Report From The Road

I'm here in Asheville, NC, where the indicators of the Lesser Depression are myriad. Countless are the disused commercial spaces and empty houses scattered around the winding streets. These stand starkly in contrast to the sheer bloody beauty of the place. Many boutique shops seem to be thriving, but it is impossible to miss that many shops are closed early, Sunday afternoon notwithstanding. Clearly this was once a much more industrial place, as so many vacant places of business display not only the signage of the most recent occupant, frequently a bar or restaurant, but also the arcane built-in signage of tenants long passed. The effect is something like recessionary tree rings. One wouldn't learn of the current slowdown from speaking with the citizenry, however. Rather, people I've spoken with here are exceedingly friendly and upbeat. As regards the Lesser Depression, they seem to be damning it all to hell with positivity. A refreshing shift from Durhamite norms.