process. This type of problem is worsened during a presidential election year especially since we have a congress controlled by democrats and a republican president. Both parties seem to be afraid of making the other party look good. Our United States economic woes now appear to be contributing to the destruction of the soundness of the world economy.
Perhaps these troubling times are going to have the most impact on our human value system. A re-organization of our personal priorities may be a good thing.
God Bless America.....
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