Bread 'n Gravy

by David G. Woolley

*Editor's Note: We here at the Top of the Morning staff know we posted an economy-related post last week, but continued news on the subject inspired today's Bread 'n Gravy post by author David G. Woolley. Be sure to stop back later this week for a post titled Artificial Sugar. Its another nutrition post back by popular demand from off line requests. And also this week, Lehi's 600 Year Prophecy. Until then, Top of the Morning to you.

Its been a while. When was the last time a falling stock market, tumbling home values and a forecasted recession compelled you to be thankful? 401K losses. Eroding investments. High fuel and food costs. Funny how difficult times focus your attention on more important matters. For nearly two decades we've been so busy chasing our fortunes, we never stopped to count our blessings. Until now. Its like Boyd K. Packer said on October 12th, 2008: A wonderful time is coming. It won't be easy and it's not going to be short. Don't be afraid. A great catastrophe is coming. That's what it will take to turn our hearts to the Lord. And we will learn from it.

Cutting back the household budget? Looking for ways to save money? You're not the only one. Americans are eating out less. National grocery chain Kroger's is offering new shoppers training in a lost art: Cooking. Bloggers are blogging about their new-found cooking skills. For many Americans eating out was the norm until the recent turn of economic events sent millions looking for an alternative to Chiles, Olive Garden and our favorite here at Top of the Morning, Cafe Rio.

A recent survey of housing construction confirmed that over the past fifteen years the size of kitchen construction has shrunk over sixty percent. Why build a large kitchen when you're not going to use it? That mentality is changing. Not the construction of new kitchens. Just the need for more home-cooking space.

Americans are coming home for supper in record numbers. And they're liking it. Who knows. Bad economic times may be just what Boyd K. Packer was talking about when he called the recent downturn "wonderful".

We inherited a can-do, family values ethic from our depression era parents, grandparents and great grandparents. So if the kids are thumbing their nose at less variety in the pantry or the taste of your home cooked entrees, tell 'em to be thankful for what they've got, pass 'em the gravy and teach 'em the lyrics to this depression era Grandpa Jones song. At our house we sang it through the good times of the past two decades in remembrance of worse times. Now we sing it in memory of better times. Who knows. It may just make a comeback in the music charts. Our Top of the Morning music tracker votes Bread 'n Gravy the number one "sleeper" single of 2008.

On Monday we have bread 'n gravy
On Tuesday it's gravy 'n bread
Wednesday and Thursday it's gravy on toast
But that's nothing but gravy on bread

On Friday it's rye bread 'n gravy
Saturday whole wheat instead
But Sunday's a treat, 'cause whenever we eat
We have gravy! (so nutritious)
Gravy! (so delicious)
Gravy! Without any bread.

These are wonderful times. Enjoy the downturn and pass the gravy.

__________________________
Join author David G. Woolley at his Promised Land Website.