It had been a long 31 months since Lauren and I last hugged our granddaughter, Lucy.

Lucy and her parents, Robert and Kate (Wendling) Booth live across the pond - as they say - in Scotland.

We had talked with them on video chat platforms, but it’s not the same as having them here where we can dine together, laugh together, hand each other gifts, visit the playground as a family, watch as Mom and Grammy play dolls together with a very happy little girl and, of course, hug in person.

Just as thrilled are other relatives, nephews Tyler and Spencer Black, and Kate’s sister and brother-in-law, Steph and Brian Mertz.

The prolonged distancing was a collateral effect of the deadly pandemic that erupted and spread havoc across virtually the entire globe by March 2020.

Kate and Lucy last visited us in early December 2019. Rob couldn’t make that trip because of his work schedule. We had an early Christmas that year, which included building gingerbread houses, so they could return home in time to enjoy Christmas Day with Robert’s family in Scotland.

Shortly after they got home, the lethal residue from the pandemic was affecting us all, even those of us not physically ill from it. COVID-19 was highly contagious and spreading rapidly. People were being hospitalized and dying. For too long, it seemed, a cure was elusive. Travel restrictions went into effect with kept us from going to Scotland and the Booths from coming here.

Vaccines and medicines have finally corralled - to an extent - the sanguine illness and its effects. And finally, people can feel reasonably safe to travel again.

Kate, Rob and Lucy booked a flight as quickly as they could from Scotland to visit us - and enjoy our summer weather, swimming, visiting amusement parks and spending time with American relatives. Lucy has changed the most, although she still has her long, flowing blond hair. She has grown about a foot. Although only 5 years old (she’ll turn 6 later this month), she has an incredible vocabulary, has become very independent (she selects her own wardrobe and dresses herself first thing in the morning) and insists on getting some of her own food from the refrigerator). She’s polite, is great at gymnastics (including doing splits) and can swim with the best of ’em.

One of the priorities of Kate and Rob was to see 16-year-old Tyler play baseball. They got to see him pitch in two Schuylkill League teener games already, and both times he was impressive.

Tyler’s a new driver and Kate was thrilled to get a ride with him.

Spencer, 13, is anxious to do some baking with Lucy. That seems to be his newest hobby.

He’s also getting into photography and has been helping with our photo library.

I joke with Kate that my main reason for wanting her here is that she can give me a tutorial on my cellphone. I’m honestly stupid when it comes to cellphones, and she’s taught me a lot. I have a different phone than when she was here in 2019. She helped me navigate that phone so I’m glad she could finally come home to help me with this one.

Obviously, I could list literally a million reasons why we’re glad Rob, Kate and Lucy visited. The biggest is that they’re family and we love them dearly.

It’s great that the pandemic is more manageable and travel is again an opportunity. Sure, they ran into flight delays and lost luggage, but they made it home.

Using a famous quote of Aristotle, “Patience is bitter, but the rewards are sweet.”