The first sit.

Yesterday, I send Robin a voice message, a message and a step towards figuring out how we will stay in touch these next few months when we are not likely to see one another or be in the same space. After she got my message and showed it to Robin, my very busy but thoughtful daughter Emma  jumped in on her end. Emma set up a Facetime chat between Robin and me on our Iphones, each of us using new technology to bridge a gap that was once not bridgeable.

When I answered the call, Robin was staring at me and I was staring right back.

Robin looked at me (and also Fate, who jumped into the picture, naturally) and stared for a good long time.

She smiled a bit, although whether she recognized me or was just laughing at me was not clear. She is quick to laugh, I see. Mostly she was amazed at the sight of this strange man and dog, both making noises at her.

Red was above all of this, although Maria jumped in.

I’ve dissed the idea of a Facetime relationship, but Emma ignored me and I liked it. It was fun and I could see the possibilities. You don’t have to be in the room to have a relationship.

Emma and I are both working hard to keep me in Robin’s life, and it is fun, and I am enjoying this dialogue with my daughter every bit as much as I am enjoying Robin. We are getting closer also. Such riches.

So here is this very young creature and her much older grandfather, hundreds of miles away, and we are finding ways to connect with one another, both using tools that did not exist a few years ago. I record my messages on the Iphone, upload them to SoundCloud, an audio processing site and then publish them on the blog. I can also e-mail them.

Robin was transfixed.

Finally, I get it, it is a creative challenge, I can work with it. A few minutes after we got off the phone, Emma messaged me this photo, it was, she said, the first time Robin has ever sat up. Another chapter begins. I suspect she will be reading by Easter.