Cheer up, things could be worse.
My mom, who was a year old when the stock market crashed in 1929, admonished us with these words often while we were growing up.
The country could use some cheering up.
Those of us reporting on the state of the economy are especially adept at pointing out omens of gloom and doom. The Associated Press labels all stories about the financial situation as “meltdown.” If that’s your perspective, no wonder people are digging bunkers and stocking up on canned goods.
With my mother’s sense of optimism and my journalistic sense of fairness, I feel compelled to point out signs of hope on the economic horizon.
Give me a minute here. I’m sure I can find something.
Of course! Gas prices are down. The most important of economic indicators — my checkbook balance — depends a lot more on the price at the pump than the direction of the Dow, so this is definitely a bright spot.
It’s unfortunate that the global economy had to nosedive to make it affordable to cross the Pony Express Bridge, but we’ll take it. Presumably, all those consumer products that went up with fuel prices will be coming back down, as well.
Gas prices are plunging just in time for holiday shopping and retailers have got to be feeling good about that. Stores looking to move some merchandise are expected to be offering some deep discounts. Yes, Virginia, there will be a Christmas, after all.
Another bit of good news just showed up in my inbox. Spammers used to send junk mail announcing lottery results. Now they proclaim that you qualified for a loan. These days, getting a loan seems just as good — and rare — as winning the lottery.
A member of the board of directors of the St. Joseph Area Chamber of Commerce said they expect to make a couple of new business announcements after the first of the years.
One of the brightest spots I’ve seen recently is on Mitchell Avenue. The neon sign pointing to the Pony Express Museum was a thing of beauty on a dreary October morning recently.
At first, I thought the sign was a little deceiving because it seems to indicate you can find a night’s lodging there. It’s still likely visitors will walk up to the museum and ask for a room key.
But the renovated sign adds so much to the intersection, it was definitely worth it. With the loft apartments opening up in the nearby Mead factory, it could bring a whole new night life to the neighborhood.
With fuel prices dropping, it would be worth the drive some night to go see the Pony Express sign.
