Conni, this lovely, heartfelt essay about the the value of home brought tears to my eyes. The older I get the more grateful I feel for home and family.

My heart breaks for those who lose their loved ones or home to fire and natural disasters. Recently in my neighbourhood my niece's teacher died when her home was swept away in a mudslide after a storm. Life has a way of throwing curveballs and some are devastating.

Thank you for writing this piece and sharing your deep empathy and wisdom, based on your personal experiences.