This morning, I am typing mainly with one hand because I sliced my thumb last night as I was chopping Swiss chard -- fresh from our farm delivery, which you might have read about in my blog a few weeks ago, "Eating in Season."

When I realized what I had done, I screamed.

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Today, I am still numb. Last week, I was touched by one of those tragedies that you read about in the news and see on TV, and always happens far away. But this time it happened near me. A disgruntled employee caught stealing from his employer set off on a shooting rampage that killed eight other employees, including my neighbor. I didn't know him well, but I knew him well enough.

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My father taught me an important saying when I was young that he continued to repeat to me throughout the years: "Love Your Illness."

I was reminded of it today when I spoke with "Nicholas," who is recovering from a sudden and severe bout of diverticulitis that required several days in the hospital. After hearing him tell me how anxious he was to get back to the office and back to work, I heard my father's voice in my head -- and repeated it to him: "Love your illness."

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My friend Steve shared a story from his teen years with me recently. I was so moved by the story that I just had to share it here:

"When I was in my late teens, after I'd been driving for a few years, I foolishly backed my father's car into a post in a parking lot. I went home to tell him what happened, naturally nervous of how he would react. Knowing my father, I didn't think he would beat me up over it, but I expected a lot of displeasure, a big bill and a black mark on my driving record.

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This past weekend, there was a huge storm in the Northeast US -- the worst in at least 50 years. Last night we hosted one family plus two other children, with offers out to many others in case they changed their minds about sleeping with no electricity. There are thousands of people in our town who have no electricity and extensive flooding in their basements. Others had trees crash onto their homes or cars. The streets of towns were littered with downed trees -- enormous, healthy trees -- and power lines.

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