For those of you who may have come to expect news of the absurd in my columns, I feel compelled to inform you up front that this one won't fall into that category. Like everyone else, I occasionally have to deal with the realities of life and their consequences. I beg your kind indulgence as I get a little introspective.

Before joining The T&D on a full-time basis back in August I worked as a part-time correspondent for almost eight months. Being hired was a Godsend for me and my wife as it meant I was finally pulling down a regular paycheck for the first time since the end of 2007. Like many others, I was affected by the downturn in the economy. The freelance gig I had dried up and I entered the ranks of the underemployed.

Although limping along financially in a tough economy is nothing new for me, this recent episode was harder to swallow for two reasons: This was the first time it had happened in my ten-year marriage. I can hack the hard times more easily if it's just me but scrounging around is tougher on the psyche when you have another person depending on you. Fortunately for us, my wife landed a job in January 2008 following four months of unemployment. It still wasn't enough but it was a start.

Secondly the experience made me acutely aware of the situation for people with far less than me. Anyone who knows me well can testify to what a soft touch I am when it comes to people in trouble especially over the necessities of life. Even when we really couldn't afford it my wife and I tried to do what little we could to help others during this time.

In December management and staff of The T&D held their annual Christmas dinner. While the people who have been working at this publication for five, 10, 30 and even 50 years were honored I found myself thinking back to a conversation with Trudy earlier in the month in which she asked me if I thought I would be getting a Christmas bonus. I told her it was not likely since newspapers have to try and stay operational in a down economy, too.

What happened next really amazed me because I'm usually not this deep. I said this year my Christmas present was that I had a job and my Christmas bonus was that I truly liked that job and the people with whom I work. We agreed having that peace of mind was a great gift, indeed.

As much as we may want to change the bad economy--and many I've met do--individually we can't help everyone. But we can always help out someone and help make their world a little brighter. It will take all of us pulling together to get through this. Let me just state for the record that I'm willing to pick up my piece of that rope and start pulling.

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