The Recession Isn't Over Yet

Ten years ago, my wonderful, talented husband passed all four parts of the Colorado CPA exam on the first try. He has fifteen years of accounting experience, both in general accounting and in the home building and construction industries. He has worked as a controller, managing entire accounting departments.

He works very well with others, and is a great motivator, as shown by his experience as a scoutmaster for six years, helping teenaged boys achieve rank advancements and progress to Eagle Scouts. While he is no longer a scout master, he continues to mentor the boys that were in his troop.

He has experience managing adults as well; he served as president of our HOA board for several years, and was responsible for major renovations including replacing the decrepit sprinkler system as well as replacing several hail damaged roofs.

He most recently helped with the planning of a youth trek, researching and procuring mementos for over 100 teenagers to help them remember the experience (bandanas, journals, pens, and remembrance name cards). While on the trek, he learned the names (and faces) of every single youth in the group.


Two years ago, he went back to school to get his MBA and besides earning the degree in the 11 month intensive program, he also received a special award for "demonstrating the professionalism, personal growth and civic responsibility that exemplifies the spirit and ethos of the ...program."

He is very good with computers and programs. He knows Microsoft Excel inside and out; in fact, in his free time, he is writing a book for Excel users, that contains every shortcut and formula possible in the program. He learns new software programs very quickly, and has even learned to use programs as complex as Microsoft Access to build databases.

And yet, with all these skills and talents, as I type this he is working for a friend who owns a "rent to own" store, moving furniture, putting fliers on peoples' doors, and vacuuming the shop. This is not because he hasn't been searching diligently for a better job, because he has been searching for almost an entire year now, since before he graduated. He just hasn't found anyone who appreciates his talents and skills enough to hire him yet.

I keep reading articles in newspapers that refer to a "recovery". For months I've been hearing that the recession is ending, that things are looking up. I don't believe it yet. For me, the recession won't be over until Steven has a good job again. The recession won't be over until Steven is working in a permanent job where he feels valued and appreciated for the talents and skills that he has to offer.

The recession won't be over for us until I can afford to go to the store and buy something I don't need, just for the fun of it. The recession won't be over for us until we can go out to eat, or pick up a pizza "just because", and not only for a major celebration. The recession won't be over for us until we have enough of a regular income that we can think about buying a second car again. The recession won't be over until I can pay $50/child school registration fees without wincing.

When we moved into our three bedroom condo ten years ago, we only planned to stay here 5 years at the most. When we have enough money saved up again that we can think about moving, about looking for a house where we'd have our own yard and own all four walls and maybe even a basement, that will be the moment that I'll know that the recession is over; that our family is recovering from the financial slump we've been in for the last few years.