In severe economic times, people cope with the associated stress in many ways. It’s been reported that during the Great Depression of the 1930’s – a time without TV – movie theatres played host to large audiences. So did taverns.
Although the Bridgewater area may not have been hit as hard as other parts of the country where mind-numbing pools of layoffs have plagued the manufacturing sector, it’s still bad enough. Financial institutions in New Jersey and New York are laying off tons of workers.
If messages emanating from the White House are to be taken seriously, “...it’s going to get worse before it gets better.” As if it takes a President to remind us of what we already know!
My own anecdotal observation of how some people are coping in this anemic economic climate is simple: People just want to get away from it. One method is to soothe ourselves as best we can. In Bridgewater, a Sunday afternoon trip to the Bridgewater Commons Mall seems to confirm that.
On an off-season Sunday shopping day, the most crowded spot was the third level of the newly-renovated food court. Every concession was taking orders and dishing out the eats, as patrons waited their turn in long lines.
Down below, at ground level near the atrium, each of the four stations of the Massage Mob concession was taken: Customers were getting the stress kneaded out of their muscles.
Next: chocolate. It seems that people also resort to that luscious confection in times like these. Did you know that Hershey’s has increased its sales and profits for both the fourth quarter and full year of 2008?
The company is also projecting a modest sales increase for 2009. Gone are the 99¢ promotions for a 4.25 ounce bar of Hershey’s Dark Chocolate at CVS. It’s now selling for a steady $1.99. Please, CVS, make a liar out of me.
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