Chicagoland podcaster and author Kelly Hayes wrote a post that captures what many Chicagoland residents are feeling right now:

There’s a gas mask on a bookshelf in my living room. I keep telling myself to move it to the car, in case ICE drops a tear gas canister in the street again because someone heckled them or hit record. I want to be useful, and hold my ground, when others are hurt or being brave.  So, I should remember to put the gas mask in the car.

I feel awful. And that feeling is the cost of caring, so I don’t want it to fully go away. But, sometimes, I want it to quiet down. And it doesn’t.

Personally, I’m relatively safe, but it unsettling knowing ICE is conducting military style raids on apartments. Now there are Texas National Guard troops only 40 miles away. For now.

I’m trying to focus on what I can control  I still have responsibilities that aren’t going away  at the same time, I’m still going to care about what’s happening to others in Chicagoland. Least I can do for now

I’ll post more updates when I can.