The economy is scaring me

By Michael Thompson

Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008 | 10:04 a.m.

In the past two weeks, my family has gone about its daily activities with the underlying feeling that something is just not right. We’ve dined at some of our favorite restaurants, gone to the car wash, done some birthday shopping at the mall, and even attended the Barrett-Jackson car auction at Mandalay Bay.

Everywhere has felt just a little bit empty. In fact, in each of these settings, I was reminded of old saying my mom used to use: “You could have shot off a cannon in there and not hit anyone.”

But it is not until you talk to people in business that you start hearing the fear in the voices.

After a weekend trip to Utah’s red dirt, I ran into the local Terrible Herbst’s carwash and talked with to an attendant about the state of the economy. He told me he’s seen fewer people washing their vehicles – and fewer tips, too.

Even at our business -- our children’s school and daycare -- almost weekly, we are hearing from parents about their struggles. Some have lost their jobs completely; some full-time employees have been moved to four-day work weeks; some part-time employees working about 25 hours a week have been cut to 15.

At least I know I am not alone in wishing that this, too, shall pass.