It's good to be home even if it's on fire.

I just landed back in California after a 12+ hour travel day. So today's post will be short.

I loved Canada. The calm. The civility. The space to breathe. The sense of community and mutual respect. It was peaceful. Kind. And for a little while, it reminded me of what home used to feel like.

But still, it feels good to be back, even if home is in disarray.

There was a moment on the plane that stuck with me. One man accidentally bumped into another. Nothing major. But the second man didn’t feel the apology was sincere enough. And instead of moving on, he escalated.

The tone changed. His voice rose. Other people started watching.

And all I could think was: this is us. This is the country right now.

We’re all on the same plane. Headed to the same place. And a lot of people feel like they’re not in control anymore. The turbulence isn’t just about policy or politics; it’s emotional. It’s a survival instinct kicking in.

People just want to feel safe.

That’s it.

The world has changed. And when you lose the illusion of control, fear takes the wheel. That fear becomes anger. And that anger looks for someone to blame.

But here’s the other thing that happened today: our connecting flight was canceled.

We had to pivot. Quickly. Reroute through a new airport. Land farther away than we planned. And it doubled our travel day.

And no one threw a tantrum. No one screamed at the gate agents. We just figured it out. A plane full of people just did the best they could, and it was enough.

That’s life.

It’s not about the disruptions. It’s about the response.

I think a lot of people in this country are still waiting for things to go back to how they were. But that flight isn’t coming. And the people who keep promising it, and even better days? Well, they’re not helping. They’re selling tickets to nowhere.

So we adjust. We hold onto each other. We let the little things go. We stay grounded even when the route changes.

Home might feel in disarray. But it’s still home.

And it’s becoming more important than ever to surround ourselves with people who are on the right side of history. People who don’t flinch at the truth. People who stay grounded through the storm.

Because even with everything going wrong right now, I think this might still be the calm before the next major storm.

And for sheer survival, we are going to need each other.

Also? Every single airport employee I encountered today was kind, helpful, and incredibly friendly. I have no idea how many flights I’ve taken in my life, but I’ve never experienced that kind of warmth and consistency from staff, gate agents, and TSA. It was noticeable, and deeply appreciated.

In a time when we’re constantly surrounded by rage and conspiracy and threats from the far right online, that kind of real-world kindness matters more than people realize. It helped me remember that the loudest voices aren’t always the majority.

And on that note, let me say this about Canada:

The way we treat our northern neighbors is embarrassingly cruel. These are people who have consistently shown us grace, generosity, and solidarity, even when they didn’t have to.

Remember September 11th? When U.S. airspace was shut down and hundreds of planes were diverted, it was Canada that opened its skies and its cities. Over 200 flights and 30,000 people were welcomed, fed, housed, and cared for, many in small towns like Gander, Newfoundland, where the entire population mobilized to support strangers in crisis. They didn’t hesitate. They just showed up.

And now, years later, we talk about them like they’re a burden. Like kindness is weakness. Like, their empathy is something to mock.

That’s not who we are. Or at least, it’s not who we should be.

We owe Canada better. And we owe ourselves a serious look in the mirror.

If this resonated with you, I hope you'll follow my Substack for more. You can find a link in my profile, and you can find my Substack by searching my name, Heather Delaney Reese. I’ll be back tomorrow with a lot to talk about.

– Heather

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