From airports to aging parents, from disability to belonging, this is a reflection on family, loneliness, and the urgency of human connection.

I arrived in the Dominican Republic a few days ago to visit my family. What was supposed to be a two-and-a-half-hour journey turned into more than 24—an experience I may write about another day. For now, what stayed with me happened in between, during a layover flight from Panama to the island I call home.

On that plane, almost everyone was traveling with family. I did not see a single passenger flying alone. My daughter and I were seated in the last row, next to a Uruguayan family visiting my small country for the first time. My daughter is autistic, but that never stopped her from being—once again—the best travel companion I could ask for. She endured sleeping on the hard airport floor, waiting endless hours after complications with another airline, and boarding yet another flight without complaint. Instead, she taught me something far more valuable than patience: how to replace frustration and........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)