October Comforts

So I was annoyed at the way my investments have been declining over the past ten days or so, and it led to the following conversation.

ME: “I’m annoyed at the way my investments have been declining over the past ten days or so.”

INTERLOCUTOR: “Don’t worry about it.  It happens every October.”

ME: “But the papers said the decline had to do with discouraging economic news.”

INTERLOCUTOR: “Naw.  The decline happens every year, and every year people look for a reason and claim to find it, but even if the news were good the decline would still happen.”

ME: “Wow.”

INTERLOCUTOR: “Stocks will rebound later, and they’ll say it was because of ‘unexpectedly robust holiday sales’ or something.”

ME: “It’s sure comforting to know that I’m participating in an economic system that operates with such steely rationality.”

INTERLOCUTOR:  “Yeah.  I’m comforted too.”