What a Weekend!
I'm back at my usual post at work today after some travel. Fortunately it was far from the hurricanes that slammed Florida and, before that, Houston. And I won't be anywhere near that hurricane, Jose, churning in the Atlantic now threatening some of the islands already devastated by Irma.
It's incredible and somewhat frightening to simply think of being caught up in one of these natural disasters we call hurricanes, never mind actually be in the midst of it. A former business associate posted some photos from one of the islands hit by Irma where the family owns a home. The destruction was extensive. Now they're waiting for Jose. Homes and businesses that survived could not obtain plywood or even screws and nails to board up in anticipation of the second storm.
Then there are our own family members who own a home on the Southwest coast of Florida, one of the areas hardest hit yesterday by Irma. We have not idea what happened to their home or their neighborhood. But at least they were and remain safe. Thank God.
Meanwhile, here in relative calm, the usual Monday at work beckons. Soon most of us will be at our regular places on the job attending to the details of the tasks at hand that typically mark Mondays. Today, however, isn't just another Monday. Never mind the past weekend's events, but today is also the 16th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. In New York, the usual memorials will proceed. We'll remember that fallen and the heroes. And for those of us who were working in the area when the attacks occurred, the memories, including the emotions, of that day will likely return. While they may be a bit muted after the passage of time, they never have nor will they ever be so distant that they're just another "one of those things." For those of you who's experience of 9/11 consisted of the visual images and sounds of media reports, know that it'ss quite another to see, hear, and smell it all as it was happening. It never leaves you.
As for the markets, after some waffling in the stock market, the futures indicate a big bounce today. No surprise there. If we do get any significant correction in stocks, it's not looking like it will be coming anytime soon. Supposedly Korean war rattling caused last weeks fall in prices. But, as we've noted in the past, most media reports about the cause of price action on any particular day are mostly made up after the fact. They're rarely accurate or in any way informative. The fact remains this stock bull market continues on its upward glide and will until it doesn't anymore. When that time comes, who really knows?
So here's to the start of another week. I hope you're safe from the storms. And if you were there on 9/11, know that our thoughts - and emotions - will likely be in the same neighborhood with yours today.
It's incredible and somewhat frightening to simply think of being caught up in one of these natural disasters we call hurricanes, never mind actually be in the midst of it. A former business associate posted some photos from one of the islands hit by Irma where the family owns a home. The destruction was extensive. Now they're waiting for Jose. Homes and businesses that survived could not obtain plywood or even screws and nails to board up in anticipation of the second storm.
Then there are our own family members who own a home on the Southwest coast of Florida, one of the areas hardest hit yesterday by Irma. We have not idea what happened to their home or their neighborhood. But at least they were and remain safe. Thank God.
Meanwhile, here in relative calm, the usual Monday at work beckons. Soon most of us will be at our regular places on the job attending to the details of the tasks at hand that typically mark Mondays. Today, however, isn't just another Monday. Never mind the past weekend's events, but today is also the 16th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. In New York, the usual memorials will proceed. We'll remember that fallen and the heroes. And for those of us who were working in the area when the attacks occurred, the memories, including the emotions, of that day will likely return. While they may be a bit muted after the passage of time, they never have nor will they ever be so distant that they're just another "one of those things." For those of you who's experience of 9/11 consisted of the visual images and sounds of media reports, know that it'ss quite another to see, hear, and smell it all as it was happening. It never leaves you.
As for the markets, after some waffling in the stock market, the futures indicate a big bounce today. No surprise there. If we do get any significant correction in stocks, it's not looking like it will be coming anytime soon. Supposedly Korean war rattling caused last weeks fall in prices. But, as we've noted in the past, most media reports about the cause of price action on any particular day are mostly made up after the fact. They're rarely accurate or in any way informative. The fact remains this stock bull market continues on its upward glide and will until it doesn't anymore. When that time comes, who really knows?
So here's to the start of another week. I hope you're safe from the storms. And if you were there on 9/11, know that our thoughts - and emotions - will likely be in the same neighborhood with yours today.
Comments