The joke goes like this. . . A reporter was interviewing Mary Todd Lincoln shortly after her husband was shot: “So, aside from that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?” Frightfully un-PC and in questionable (okay, really bad!) taste, but also as American as motherhood and apple pie - we look for the humor in tragedy. As soon as disaster hits, the tee shirt slogans are ready and the jokes are flying. It may seem callous, but to me it is our unique way of healing. As one friend in crisis told me, “I can cry or I can laugh. I prefer to laugh.”

Another friend was at this summer's Boy Scout Jamboree, which started with the devastating news that four leaders were killed. His report: “As there was a lack of credible information, the informal rumor mill took over. The day that 300 kids were taken for medical attention because of the heat, the rumor sweeping camp was that 10 kids had died. On a lighter note. . .the rumor spread that some of the Swedish Scouts (a co-ed troop) would flash their breasts in exchange for a vanilla pudding that came in a bag lunch one day. I did notice that boys seemed to be hoarding their vanilla pudding.”

Not much to laugh at with Katrina, but one piece of news coverage made me smile. Last night a rescue worker was standing in front of a New Orleans apartment house, shouting up to the second story: “Okay, come on out. We know you’re in there. We saw you dancing!”