I’ve been struggling for several days to write something newsworthy for the Mayor’s Corner.
I’ve been bummed by the fact that the village has lost three businesses this spring. I’ve been so keen on Franklin’s post pandemic prospects that I wasn’t prepared for this type of setback. This, coupled with unsettling world news such as the battles in the Ukraine and the ongoing slaughter of innocent adults and children in this country, has made it difficult for me to write anything that might bolster confidence in the prospect of brighter days to come.
Then two days ago, someone posted the following on Facebook:
“So today I stopped and filled up my car and was thankful. Thankful that I have a car. Thankful that I have money to buy gas. Thankful that there are no warplanes flying over me. Thankful that I will be eating soon. Thankful that all my loved ones are safe and sound. Thankful that I live in a country where I have the freedom to do so many things. Thankful that the air I breathe is not filled with smoke and gunpowder. Thankful that I will sleep in silence and wake up to a beautiful day. I think it’s time that we all become a lot more thankful and definitely more grateful.”
By reading this simple paragraph, I was able to put things back into perspective and recapture the sense of optimism needed to combat a bit of disappointing news. I reposted this and shared it with my Facebook friends. It was well received by most and was then shared onward. Unfortunately, there were others so entrenched in their respective political (or otherwise) positions that this was perceived as a threat – that by allowing themselves to adopt a posture of thankfulness, they would somehow betray their cause.
That’s their choice, of course.
Today, I talked with Mark Burgin and he stated that by the time this issue of the Franklin Register hits the streets, Burgin’s Auto will be under new ownership. I also talked with Meg Lavalette (owner of the brick buildings on Main Street) recently and she informed me that there will be a new business setting up in the back of the complex and that there will be wellness activities in the upstairs of one of the buildings. The owners of Kabinett & Kammer are tastefully restoring the storefront of their building, and new owner Chris Downin is removing the unsightly yew trees from in front of his building, located next to Sarah’s Classic Cuts. I’m certainly grateful for these new developments.
We’re all holding our breaths as we watch the stock market downturn, increasing gas and heating fuel prices, higher interest rates, and a myriad of other challenges attached to inflation. But this is life. We can cry about it, or we can batten down the hatches and deal with it.
Originally published in the Summer 2022 issue of the New Franklin Register