Before 9 o'clock, Sept. 11, the news was all about Gary and Chandra, the social securety surplus and could Michael Jackson make a comeback. Then the terrorists hit and for a few days everything stopped.

I checked to see if my family and friends were safe and then I sat down and couldn't move. We were safe but what was going to happen next? I was afraid. I couldn't believe it the day the stock market reopened when vice president Cheney told us all to BUY A SHARE OF STOCK for America.

Then 2 days later President Bush told us to GO TO THE MALL. Get back to normalcy and go buy something. We're going to war and the president is telling us to go to the mall. Next it was time to fly the friendly skys and GO TO DISNEYLAND.

I don't want to buy anything, I don't wnat to go to Disneyland, I don't want to bomb anyone. I don't want to go to the mall. If I buy a share of stock will it really help America? Everyone is nuts. Like Candide I think I'll go outside and cultivate my garden.