Just an observation.  A few days ago as I was running errands I perceived something that I think, despite these unstable times, many of us take for granted.  As I stood in a checkout line, I overheard the cashier at the next register over apologize to the young woman who was standing in her line and tell her she could just push her cart (which contained a few cans of vegetables and one or two other items) over to the side.  It took only a glance to understand that for some reason the WIC checks the woman had tried to pay with could not be accepted.  She looked dejected as she pushed the cart to the side and walked slowly out of the store.  By the time it occurred to me to put her few things on my bill, she had left the store.  Amazingly enough, as my things were being rung up by my cashier, I overheard the same cashier in the next line instruct the very next customer in her line on how to sign her WIC checks over.  I guess my thought was, here were two average looking individuals who didn't look like the fringe of society, using government assistance to get by.  So I began to think about how many people I know, and beyond that, how many "ordinary" everyday people I pass on the street who seem to be doing fine, but are just trying to make ends meet and possibly doing their best to keep up the appearance of normalcy.  Seems to me, as I observe people when I'm out and about, that I see more of them mulling over their carts calculators in hand, working with a new reality:  a shaky, struggling economy and reduced financial security.  I left that store and stopped for gas, where I noticed a well built, attractive man at the pump across from mine.  Being a healthy, red-blooded young woman, I pumped my gas, watching, hoping he'd turn around so I could see his face.  I found it strange that he didn't once look left or right, just kept his eyes fixed on the numeral display on the pump.  I gave up stalling to get a better look at him and got back into my own vehicle, but as I drove off, I noticed him stop the pump at exactly $5.00.   Then I watched in my mirrors as he slowly got back into his car.  I knew the scenario - been there myself enough times.  At the traffic light I glanced over at the gas station one last time and saw the man finally slowly pull away from the pump.  I found it ironic and profound to witness all of these scenarios at once, and it made me think I might just need to come out of my own bubble, where I focus on my own assortment of problems, from time to time and realize some other people's uncomfortable reality right now.  I like to share and help others when I can, and my empathetic spirit is one of the things I like about myself, but I think I may need to remind myself sometimes to be cognizant of these things, in this climate, especially since they absolutely remind me of how much I have (many of us have) to be thankful for myself.