Yesterday, a terribly troubled and damaged young man committed an act of unfathomable hatred here in Tucson by shooting 18 people at what was otherwise a peaceful gathering.

Today, there are still victims fighting for their lives, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, the primary target of the attack. Today, six families are mourning their loved ones.

Tomorrow, and the next day, and the next, we will try to make sense of this tragedy. There are people in Tucson, in Arizona, and at the Federal level who will be working to figure out just what happened and why, and I sincerely wish them rapid and complete success.

We can not undo what has been done. I’m just one person with little influence, but I can not sit around and do nothing. I CAN make an appointment to give blood to refill the Red Cross blood bank. I can renew my own medical training so I’d know what to do in this sort of crisis. I can speak out against violence and violent rhetoric when I see it. I can donate to organizations that work to identify and help the mentally ill. I can be here to do whatever it takes to support my friends who so suddenly and tragically lost their mother/grandmother, and I can make sure to take the time to let all my friends and family know just how much I love and appreciate them. Because as we’ve just been reminded, you just never know what tomorrow may bring.