Get Happy With It!
By the People . . . For the People Serving Central Connecticut www.peoplespressnews.com Wallingford Flower
& Gift Shoppe
190 Center Street. 203.265.1514 December 2008 • Volume 9, Issue 110
Photo Art & Story By Ernie Larsen
A season for sharing…..2008 Christmas - by the time you read this it will be just a couple of weeks away; doesn't it seem that the advertising or the hype for the season started a lot earlier this year? I remember while shopping at a local chain pharmacy seeing Christmas items on the shelves just after Labor Day - that's the first week in September folks, ridiculous in my mind. Anyway, that's neither here nor there; this was long before the government's generous bailout of Wall Street and the announcement of companies closing with the expectation of hundreds of thousands of jobs being eliminated. And of course our new President, wouldn't want to be him with all those big decisions to make, you know, what kind of dog to get the kids and all that truly important stuff. Absurd what the press focuses on when the economy is going to hell in a hand basket. By the way, what is a hand basket? And now the economy - you have to watch where you are walking these days, don't want the stock market to fall on you! Well, at least there was a little glimmer of hope this week when Barry made some Cabinet/Department head announcements and the stock market had a brief rally. But the doom and gloom is sort of overtaking the joy this season should be radiating. With many business cutting back and the whole scenario in general how can anyone be happy. I think you just have to put everything aside and keep a positive attitude. Well, that's just me, hope others are thinking the same way. Give it a shot, it wouldn't hurt. Getting back to what I feel is pertinent and reality, those who have lost or are going to lose their jobs; really no way to celebrate the holidays. I can't imagine being in that situation during this season. I have had personal experience in the job loss area, a couple of places where I was employed went under whilst I was employed; never thought it would happen - the most notable being The International Silver Company, once Meriden's largest employer and the premier manufacturer of silver flatware and hollowware in the world. And the place I ended up after that, after working there 10 years they sold out and I had a chance to move to Rhode Island or hit the bricks; bricks it was. Fortunately my spouse was employed and I made do, for several years, with some freelancing until I was offered a full time position. So I truly can relate to someone who is or is about to lose their position, many may receive some type of severance package, however the stigma of job loss certainly outweighs any monetary compensation that may accompany the pink slip. Speaking of pink slips, I never received anything pink in my walking papers - wonder where that came from? If it is a mass closing, you might feel somewhat relieved that you weren't singled out, that feeling may last for a couple of days and then you realize you aren't going back to work. You are now a statistic and like many others in the job market. So what does all this have to do with the holidays, nothing really, however I think that we all should realize that if we are in a stable employment, family situation, we should take the time out of this all too extended season to share our good fortune, even a small amount, with others. A good way to help others is to support a local food kitchen, they provide meals all year to those
who do not have the means to fend for themselves….this is an ongoing program so the feeling you get by giving will offer a great feeling for some time. This is my choice for a donation this year; while it is my first venture into this sort of thing I called the director and asked what I could do, I had an idea and he thought it was fine. And after meeting with this enthusiastic group I realized they need donations all year round and as long as I'm able I'm going to try and donate on a regular basis, not just during the holidays. Then there are the local organizations serving holiday dinners on Thanksgiving and Christmas my daughter and I volunteered for a few years at the local YMCA and the last time the vols almost outnumbered those dining; they always could use either food or monetary donations. But do call to see what they specifically need, no use donating something that will not be used. We also used to bring holiday dinner leftovers to the local homeless shelter until they could not accept them due to health regulations. There are ample opportunities for giving - check with the shelter, used clothing is always in demand, especially in the winter, outerwear is a much needed item. Whatever you choose to do, do something! The opportunity to give is endless; almost every nonprofit organization runs on a shoestring and the holiday season taxes their resources to the limit. Another option, churches often collect non-perishable food to give to families who may need to supplement their pantries - a call to a rectory or church office may set you on the right track. And if all else fails, cash certainly is always a welcome alternative. If you have the means, consider sharing, you never know when you may be the recipient of someone else's largess. Do you think the foot soldiers working at Lehman Brothers or Bear Stearns ever thought they'd be on the unemployment lines this holiday season? Not for a minute and now the "generals" who got themselves into this mess are showered with billions in bailout cash, what gives? And closer to home, DHL Express, a local high end appliance distributor, Circuit City and what next? I saw news story about SPAM (the luncheon meat) this week - I know it hasn't gotten that bad but that's the way some people think, doom and gloom touting this low cost food…sort of silly, I thought, but the economy is predicted to get worse before it gets better. Keeping a positive vibe is certainly better than looking on the down side with such nonsensical news stories. Think positively, keep smiling and have a happy thought for everyone you come in contact with. Please, think outside the box this holiday - while you gather in the convivial company of friends and family, if you are able, why not help provide someone in a situation that may not be of their own doing experience a holiday that will take their mind off their circumstances, if only for a few hours. You can make a difference.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year