Drew Barrymore

left the set of "Saturday Night Live" last week in tears. She

had just learned of an NBC News employee getting anthrax and she panicked,

like any sensible person who was afraid of getting anthrax would.

She came back

and did the show and it was as funny as SNL gets these days. Perhaps the

most humorous part of the show was seeing Barrymore's husband, Tom Green,

sitting in the audience with a gas mask on.

The first time

I ever heard the word "anthrax" was when I heard the a version

of Public Enemy's "Bring the Noise" featuring the band Anthrax.

I guess that is one band that would have to change their name if they

were still around.

I have also

heard talk recently that Tim Duncan and David Robinson are wondering if

they should still be referred to as the "Twin Towers." Both

men play for the NBA's San Antonio Spurs and are over seven feet tall.

They were called that nickname well before the tragedy, but out of respect,

they will probably change it.

I think that

people are getting a little carried away.

People are

scared and they have every right to be. This is a scary time in American

history. The last time people might have been this scared in our country

is during the blackouts of World War II. There is great uncertainty and

that breeds fear.

The president

has been urging citizens around the nation to not panic and that is good

advice. We must keep our wits about us at a time like this.

For example,

people on a flight panicked when confetti fell out of a birthday card.

Confetti. Small bits of glittery paper cut out in decorative shapes. I

understand that people flying anywhere these days have to be on edge,

but it might be in everybody's best interest to use some common sense

and let cooler heads prevail.

It is the same

common sense that tells you that terrorists weren't buzzing the Fayette

County fair in their airplane. Morons, yes, but not terrorists.

We were told

last Friday that there was a good chance there would be another attack

over the weekend. There wasn't. We are being told that the possibility

of a biological or chemical attack is very high, but we still drink water

and take showers. I haven't seen people start boiling their water, just

in case. That is because you have to go on with your life. You can't let

these threats stop you from living your life.

I will admit

that I am waiting for the other shoe to drop. I know that there is a very

real threat of more terrorist acts occuring in our nation, but I also

realize that I am fairly powerless to stop it. Sure, if I see a shady

character pouring something in the local water supply, I can call the

authorities and drink bottled water for awhile, but the likelihood of

seeing that is small. I don't live near the water supply.

I don't know

how or when the next attacks will occur, but I would be very surprised

if terrorists use a plane as a weapon anytime in the future. Any terrorist

that gets on a plane in this country better have more than a box cutter

because the passengers will be tearing that person limb from limb. That

mentally disturbed individual flying to Chicago last week was very lucky.

So, keep your

heads and keep your chin up. We will get through this and will most likely

be a stronger country for it. And, if you are going by the water supply,

keep your eyes open.

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