Ominous (Off-Topic) Rumblings

Thankfully, we live in an area that has not yet been visibly hard hit by the economic downturn. But on Sunday our fanciest local liquor store – the only one where I can find really high-end single-malt scotches – closed down after eight years, the first seven of which were quite prosperous. The owner told me that he’s dependent on New Yorkers coming up from the city on weekends for much of his business, and they’re just not coming this year – which has to indicate that other local businesses are suffering as well. Then yesterday, the lady who runs the fish counter at our mega-grocery store advised me to make a big grocery run on Thursday, because the prices are about to go up storewide on Friday. It feels like a wave of disaster just about to hit.