The world will look kinder tomorrow

January 30, 2025 — 8:02pm

Dear Reese,

In truth, I am sad tonight. Last night there was a tragedy, a plane crash. I found out at a morning meeting, too caught up in our routine before work to have checked the news. A lot of people died.

(Cappi came home from work today, safe and sound. Plane crashes always hit differently. I’ve never let myself be afraid of them. Planes, after all, are much safer than driving to work. Your Cappi pilots them every week. But I can’t stand a plane crash scene in any movie, even a near miss. I always end up in tears.)

By this afternoon the president has suggested minorities and women could be to blame for the crash, coding it in criticism of government diversity hiring. We ignore, I guess, that history maps those comments from an authoritarian leader directly to concentration camps.

I cry while I read more about the crash during bathtime and when I look up you’re smiling at me, rightfully looking for my attention and I put away my phone and apologize. I tell you how grateful I am for you. I tell you how much I love you. I tell you that I’m a little sad. I try to stop my mind from playing out all the possible tragedies, catching myself before I spiral. I still don’t feel very well and we both cough our way through an early bedtime routine.

Arthur comes to lay on my arm while I write this evening. Purring. I hear you cough on the baby monitor and roll over to go back to sleep. My own cough drop dissolves under my tongue. I’m going to watch an episode of one of my favorite animes before bed. Maybe even two or three episodes.

The world will look kinder after some sleep.

Love,
Mama