Ever since I was little girl, and my parents were divorced, my dad would call and make his phone calls to us like a little visit. He would see us every week on Sunday but he’d make sure the calls he made during the week felt like we were visiting too.  Those phone calls however long they lasted, we always got his undivided attention. Those phone calls always felt like a visit from Dad. To this day I am now almost 46 years old and we do this still, we visit over the phone. He now lives in Florida, I live in New York, and our relationship has become 95% over the phone. I miss him, I miss his hugs but I don’t feel like I’ve lost any part of my dad. I actually feel our relationship is just as good if not better than when he still lived in New York and I saw him more often.

Yesterday, I actually also spoke to my little sister in California. Since I see her all so infrequently, that feeling of visiting over the phone just carries through to her relationship. My dad taught me such a wonderful gift and sometimes I never even realized I had it.  I give a lot of credit to my little sister she’s much better at reaching out to me, but it’s difficult because I don’t know her schedule and the time difference as well. However, I’m so happy when she calls, I get to hear about what’s happening in her life, and I feel like I’m visiting with her and she’s over 3000 miles away. A little thing like a phone call just gonna bring people together. Sure it makes me miss her a little bit, makes me wish I can be there and see her, but it also makes me feel like I’m a part of her life and what’s happening.

My step sister called me too. And she lives only 10 minutes away. Her life is also very busy. Her daughters 11 years old, my sister works full-time and so does her husband. So it’s nice even just to touch base with her and catch up. Have a mini visit with her over the phone for a couple minutes. It’s hard for me because I can’t just run over to anyone’s house run in the door and say, “hey what’s going on” and chat for a half an hour and then run home. That requires way too much work for my MS, but that is also too hard for them and they’re busy life. Something so simple as a phone call just really made me happy yesterday hearing from everybody.

Never underestimate the power of a phone call. I went from Florida to California and back to New York yesterday and had visits with all my family. A simple thing but one that continues to make me happy. I do love my family.