08/27/2026
We were at the ballgame when this rolled in over the hills. That’s smoke, not clouds glowing orange against a sky that should’ve just been sunset.
It’s the kind of image that stops you mid-cheer. Somewhere behind that plume, people’s homes were burning.
For so many, this meant “go now” your home is threatened, minutes to grab the most important things and leave. If they were lucky, they had a little time to gather what mattered most.
But what do you grab when your home could be gone in moments?
Our homes are so much more than walls and a roof. They hold cherished memories tucked inside, like a treasure chest of irreplaceable items from people we love, things gathered along our journeys, the photos that can’t be recreated, the space we breathe into after a long day.
Watching that smoke rise, my girls and I talked about home and what it means. We discussed the value of things: homemade art vs. toys, pictures of Nana vs. framed photos from my phone. Some things are totally replaceable, but my mom’s pictures I could never replicate. The conversation was deep for a 5- and 8-year-old, but it was important.
Facing that possibility was scary. Actually losing it is so much more.
As the count of homes lost climbs to nearly 50, my heart is with everyone facing that loss. Even safe and surrounded by loved ones, something irreplaceable was still taken a physical memory erased from the earth.
I hold you in my thoughts, in my prayers, and in my deepest sadness.
I hope you’re able to rebuild a house that becomes, in time, a home again.
Thank you to our firefighters and first responders for saving so many homes and keeping our community safe. Reno, you continue to show up for each other. 🧡
