justathought

Circuit City is closing stores and DHL just announced it will be shutting down all of its domestic business. As jobs are disappearing left and right around us, I pick up my local paper and learn that there is on “bright speck” in this growing sea of despair.  What could it possible be?  Spam of course!  It would seem that the good folks of Austin, Minnesota are being kept busy (practically around the clock) with the production of Spam. 

In tough economic times people look to shave expenses wherever possible.  According to the article I read, the sale of Spam is up and “people are realizing it’s not that bad a product”.  Reading the article took me back to a time in my childhood when even this cheap food product (currently selling for approx. $2.40 a can) was beyond my family’s means.  Instead of Spam, we dined on its distant relative — Treat Meat.  While edible, the meat was no great treat.  Having endured such meals of survival as a child (treat meat, fat back, ketchup sandwiches, etc.) I never imagined facing the same possibilities in my adulthood. 

I think the signs are very clear that we are facing horrible economic times down the road.  The only way to survive will be to help each other. Let’s hope that more people are waking up to that reality as they awake to the reality of Spam sandwiches and other cheap ways to keep the family fed.