Recession Diary: Pick your metaphor

 

SKOKIE, Ill., Sept. 21 (UPI) -- Our daughter's do-it-yourself wedding occurred 10 weeks ago. We're all still pinching ourselves -- and the families continue to congratulate each other -- over the magical event. Although we're hardly objective, we all agree it was the most fun, joyful, glorious wedding ever.

The wedding was a shot in the arm, a rejuvenating oasis in the desert of our economic downturn, a balloon soaring us above our troubles -- pick your favorite metaphor. We're still flying high and hope we never touch earth.

Time passes, however, and the realities of our situation brutally push their way in; we have lost a little altitude. So when I saw an opportunity to regain some height, I seized it.

A close friend coming up on a milestone birthday mentioned weeks earlier she planned to throw herself a party. Based on our history with her, I considered it a fait accompli: She has hosted many gatherings, including two birthday parties for me.

Ten days before her birthday, I suddenly realized she'd said nothing more about it. When I inquired, she said, sadly, she couldn't do it.

I knew in a flash we must throw a party for her. It would make her happy and would lift us up above the clouds again.

I quickly devised a menu that would be tasty, colorful, easy, freezable, and -- most importantly -- inexpensive. Between Fred and me, it seems we remember the cost of almost every item our various cut-rate stores carry, and I stand in respectful awe of Fred's ability to calculate at lightning speed the relative prices per ounce of comparable products. Thus, I took care to be unfailingly accurate in my calculations when presenting the party idea to him.

By limiting our friend's choice of relatives and friends to 18 people, we could pull off this gathering for around $50. I justified the expense by figuring one session of yakking about my woes on a shrink's couch would cost much more and be far less therapeutic.

When Fred enthusiastically OK'd the idea, I excitedly called our friend. Of course she said no, but after arguing for awhile, I pulled out the heavy artillery: The party and its preparation would be that welcome shot in the arm -- more for us than for her. She finally surrendered.

Fred maintains he enjoys grocery shopping. More likely he's afraid that if I shop, I'll deviate from my list -- even though it's been almost a year since I bought anything impulsively. But if he wants the drudgery of shopping, he can have it.

By cooking and freezing a little each day, everything got done and I believe everyone had a lovely evening. I always cook enough for a platoon to have leftovers -- my favorite food.

Again, I had to fight ferociously to convince our friend to take home some leftovers. Even though I finally wore her down and won, Fred and I still had enough for several meals for ourselves. Leftover food: scrumptious. Not having to cook for several days: priceless.

(Editor's note: Unlike past recessions, the current downturn has taken a significant toll on sectors of the economy virtually unscathed by earlier economic crises. This is the latest in a series on one family's struggle.)