By Ann Curry, NBC News anchor

Ann Curry in for Brian tonight when finally, what some see as a glimmer of hope from the stock markets, seems to be resonating.

Again today, US stocks did not plunge, ending up 54 points, after European and Asian stocks also mostly rose again, buoyed by positive US economic data.

What a difference a year can make in how we define good economic news.

Today the President's Chief Economic Advisor said fear is the enemy, reminding us of a President who led us through another troubled time.   It is the latest in the administration's repeated assurances that it's engaged on the economy.

After all the ups and downs of this crazy ride, we seem to be like a ferris wheel about to roll again, hoping that the next part is fun, but sort of knowing that we will need courage.

On this Friday before the weekend we all hope will let us breathe a little deeper, we will hear the latest from the President, consider Bernie Madoff's new plea for bail, wonder if the 100 billion in stimulus money for America's schools might inspire our children to fix what we have not, find out how Barbara Bush is doing, and glimpse at a basketball game that lasted so long, neither side really cared who won.

Taken together these stories tell us something about what we stand for and against, and our wish from here.