All you need do is check the front page of CNN.com to know where the worries of America lie. Every story is about our economic crisis. Well, every story other than the one about Elizabeth Hasselback possibly leaving “The View.” Even that probably has something to do with our unstable socioeconomic environment. Well worry not Nation, we will be fine. Sure, there are some long, dark days ahead of us, but we will persevere. Put a smile on your face and think of the Sam’s Club Sandwich guy.



A friend of mine shared a priceless story with me the other day. He was strolling through America’s favorite bulk food store, Sam’s Club, sampling the fares offered by those happy-go-lucky sample food servers we all love so much. You know, the people that hand out ¼ oz pieces of chicken or a thimble cup filled with raisins. Well, hungry and bored, my friend kindly approached a man passing out mini sandwiches. They looked tasty and the gentleman seemed nice, so he decided to go for it. He took a bite and found the taste to be satisfying. Intrigued, and otherwise unengaged, he asked “Hey, what are these things?” The friendly gentleman, quickly and without much thought, quipped “Oh, I think they are called punani sandwiches.” Punani sandwiches… he actually said punani sandwiches. My friend tried to hold in his laughter as he was convinced the old man meant to answer by saying Panini sandwiches, but the server’s unfortunate error was too much to handle. My friend was unable to contain his laughter and cracked up out loud in hilarity. What a great moment.

My point is that we need to be savoring these moments while we let this economic crisis work it’s self out. Think more about punani sandwiches and less about falling stocks prices. Do you think the old sandwich server was concerned about Lehman Brothers or AIG? Hell no! His only worry is that he doesn’t burn his punani. Isn’t that the America we all want? Isn’t that the America we all deserve?