In our modern day swirl of grim and grimmer economic news, it would seem difficult to find many signs of solace. But maybe there IS something else going on out there.

As Rod Serling used to say: “I present for your consideration” … three true local events, two of which were witnessed personally – the third from a reliable source.

1) About a year ago. My father-in-law, a man in his early 90s and heading effortlessly toward becoming a centenarian – announced to his wife, “I’m gonna run into Safeway.” Then he got into his car and – specifically – drove through a plate glass window at the store.

My father-in-law climbed out of his only slightly damaged vehicle and proceeded to walk inside the store. An employee spoke up, “Sir, the police have been called and they’re on the way.”

Without looking back, my father-in-law said, “Might as well get my shopping done while I’m waiting for them.” Ten minutes later, the police found him in the bakery aisle selecting a package of butterhorns.

2) Three weeks ago. A man came through the checkout line at Lowe’s with four or five 8-foot lengths of plastic pipe. A clerk pointed out a box of twine lying near the exit door.

“You’re welcome to use some of that twine to help secure your plastic pipe to your car,” she said.

The man walked over to the box, grabbed hold of the end of the spool and, ignoring the scissors and tape measure attached to the box, proceeded to walk out the front door with his pipes under one arm – and dragging the twine with his free hand.

The customer sauntered out to his car, twine in tow, until perhaps 200 feet of it trailed from the store lobby. After using a dozen feet or so of it, he cut off the remainder with a pocketknife, got into his car and drove away.

The Lowe’s clerk slowly reeled the remaining length of twine back into the store.

3) Ten days ago. My wife pulled into the parking lot at Costco where she saw something that caused her to do a double- and then a triple-take. Someone had parked their car INSIDE one of the store’s empty shopping cart corrals.

The mini-van, front in first, was tucked in so snugly, it was impossible to figure how the driver got out. My wife decided to just stand by – waiting to see when and if our planet’s thinnest human might return to their car.

Before long, a woman of average height and build approached the

vehicle, pushing a shopping cart full of Costco booty. Opening the van’s back hatch (the only reasonable point of access), she proceeded to place her items into the back of the car.

She lined them up, leaving an alleyway down the middle. She climbed over the two seat backs, plopped into the driver’s seat and, pulled out of the corral. She then leapt out of the driver-side door, walked to the rear, closed the back hatch door and then got back in and drove away.

I’m not sure what those three stories prove. Perhaps they are

testament to the unshakable resolve, ingenuity and resourcefulness of the American people. Or maybe we’re all starting to go a little bit nuts.