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Show by Dr. Val Welcome to the "Woe is Me" generation Thoreau in his book, "Walden," stated, "The cost of a thing is the amount of...life which is required to be exchanged for it, immediately or in the long run." Time at work spent to acquire goods and services is the real measure of the cost of living. Our free market economy provides more and more goods at cheaper and cheaper prices. Once a goods or service becomes affordable and spreads through society, so-ciety, competition drives the price down. When it becomes commonplace, common-place, its price continues to fall even more. We have a standard of living that would make kings of for-'mer for-'mer years redden with envy. The following facts were taken from a report, "Time Well Spent: The declining real cost of living in America," published by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Using average incomes as a base, a home in 1919 cost 7.8 hours of work time per square foot, a home in 1956 cost 6.5 hours per square foot, and a home in 1996 cost 5.6 hours per square foot. The modern home has air conditioning, central heat, dishwasher, garage, two or more bathrooms and a full range of kitchen appliances. At the turn of the century, Americans spent 72 percent of their incomes for food, shelter and clothing. cloth-ing. Today it is 38 percent. A new car worth $3,038 in 1955 took 1,638 hours of work while a similar 1997 model car valued at $17,995 took 1,365 hours of work. The cars of today have air conditioning, power steering, cruise control, air bags and other features. If you had wanted to take a coast-to-coast flight in 1951, it would have taken you 71 hours to earn it. In 1997, it takes on 16 hours. I could go on and on. We are living liv-ing better and feeling worse. The bounties of living in North America are great. Our cup overflows with material goods and yet there is no bounce in terms of happiness. What is going on? Our attitude toward debt. One answer is that we are living beyond our means. We spend more than we take in. Too many choices, not enough discipline. I heard a saying once that stuck with me: There are two kinds of people - those who understand interest in-terest and those who pay it. Statistics show that rates of credit card debt, consumer debt and bankruptcies are rising sharply. It seems like half our junk mail is for new credit cards or tempting checks that can trigger a loan. This flood of easy credit cards can be as pernicious and enslaving as pornography. pornog-raphy. With the uncertainty of a tightly interdependent world economy, econo-my, it is wise counsel to get out of debt. Needs or wants? A second an 11. 0, Optical umm CTjTO J23BL I Deep Creek Pan Fried H myoA Jumbo Shrimp m WrvsJ $ i i 95 W If xwg -L -L 1 Curry Manor Lunch Hours: Won. - Tri. 189 S. Vernal Ave. Farmer swer lies in our confusion about needs and wants. The engine of our vibrant consumer economy is fueled by super slick advertisements and the entertainment industry. Films and TV portray typical households lavishly furnished with the latest gadgets and gewgaws of technology. technolo-gy. Our ever expanding horizon of wants is widened by the explosion of innovation and awareness. Little by little our wants become necessities. necessi-ties. "You can never get enough of what you don't need because what you don't need never satisfies." -Mary Ellen Edmonds from, "Thoughts for a Bad Hair Day." Comparisons and happiness. Our happiness depends on who we choose to compare ourselves. If we are comparing ourselves with someone some-one more fortunate, then we feel bad. If we compare ourselves with someone less fortunate, then we feel better. The Joneses we are keeping up with no longer live next door. Our new neighbors are electronic guests in our home invited by the magic of television. The lifestyles we see are the lifestyles of the rich and famous. fa-mous. Well,, not entirely. Our children and teenagers actually see how others oth-ers live. They visit their friend's homes and see what amenities they have. Each family may have something some-thing special. Nobody has it all. Children bring home wants and dissatisfaction dis-satisfaction - not from any particular particu-lar lifestyle, but from the combination combina-tion of perks they have seen. They want a lot. An important task of parents is to teach children the value of money, to work for what they get, and to give them a chance to know and serve the less fortunate. This way, they won't cultivate feelings of entitlement enti-tlement into self-centered narcissism. narcis-sism. There won't be nagging feelings feel-ings of being deprived when, in fact, they are most fortunate. Or that something is wrong with them when they don't have what others have. Or living in fear of not having all they want. What about adults? We are susceptible, sus-ceptible, too. What we don't know is that when we get close to the Joneses, they refinance. In the midst of the myriad of affordable af-fordable goods and services, we need to say no to ourselves and to our children. We need to be clear about what we want and need, appreciate ap-preciate what we have and live within our means. No matter how poor we are, or think we are, we become be-come rich when we serve others and look after those less fortunate than ourselves. With a little perspective and good sense, we don't need to join the "woe is me" generation. We can live extremely well - and be content, con-tent, too. ffKv Served with choice of 3 Gourmet Salads, Seasoned Basmati Rice, Fresh Garden Vegetable and Fresh Made Bread 789 Millecam called to Russia Ryan James Millecam, a former resident of Vernal, son of James and Rebecca Millecam of Orem, the grandson of Henry and Yvonne Millecam, Vernal, has accepted a mission call to St. Petersburgh, Russia for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and will leave to go to St. Petersburg Oct. 25. Millecam was a member of the BYU Jazz Band who toured St. Petersburg and Finland for one month this last July. im rr w i . r, - mean? u EM Ryan Millecam, right, stands in front of Kremlin in Moscow, Russia where he preformed with BYU Jazz Band. News from Whiterocks by Virginia Ferguson Couple attends LDS mission reunion Arvin and Maurine Bellon drove to Provo and Orem, where they attended at-tended mission reunions of the Wisconsin, Milwaukee Mission. The Frank Arrowchis' enjoyed a weekend visit with their family. LaRee and Stephanie Spann, and her friend, Cassidy of Bennion, came. Wednesday, and Sharon and Cory Arrowchis and Crystal Wyasket of Springville, also came home for the weekend. The family helped round-up cattle and bring Newborns Oct. 7, 1998 a son was born to Sheri Ann and Jason J. Jorgensen. He weighed 5 lbs. 12 oz. and will be named Chandler Demetre Jorgensen. Oct. 11, 1998 a daughter was born to Marenda Ann and Michael Scott Stewart. She weighed 7 lbs. 8 oz., and will be named Makayla Ann Stewart. Oct. 12, 1998 a daughter was born to Billi and Cal Cook. She weighed 7 lbs. 2 oz., and will be named Kacy Jae Cook. Oct. 12, 1998 a son was born to Tara S. and Shanon Johnson. He weighed 7 lbs. 5 oz., and will be named Brant Shanon Johnson. Oct. 15, 1998 a daughter was born to Carmelita Olivera and George Sireech. She weighed 6 lbs. 1 oz., and will be named Stormy Lupe Sireech. 11:30 am - 2 pm - 2289 rl 7? Ryan Millecam n them home from the mountain. The men did a little hunting and they all attended church. Thursday, Oct. 8, Sherri Morrill had a visit from her sister, Sandy Shelton, and daughter-in-law, Carrie and her two sons of East Garland. Sandy's son and husband went hunting, but had no luck. Sunni and D.J. MacEntire, of Salt Lake City, with their baby, spent the weekend visiting her parents, Loraine and George Richens. Bicycle and 13 t tab- r", Saturday, Oct. 24 Colton Pavilion k Registration I pm Ping Pong Ball Drop 2 pm Bike Rodeo 3 pm r .PIMft'iPOMO' PALI PKOll f$ Ping Pong balls will be dropped in the park from an airplane. Everyone wins! FOKCMUREN AGES 5-10 , . Vernal Express 1 r Bryant Parker Brother and sister return from LDS missions Bryant and Nicky Parker, the son Bryant served in the Zurich and daughter of Krag and Layna Switzerland Mission and Nicky Parker, have returned from Europe served in the Frankfurt, Germany where they served missions for the LDS Church. Michael Pedersen Pedersen goes to Brazil Michael L. Pedersen, son of Rick and Janet Pedersen, has been called to serve two years in the Brazil Goiania Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His farewell will be Sunday, Oct. 25, at 1:30 p.m. in the Glines First Ward, 'located at the Glines Stake Center, 475 W. 100 S. He will enter the Missionary Training Center Oct. 28. OCTOBER IS Aw . arene & PAU. f EOF PIKE EO!?(0 Priwq your child (ages 5 - hisher bike and helwetlearo bicycle safety through a safe, interactive bike course with free prizes! Receive a Free Bike License Plate! Enter the Riding Contest! Sponsored by: UINTAH HIGH SCHOOL DECA WAL-MART SERVICE INSURANCE AGENCY TRICOUNTY HEALTH ALTITUDE CYCLE Wednesday, October 21, 1998 17 ,3.., I! lm ffi i K r "" ' Nicky Parker Mission. They will both be speak- ing in the Ashley Creek Ward, 4080 S. 2500 E., Oct. 25 at 1 p.m. Gail Grimshaw Grimshaw to serve Oregon Gail E. Grimshaw, son of Gail and Lizette Grimshaw, has been called to serve a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Eugene, Ore. He will speak Oct. 25, at Ashley 1st Ward, 2575 N. 1500 W. at 2:45 p.m. Grimshaw1 will enter the Missionary Training Center Oct. 28. f ss Month 10) and |