I am just as worried about this recession as you are, but I like to look on the bright side so I am really looking forward to getting better service. Now that everyone is trying so hard to stay in business I think clerks and salespeople will probably have to be really nice to me. This is what I hope, at least. I realize now that so much of what I remember about growing up in the 70s had a lot to do with the fact that we were in a recession then. Back then we wrapped our presents with grocery sacks and yarn AND WE LIKED IT! Real Simple recently suggested yarn as an adornment for gifts. Remember yarn? I wonder what it is about hard times that makes yarn seem so feasible. It is inexpensive and, I suppose, in frugal homespun times one might have more of it on hand than frivolous wrapping ribbon. Seriously, I don’t remember having ribbon around our house until the late 80s. At the time I might have thought it was a matter of taste. Now I realize it probably had more to do with Ronald Reagan.
I am also predicting that food storage goes back to being cheap and ugly (like it was in the 70s). In the past few years food storage has become so glamorous and commercial with products like Shelf Reliance and big cans of dried taco meat that look like they were designed by Target. My mom once taught the women in our ward to make fudge from beans. That’s right–fudge from beans. It’s not pretty. She not only dehydrated food, she made her own dehydrator from screen material, vinyl, and a hanger. Food storage was kept in bottles and unlabeled cans in dark pantries on particle board and two-by-fours. And so it shall be again.
My kids beg to break into the stored Power Ade and emergency hard candy. But my sisters and I dreaded the day we would have to drink powdered milk or rinse the dregs of bottled grape juice out of a jar–which we would use for a cup because, you know–it’s an emergency. I grew up with a healthy fear of food storage and I believe I am much more fiscally responsible for it.
I believe that as the economy goes down the ugliness of Enrichment projects will go up exponentially. Just you wait–there will be no painted wooden “Bs” plaque this year. You’ll be making rocking chairs out of PVC pipe–and you’ll love it!
One thing I can’t figure out about the 70s is how we never, ever turned our heat down. Now I am always conscious of the thermostat and always colder than I would like. I used to crank it to 80 when I got home from school and no one ever said anything. We also had a wood-burning stove to mitigate the natural gas–but you can’t lay on a wood-burning stove like you can lay on a vent.
And finally, have you been paying attention to the businesses that are thriving in this depressed market? Walmart! I guess we’ll all have to head back there with our reusable grocery bags between our legs. I also heard that The Dollar Store is doing well. I’m not sure I like what that says about us as a people, but I’m happy for The Dollar Store. And have you seen that K-Mart now sells cashmere sweaters? K-Mart is telling us that if we want a cashmere sweater, we have to swallow our pride and buy it at K-Mart. It’s about time, don’t you think? Candy companies are also projected to do well in spite of a bad economy. This explains my nostalgic revering and hoarding of candy as a kid. I guess when money is tight and no one can afford the mani/pedis, we still like to treat ourselves to some candy. And believe me, it IS a treat. To candy!
RSS Feed
Lisa says: Candy AND PVC pipe rocking chairs AND good customer service?! What's the downside?!
Kristy says: NO PAINTED WOOD CRAFTS OF THE B's?????? Blasphemy!
Rachel says: I actually really like Wal-Mart, but I will NOT shop at K-Mart even though it is my closest multi-purpose store. I don't really see my future adorned with yarn, though. I guess the recession hasn't hit that close to home just yet.
Emily says: I've decided my current weight challenge owes its origins in large part to the years when food was the only "indulgence" I could afford. That, and I have the most sedentary job on the planet. And I hate exercising.