In July 2022, the S&P 500 rose 9.1%. This return percentage is a high hurdle that won’t be possible to duplicate soon. In June of this year, the stock market rose 6.5%, but the more consequential change was the S&P 500’s 8.4% decline in June 2022. That year-old monthly loss was included in the 12-month return through May 2023 but dropped from the June 2023 quarterly report. Stock market volatility is proving inconsistent and is deflating for investors.

Salary increases are not keeping up with rapid inflation, as the minimum wage has remained at levels lower than ethically correct, making paying rent, utilities AND eating a balanced fare for the average American near-impossible.

Economic headwinds pointing toward the threat of another recession have been stayed by delaying tactics by the Federal Reerve, and while the actions of the government leading into Q4 this year have had staying power, how long can we hold off another recession? I can only picture this scenario as Spider-Man straining with all his might and webs to keep two halves of a broken train together. It’s working, for now.

Another recession could cause companies to lay off workers, slowing hiring, and yet again stalling wage growth. A mild recession could cost the national economy almost 2 million jobs, and a severe recession up to 3 million to 4 million jobs.

Are we ready for a post-global-pandemic recession as a nation? More specifically, are we mentally and emotionally prepared for more “unprecedented events?”

If I had a magic eight ball, I’d shake it repeatedly, and every time it would give this answer:

“My sources say no.”

Ruby Franke and her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, were arrested this month on six counts of aggravated child abuse. These two parenting “therapists” had major followings as a part of the new evangelical leaders of our society: life coaches. What would normally be met with dismay and sorrow has wrought derision and the latest trend in societal emotions: numbness.

We the people … don’t care.

We are burned out.

In a press release on June 8 by Jay O’Brien and Luis Martinez, words were published that merely a decade ago would have been met with shock and excitement:

“The powerful House Oversight Committee is in the ‘early stages’ of preparing a hearing on UFOs in the wake of unconfirmed claims from a former intelligence official that the U.S. has allegedly found crashed alien spacecraft — an account the Pentagon says is unsubstantiated.”

Multiple congressional committees have also explored concerns that the mysterious sightings could be evidence of surveillance by other countries.

“My priority is that we understand the full range of threats posed by our adversaries in all domains,” Republican Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said during an Armed Services Committee hearing on UAPs — that’s unidentified aerial phenomena — in April.

Sean Kirkpatrick, the top U.S. official investigating hundreds of unidentified aerial phenomena, is focused on the gathering of facts and evidence. “A lot of these stories, a lot of these allegations, crop up again and again over history,” he said. “I’m not going to jump ahead to conclusions until we have more data.”

Asked whether he believes intelligent extraterrestrial life exists, Kirkpatrick said: “I think it’s statistically unrealistic to think it isn’t” and that finding it would be “probably the best outcome of this job.”

This is an unprecedented event: The U.S. government has released the proceedings regarding evidence of nonterrestrial biologics in their possession. Our societal reaction was a slurry of jaded memes, gifs, more derision and now my favorite catchphrase: “In THIS economy?”

Not even this exciting admission of the government could buoy the dampened spirits of our society. Was this a timed press release to assuage some of the wariness of taxpayers, voting citizens who decide in 2024 who will occupy the Oval Office?

We’ve moved on.

Taylor Swift and Beyonce concert tickets have been a hotter topic than our extraterrestrial visitors, for now. It’s as if we have this reflex to perpetually scroll upward, despite the shock and awe we experience. Maybe we take a moment to insert our quippy comment in the battle of cyber-wit, but beyond that action, we’re done.

We are DONE.

Aliens, if you are reading this, first, I’d like to apologize on behalf of the people of planet Earth for our jaded and unexcited reception and second, do you have space on your ship? I need a vacation, and I can’t afford one in this economy.

Born and raised under the shadow of Mount Timpanogos, Camille Heckmann is relieved to be back in Utah County. A grad school dropout, former Army wife, mother to four kids and 21 moves, all followed by divorce and tragedy during her adult life, have provided enough texture to observe and write about the human condition. You can follow her exploits and writing career on Instagram at @millie_writer.