At the end of the film “Monty Python’s The Life of Brian,” the title character leads the cast through a rousing rendition of a song called “Always Look at the Bright Side of Life” while nailed crucifixion-style to a cross. In a similar twist of fate, our nation is feeling similarly “nailed down” by high gas prices. So what is the “brighter side” of all that? Is there one?
Of course there is, silly! If Brian, the character in the film who was born in the manger next to Jesus, can find a positive spin, no doubt we can, too.
Imagine all of the unwanted guests who will be thinking twice about making the trip to your house this summer. Now you will be able to plan fun things to do near where you live with people you actually enjoy being with.
Invited to a party, bat mitzvah or wedding you don’t really want to attend? Instead of RSVP’ing in the affirmative, just say “Oh, I am so sorry I can’t come! Gas prices are at nearly $5 a gallon and that means I just can’t afford to cross the county lines! Maybe next time!” Well, don’t say “maybe next time” if it’s a wedding but you get the gist.
By avoiding all of these festivities, we have no doubt that the number of invitations you receive annually will drop. You will have to buy fewer and fewer expensive gifts for people like your hunch-backed cousin with the expansive Beanie Baby collection who finally found wedded bliss on eharmony.com.
But what of those of us who are spending a disproportionate amount of our paychecks in gas just getting to and from work? Some people are even starting to lose money just by having to travel back and forth to work. What is the brighter side of that?
More widespread telecommuting among the workforce. Finally.
Think about it. With most homes possessing computers with more memory than a 1950s nuclear missile silo, there is no doubt that many jobs could easily be done from home. Could yours?
Imagine the positive impact working at home would have on many people’s lives, most especially parents. We are raising a generation of “latchkey” kids who come home from school every day to empty houses and really only see their parents on weekends. Could high gas prices also help return us to the tradition of the family all sitting around the same table at dinner time? Is there anything more American than that notion? Perhaps a slice of warm apple pie, but little else.
High gas prices have had a heady impact not only on the auto industry but on commercial airlines as well. There is talk that the price of your next airplane ticket may soon be dependent on your body weight. In addition, many airlines are starting to charge heavy penalties for extra baggage or excessively portly suitcases. You see, the heavier the plane, the more gas it uses.
What could this brave new world of airline travel mean? It could no doubt spark a huge health and fitness trend, most especially among harried business travelers who make their living catching flights across this great nation of ours. Companies might even start rewarding their own employees for keeping the weight off—thereby making company airplane tickets cheaper and as a side bonus improving the quality of life for the workforce.
Imagine if your company paid for your 24 Hr Fitness membership and personal trainer just so you wouldn’t break the bank at American Airlines!
Our take? It has been said that given enough time, the American public can adjust to any change or any hardship. Other countries have gotten accustomed to insanely high gas prices and we may need to prepare ourselves to do the same. The first step in doing so, of course, is to look at the bright side of the situation. We guess we are just the types who like to see the “glass half full” or in this case, “the gas tank half full!”