Everywhere I go, everyone I speak with, it seems is in need. I met a neighbour at the post office today. She and her husband have a wonderful family and an acreage on the next range road over. She is a delightful person, as is her husband and their children are some of the most pleasant and well behaved young men I have met. But, to my surprise, they are not doing so well right now either. They are actually thinking of abandoning their business and shutting the doors to go live elsewhere. I don't recall which country he is from, but she is South African, I think, so moving long distances is not formidable to them, or moving at all. But these are two beautiful people whom would have been the last ones I would think were feeling the recession. And who isn't?
In the late afternoon, I called a young friend who sometimes is gracious enough to help me do tasks that are tough for one person. He came right away to wrangle and move the last 5 sheep, along with his mother, whom I met for the first time. She is from Newfoundland and lives in Elk Point. She and her husband, like so many east coasters, came for work in the oil patch. I do believe he is still employed there and so is this young man. They are fortunate, because thousands are not. Yes, thousands.
The school classes have half the students they were projected for. Who knew the recession would result in a mass exodus of individuals and families? They had to leave or starve. Many went back home because, as they said, " If we are going to be unemployed, we might as well be sitting at home." The young man's mother absolutely hates this area, finds it terribly unfriendly and hostile even. What? So does my friend, who is from Ontario. Are the only people who love it here originally from here? Why is it the newcomers feel so abandoned and left out? That is not how it should be and in times of need, we are going to have to band together as one.
In times of need...yes, as in now. Everyone is suffering. Many want to move, but the low price of real estate is prohibitive and they are sitting still, or trying to. Not everyone is as fortunate as my friend to be in the position to close the doors and go elsewhere until the economy changes. What if it doesn't change? What if this is the beginning of a long, long state of downfall? What if we suddenly have to rely on one another and learn to share and be nice? In times of need, people get desperate and they do crazy things that in a normal state of mind, they would likely never do.
So, the thefts of vehicles and other large, valuable items is way up. People have stolen hay out of fields, with the price of hay over triple what it was just last year. Even livestock are being wrenched from their pastures and loaded on trailers in the dark of the night. Oh oh. Will it be so bad that we will have to fight to protect what is ours? Is it that way already? Lots of questions arise, but there are no answers. The question most are wondering now, is when the recession will end. Will it become a depression, not just a recession and how will they survive? City people are in the worst situations. They do not have land to grow gardens or keep small livestock and totally depend on the services for food. That is bad. Is it all doom and gloom?
I guess we won't know the answers to any of these questions for a long time. Yes, Canada has made a drastic change in the government recently, however; large scale changes take time to implement, if there will be any. We are at the mercy of authorities now. At least most are. Those who cannot pay their utilities will be cold this winter. I surely hope that the area does not get to that state. Please put it in your mind to see how you can help change occur and help the economy recover. I am not sure any of us can do much, but I am trying to manage better here on my little farm. It will be a winter of eating meat and potatoes, because I grew plenty and the freezers are full of meat, but luxury items will have to wait. For those of you suffering due to job loss or a forced change, what will you do to cope? God bless all of us! Let's pray the Creator find a way to keep us all from freezing and have food on the table this winter. And if you do not pray, well, then at least put good thoughts out to the universe for those who have mouths to feed and no way to do it. Thank you. Thank you all.
In the late afternoon, I called a young friend who sometimes is gracious enough to help me do tasks that are tough for one person. He came right away to wrangle and move the last 5 sheep, along with his mother, whom I met for the first time. She is from Newfoundland and lives in Elk Point. She and her husband, like so many east coasters, came for work in the oil patch. I do believe he is still employed there and so is this young man. They are fortunate, because thousands are not. Yes, thousands.
The school classes have half the students they were projected for. Who knew the recession would result in a mass exodus of individuals and families? They had to leave or starve. Many went back home because, as they said, " If we are going to be unemployed, we might as well be sitting at home." The young man's mother absolutely hates this area, finds it terribly unfriendly and hostile even. What? So does my friend, who is from Ontario. Are the only people who love it here originally from here? Why is it the newcomers feel so abandoned and left out? That is not how it should be and in times of need, we are going to have to band together as one.
In times of need...yes, as in now. Everyone is suffering. Many want to move, but the low price of real estate is prohibitive and they are sitting still, or trying to. Not everyone is as fortunate as my friend to be in the position to close the doors and go elsewhere until the economy changes. What if it doesn't change? What if this is the beginning of a long, long state of downfall? What if we suddenly have to rely on one another and learn to share and be nice? In times of need, people get desperate and they do crazy things that in a normal state of mind, they would likely never do.
So, the thefts of vehicles and other large, valuable items is way up. People have stolen hay out of fields, with the price of hay over triple what it was just last year. Even livestock are being wrenched from their pastures and loaded on trailers in the dark of the night. Oh oh. Will it be so bad that we will have to fight to protect what is ours? Is it that way already? Lots of questions arise, but there are no answers. The question most are wondering now, is when the recession will end. Will it become a depression, not just a recession and how will they survive? City people are in the worst situations. They do not have land to grow gardens or keep small livestock and totally depend on the services for food. That is bad. Is it all doom and gloom?
I guess we won't know the answers to any of these questions for a long time. Yes, Canada has made a drastic change in the government recently, however; large scale changes take time to implement, if there will be any. We are at the mercy of authorities now. At least most are. Those who cannot pay their utilities will be cold this winter. I surely hope that the area does not get to that state. Please put it in your mind to see how you can help change occur and help the economy recover. I am not sure any of us can do much, but I am trying to manage better here on my little farm. It will be a winter of eating meat and potatoes, because I grew plenty and the freezers are full of meat, but luxury items will have to wait. For those of you suffering due to job loss or a forced change, what will you do to cope? God bless all of us! Let's pray the Creator find a way to keep us all from freezing and have food on the table this winter. And if you do not pray, well, then at least put good thoughts out to the universe for those who have mouths to feed and no way to do it. Thank you. Thank you all.
At the close of this day, my heart is heavy with unknowing. May we all have what we need.
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