On the other hand, maybe I’m looking at this all wrong.

 Thank you for forcing me to practice a near Buddhist detachment from material things, and expensive items that claim too much of my present attention anyway.

 Thank you for making me painfully aware of my own stereotypical mindset. Thank you for making me think so damn hard.

 Thank you for bringing me to the depressing realization that there’s no point in installing another sound system in this car while I live in the city. I think I’ll just tape a sign up where it used to be. A sign that reads, "Unless you want the sack of bread flour that’s been riding in my back seat for weeks, TAKE a Hike, some other low-life beat you to it”.

 Thank yourself for turning me into one more cynical, paranoid, disillusioned citizen in the world, with a little less faith in humanity.

 I hope you got something you really need out of the exchange (if you can call it that), something that will really make your life, or your family’s quality of life better for a long time. I catch myself feeling guiltily, naïve in this hope, but I figure its better than the alternative. I hope you got something really stellar out of the whole affair.

 Because I have a long profane article that doesn’t really get me anywhere but back at angry, where I started.

A plague upon you and your Buddhist-existential-inspiring-theft. I’m still P-O'd and I want my stereo back.

But, just out of curiosity, how much do you want for it?

Erica Terence is a sophomore and student activist at the University of Seattle and is currently apply for an internship with U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer

     Back to Contents                                     <Previous