Ho Ho Flippin' Ho

Santa came by the other night and dropped all sorts of packages on my doorstep. I imagine he left the same sort of packages on the stoops of others involved in this crazy business. What a haul!

• I opened the big one with the black wrapping paper first. Inside was a 52" Economic Uncertainty Indicator, with the optional Depression Alert klaxon. Peachy--I've never had one of those.
• There was a package that was shaped a little like a knife. It turned out to be the Do-it-Yourself Hari Kari Kit, with step-by-step instructions for how to exit the Incentive Business.
• Then there was the one with red spots--could that be blood?. I guess Santa figured I needed a copy of "Why Retail is in the Crapper and Why That's Bad for you". Doesn't he read my blog? I covered this months ago...
• The soft one turned out to be a Budget Sweater. Unfortunately, it was too small for me--I guess it shrunk.

I was about to be profoundly depressed when I saw the little one-it was so small I almost missed it. It was beige, and fuzzy, and when I opened it I was almost blinded by the way light reflected off of it.

It took me a few minutes but I realized what Santa had left--It was the Hope Diamond, or at least a Diamond of Hope. And at that moment I was filled with the Spirit of the Market--that no matter how bad things look the market will still be there. That the need for companies to reward and recognize will never go away.

I vowed to never use the other gifts Santa left--I'm sure he meant well but in the end these gifts don't appeal to me. I'm gonna hold the Diamond of Hope and let the brilliance of the Market Spirit illuminate my path for 2009 and beyond.

Happy Holidays--see you next year...


Pete