Where is the bottom???

So not to be a downer... but this whole crashing economy thing is really starting to get scary. I know I am very fortunate for many reasons, the biggest being that I am young and don't have a family to support or a 40 year retirement fund that is dwindling. But, I do have to say being young doesn't come without it's negatives as well and it certainly does not come with immunity to what is going on around us. Although I have been aware of what is going with the recession and have attempted to cut back and be cautious of my spending, up until now I have not been directly effected. Yesterday was a pretty big shock to my world as the day started with a meeting from one of our superiors preparing us for the idea that our office may no longer be in the comfortable position it was nearly a month ago. The day continued as people talked cautiously about what they thought may or may not be coming our way. Then at the end of the day a quick staff meeting was called where it was announced that 8 of our co-workers were no longer with us. I felt a combination of shock, guilt and fear. I have never been through something like this as many of my older co-workers have and I was pretty unequipped to deal with it.

All in all, we have to keep moving forward. My biggest fear is not knowing where the bottom of this downfall is and if things keep going the way they are I think it is pretty safe to say that no one is out of the woods yet. As for now- I am making some adjustments to be more prepared for the worst, but I am also counting my blessings and looking forward to good news. Things have to improve eventually, at least that is what history tells us.

This is an interesting map that I came across today that illustrates how people across the country are being effected by this crazy thing. It is hard to understand what is happening if it hasn't hit close to you- but as you can see this is serious, and it is everywhere.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/03/03/us/20090303_LEONHARDT.html