TheGarcipian (99.21)

Ding! Dong! The Market Bell Tolls For Thee

December 29, 2008 – Comments (5) | RELATED TICKERS: CHE , E , RS

Much like Dickens’ Ghosts of Christmas, thoughts of our Past, Present and Future Economic Woes seem to descend upon us at the end of a calendar year. How you respond to these “ghosts” will tell you a great deal about yourself. Are you a “Scrooge” or a spendthrift? Are you worried about the future, completely cavalier about it, or just plain numb? It’s hard to imagine that the Ghost of Markets Past could conspire so dreadfully with the Ghost of Markets Present to drop the DJIA by 36% from the year’s start, but the warning signs were there to read, as several bloggers & pitch writers on CAPS have shown. While I acted somewhat prudently and protected most of my 401k, I wish I’d acted more prudently and with more confidence in protecting my taxable accounts better. Oh well, it gives me something to aspire to in 2009.

Whether you’re in the “yacht club” or (like me) in the “squat club”, I think you’ll appreciate this little video.  Better late than never for these holidays, it still reminds me that there is much work to be done (and I believe more pain to come), but at the same time, it reminds me that there are other things to focus on as well: investing, while important, is not everything.

I wish each of you CAPS members and Motley Fool readers the very best of holiday times with your friends and families, and that 2009 is kinder & gentler to us all. Here’s wishing you a Healthy, Happy & Prosperous New Year (in that order)!

Cheers and Fool On,
--Gar