I hope you ALL are doing well, staying safe, and are adjusting to our new way of life now that we are in the throes of this awful Coronavirus. I wasn’t sure whether to write about this at a time when the world is experiencing such a terrible time. I certainly don’t mean to make light of the sadness and terrors that are going on in the world during this awful pandemic. I haven’t written a “Rant or Rave” blog in a while (this is a Rave), so here goes…
As I have mentioned many times, our daughter lives in the D.C. area. It’s been difficult for my husband and me – having her so far away. She interned in New Orleans several years ago, and we thought that was too far! (It took us nine hours to drive there from our home in San Antonio.)
She had always planned on moving back to Texas, but changed her mind when she fell in love and married her husband. He has lived in the D.C. area all of his life, and does not plan on moving. So, we’ve been visiting our daughter and her husband twice a year and we’ve been very fortunate that she has been coming home for Christmas each year.
We were planning on flying to D.C. to see them at the beginning of April, but obviously our plans were scrapped because of this awful Coronavirus. She and her husband made us first-time grandparents in March, and we absolutely could not wait to see our granddaughter – oh, and also our daughter and her husband…
While they were visiting us over the holidays, my husband found out about the Facebook Portal TV, and thought it would hold me over during our visits and until I could get my hands on our granddaughter in April, when we planned on making our first trip out there. During the Christmas holidays, the Facebook Portal TVs were on a tremendous sale, so we bought one for us and one for our daughter’s home. We started talking to them via the Portal before our precious grandbaby was born and really enjoyed seeing our daughter and her husband. That’s right! I mean “seeing”! Both of our households have the Portal set up in the family/living rooms, with the camera aimed at our couches. We literally can see and talk to each other through our TVs! (I finally appreciate that my husband has always wanted a big TV set!) Other than not being able to hug our daughter (and hold/kiss/hug our granddaughter) we are almost right there with them in their living room!
I have to admit that I still want to get my hands on our granddaughter, but this has been a great hold-me-over. My husband and I really feel like we’re almost in their living room. We plan on Portal-ing even after this awful Coronavirus is eradicated and we are all “back to normal” and are able to go out and visit them three or four times a year. (I’d even like to up our trips to half a dozen times a year!)
P.S. I have a link here that you can click on if you want to look at the Facebook Portal TV. Please be sure to check the price before you buy it. You should be able to get it for $140-$160 on Amazon or Facebook. When it is out of stock on Facebook and Amazon, third-party sellers seem to try to take advantage and charge several hundreds of dollars more. (I hate that!) So be sure to check the price before you purchase it!
Also, my husband told me to mention that the Facebook Portal TV requires a wifi connection and you must plug it into an HDMI port on your TV set.
Marie says
Thank you for posting this. It’s nice to hear that good things are happening during this terrible time. Many good wishes to your daughter and her family. (I’m jealous! No grandkids for me.)
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marie, thank you!
Zarayna Pradyer says
Thanks for sharing a genuinely celebratory story.
Hope you have many more!
(Don’t understand about the tech but, that’s my problem).
Wishing you all well.
Kindest.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Zarayna, you’re welcome! Thank you for your well wishes.
Sierrapen says
That was a nice share. Thank you. Mileage distance can looked at in perspective. Our First grandchild was born in New Orleans. Pretty far from California. Then our kids decided to move to Mozambique. 14000 miles. Second grandchild born there. I was elated to visit 4 times in the 12 years. Once you visit Africa, you are changed forever. Now we are so glad they have relocated to the states, in the DC area also. 3000 miles now. I visit an average of 4 times per year. The pandemic has slowed me down, and we will view grandson’s high school graduation online. As you are, I’m thankful for technology.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Sierrapen, it’s certainly magical how technology has changed the world in a lot of ways – it certainly makes it feel a lot smaller, which can be a good thing in these sort of circumstances.
PamB says
Oh, Danna, so very thrilled for you! I’m sure you’ve found she has changed your world! Thankful you have a techy husband and able to enjoy seeing her until you’re able to visit and they have to pry your sweet granddaughter out of your arms!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Pam, I’ve certainly always appreciated having a techy husband, as you put it – I can get the benefit of this sort of device without having to really figure out getting it working, or even knowing it exists, by myself.
JoAnn says
Our daughter had her baby May 11 in North Carolina and we live in Utah so we haven’t been able to hold our first grandbaby! By the time we see him he will even cuter and more aware!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
JoAnn, I would certainly recommend this sort of thing for you – it really helps us feel like we’re still a part of her life, even now when we can’t visit in person! And congratulations on your own grandchild!
JoAnn says
We have face-timed with them and they send photos and video clips frequently. I feel sorry for my mother who never had her mother near when she had her last 3 babies.
MJ says
SOOOOO pleased for you, ‘grandma’. 🙂 Congratulations! I’ve been wondering if the new addition to your family was a grandson or a granddaughter. What a wonderful bundle of joy for you and your husband to ‘spoil’.
When the Covid 19 crisis passes, I can see the frequent flyer miles piling up. In the meantime, I KNOW it’s a long way, but you might consider a road trip.
I was listening to an Infectious Disease specialist from OR on NPR’s Morning Edition today. She said she wouldn’t fly for quite awhile yet. She doesn’t believe it would be safe. However it can be safer travelling by car. OR, rent one of those big recreational vehicles! Then you don’t even have to stay in hotels. It would be worth it.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
MJ, thank you very much! I’m not sure when exactly we’re going to be able to get around to visiting in person… Pandemic aside, driving from San Antonio to Washington DC is a very long, physically taxing trip for us these days. I’m not sure how well we would be able to make it at this point.
Donna McLean says
Oh, this is a lovely post! So happy for you and your family. It’s good to hear some good news for a change. I’ll look into this for my Mom, she might be able to use it to keep up with her grandkids.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Donna, I’d certainly recommend it to any grandparent who can get it set up – it’s definitely letting us be more of a part of our daughter’s and granddaughter’s lives in these trying times!
Kim says
I told my husband the other day, that some of the changes we have had to made I really like. Same with businesses, I like some of the changes. I hope some of these changes continue to be our normal.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kim, it’s certainly nice to see technology help find solutions for modern day problems – even if we don’t want the problems, of course!
Joanne w says
Congratulations on your new granddaughter! I just found out I’m going to be a great grandma (my first ) I hope this one will be a reader (like great grandma)
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Joanne, congratulations yourself! I hope you find a way to keep in (safe) contact through these trying times.
Margaret (StashEmpress) says
Congratulations on the new granddaughter! Not familiar with this Portal, in what way is it different/better than Skype, FaceTime, Hangouts, or other video chatting programs (that don’t require a purchase)? We’ve been using Google Hangouts (since the pandemic began) to chat with our grandchildren (some of whom live around the corner but everyone has been sheltering in place) and even family wide video conference calls involving several families at the same time. It’s a wonderful thing! (But I do miss holding them!!!)
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Margaret, the main thing I would say that is great about the Portal is that my husband says that it is very easy to set up and use on a TV without much technical knowledge. (I’m still not sure I could have set it up myself, though. I wasn’t really paying attention while he was setting it up.) If you already have a solution that is working for you, I would suggest that you keep using that!
Tullita says
A new Granddaughter I am so excited for you. There is nothing like being a Gram or Grandma, whatever they decide to call you it just tugs your heartstrings. You have so many wonderful moments ahead. I wish all of you the best.
Technology doesn’t replace being there but it sure helps you feel closer. Hope this mess is over soon and we can all get back into the world and you can hold that precious baby
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Tullita, we’re still working out the naming thing! Technology has certainly been helping to bridge the gap a bit, but I do hope that we can get out to see her sooner rather than later.
Mary says
Thanks so much for the share. We too have been using Portal to “visit” our first grandson. However, we didn’t know about hooking it to the TV. Hubby will check it out! Thanks
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mary, I hope it works out for you as well as it has for us!