I’ve been ambivalent about whether or not to share this, but I wanted to make a comment on a wonderful new invention I dreamed of as a child and never expected to come to fruition in my lifetime: video chat.

After being unwell since Christmas, my grandmother was admitted to hospital several weeks ago and it did not take long to get a bleak prognosis of a few weeks. I considered driving to Quebec, but the weather being what it has been in the northeast coupled with her rapid decline meant that I could very well not make it. I did not feel comfortable flying out of Mexico and leaving my things and truck here so near to when I would have to leave.

Finally, it was decided that I had visited in September, that my grandmother was very happy about seeing me so recently, and that she would be very satisfied with a few Skype calls that would confirm that I was healthy and happy. The first Skype call was just after she got in from hospital and we were able to catch up a little. The other calls were just smiles and blown kisses. But at least we saw each other and spoke in real time. How extraordinary to have this technology when she was born in a time where planes were only still getting off the ground.

She died peacefully last night, March 22nd, in my mother’s home. She was an extraordinary woman I loved very much and who accepted me just as I was. Grandmaman traveled as long as she could and was forever marked by her trip to China. She understood and indulged my wanderlust and never faulted me for needing to be somewhere else. She followed my blog (even commented on it!), emailed, and used Facebook and Skype to keep in touch. Technology allowed me to stay close even when I was far away. I am very grateful to have had those last few video chats with her.