John Kitsco

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Yes, good fortune perhaps to have grown up in the 40's and 50's,
not as difficult a time as the 30's when Mom and Dad married.
Dad used the expression: Make Do! - or - Do Without!
And I cannot recall credit cards or color television until in my
upper teens. And there was not to be found - A Walmart Store!
Sure, the neighborhood hardware and small grocery shops but
not the temptation of all the goodies we have now in big box shops, huge strip malls and enclosed malls. Those things simply
did not exist. I remember the lovely wooden walks and fresh
water from the well, not from a plastic bottle. The ice man brought a block of ice from time to time to put in the ice-box
and it was a country style life with the neighbors having some
chickens and a cow.  The garden was so very important and it
received a lot of attention from everyone in the family. Dad made some of the finest sauerkraut , we had bags and bags of
potatoes in the autumn. Red potatoes and regular potatoes. Plenty of tomatoes. And nothing like fresh corn and peas and beans plus Mom canning the pickles, lots and lots of pickles.

Flash forward. Easy credit. People buying cars and homes with
very little money down. Its now the 70's and 80's and 90's and
times appear not too bad. Walmarts are sprouting faster than
weeds and mail does not go the long slow route, its right there
on the computer. Just so very much has changed. And is it all for the good? Well, look what happened in the U.S. and Canada.
And in many other parts of the world. Money problems. Property
values going down. Vehicles taken back to the dealer. And many
 folks facing bankruptcy.

It has been said that economy-wide reduction in debt levels
normally starts about two years after a crisis erupts. This kind
of turmoil started back in the 30's. And a crisis can continue
up to seven years or more. Tighten your belts. Get ready for
a continued ride of uncertainty. Grow as much as you can of
your own food and maybe use Dad's formula, Make Do or
Do without. It worked before, it can work now.

It is said we have higher than normal debt levels here in Canada
but I think we are very much influenced by our neighbor- the U.S. down south. How can we not be. Such great products and offers and temptations. But perhaps with the health issues appearing more positive in the U.S. we'll see a healthier people
and healthier economy. Maybe. Hopefully. In the meantime,
How Do I Love Thee Walmart? Can I really really save all that
you say or am I just living in dreamsville and hoping by some magic this mess we have in our world just might turn out okay.
Well, at least what did not grow well I can get at Walmart -
Maybe?