The Old Joke... It's a Recession when...

Yup. Hard times have arrived.

You've heard the old aphorism: "When your friend loses his job you know you are in a recession. When YOU lose YOUR job, you know you are in a depression."

Yesterday I was notified that my company laid off about 20 people, nine of whom I knew personally. I'm quite sure that the company took this action only after no other options were available, because I know the executive management personally. That doesn't make it any easier.

On the same day, Jennifer called me to tell me that they had closed down her division and that she was laid off.

Today, my friends Jeff and M.J. called to tell me that they had been laid off as well.

3 companies, 2 days, 23 people added to the unemployment rolls.

It's not funny, but I guess I'm glad that I'm only experiencing a recession.