A Matter of Distance
Lessons from a Pandemic

It started with a neighborhood gathering and a warning that something was changing — for the world and for each of them. But for Gail, the COVID-19 pandemic became real with a single phone call from her son in New York.

From fears for her family’s safety to the anxiety of isolation that she and her husband felt in San Diego, A Matter of Distance explores the milestones and everyday moments that moved her forward — and sometimes backward — on a journey of longing, anxiety and discovery as she navigated the strangeness of 2020 and 2021.

Beyond the social, political and emotional chaos, this is a story about quiet joys and extraordinary people — family, friends and especially Mirabel, Gail’s toddling granddaughter who lit up the Zoom screen and gave her hope for better days ahead.