We have a friend who lost everything in Hurricane Katrina. He lives in Long Beach, MS, and he works in the casino industry. He's OK, and we'll see him soon. We're confident that he will recover materially. We haven't heard the details of his story yet, so it's too soon for us to gauge the amount of emotional trauma that he endured and the impact that it will have on his life. We do know that he has family and friends ready to help, and he has education and job skills, all of which will make an enormous difference in his recovery.

Our friend asked us to visit the Gulf Coast many times in the past, with a visit to New Orleans as one of the highlights. We planned to make the trip sometime; wish we had done so. Perhaps in future years we will be able to visit a newer, safer region that sets the standard for economic and social equity.

With such an enormous area impacted by the storm (an area the size of Great Britain), and with tens of thousands of people displaced, the effects of Hurricane Katrina reach far and wide. How many of you know someone affected by the disaster? Have you done anything to contribute to the recovery effort?

We have contributed to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund, and we plan a contribution to an animal welfare organization, as well. We might send a donation to Habitat for Humanity when the rebuilding begins in earnest.