Economists can’t agree on whether or not we’re in a recession. Some are predicting doomsday, while stock brokers are advising investors to buy now.  Financial analysis is far too sophisticated for me to understand.  What I do know is that in this small midwestern college town, businesses are slip sliding away.

Let’s start with the past month. We called and ordered new window blinds to shut out the sunlight glaring in my husband’s failing eyesight.  We chose to buy from a  business that had been around for a quarter of a century.  But when it came time to deliver the blinds, we were informed they’re going out of business at the end of the year.  Unfortunately, the remote control didn’t work on the motorized roller  blinds.  Now, we are waiting for a working remote.  And have just been informed it won’t be in until sometime in January  They wanted us to pay the bill now, but we’re waiting until we get what we ordered.

.A few weeks ago, we bought all new tires for our aging SUV.  Several days later, we found the tire pressure down on the left front  tire.  Asked the dealer what was wrong, and they shrugged and simply put more air in the tire.  It went down a week later.  They wanted us to stay and look for a nail in the tire, but we were low on time, so just got a refill on the air.  The next week, the pressure went down again. This time, they grudgingly agreed to an inspection and found a leaky valve, which they had overlooked when installing the new tires.  I suspect this dealership is understaffed and seeing a drop in new business. It won’t surprise me if they either change hands or simply slip slide  away in the coming year.

. Lost my eye glasses, then accidentally found them after we stepped on them under the table.  Called the hospital optical shop which has been in here over 35 years.  Said they’re going out of business, but offered to fix my glasses.  Which they did, free of charge.  So sorry the people there will lose their jobs next year.

Took my prescription to one of those bargain  optical companies in a strip mall for a pair of back up bifocals. There was one person waiting on folks.  While he checked my face to fit my glasses, he stopped to wait on other customers who were making new appointments.  Then, he left  again to help someone at the desk fill out some paperwork. Finally, finished the measurements, and  said the glasses would be ready the next day. But they weren’t, which I found out after driving across town to pick them up.  Although I’ve already paid for them, they can’t tell me when they will be ready because the person in the lab is sick, and their equipment for grinding out glasses is broken down.

These experiences have all taken place within a months’ time.  I can’t remember anything like this in my lifetime.  I have to believe that our economy isn’t as healthy as the politicians would like us to believe. How many more businesses will slip slide away next year?