While on the last edition I delved into my thoughts on ageism, aging, being single, and the notion that a happy ending does not requires someone else, today I want to touch on something equally important — love.

Last week, I had the chance to see my grandma after six long years. It was her first time leaving Brazil, her first time on an airplane, and, remarkably, the first time we spent several days together. My grandma and I have never lived in the same city. I grew up in São Paulo, while she lived in Rondônia, a state in Brazil's northern region, over 2,200 kilometers away. When I was born, she traveled by bus for three whole days just to meet me! As her first grandchild, I've always felt her love profoundly.

It's fascinating how, despite never sharing a home or having the typical grandma-grandson relationship, I've always felt deeply connected to her through her love for me. As a child, this puzzled me a lot.

• How could someone love me so much without truly knowing me? Without shared experiences, inside jokes, or conversations? How could she love me so deeply without the presence of memories or touch? Was her love for me simply the love for the idea of having a grandson? And if so, is the love for an idea as strong as the love for something tangible?

These were profound questions for a child to grapple with - which only shows how smart I was back then - but questions that lingered whenever I thought of my grandma. Though I never fully understood it, I began to feel it too. I care for her more than many relatives I grew up with in São Paulo. I long for her touch and cherish her smile, even though our conversations have been few.

I'm not here to answer all the questions I posed earlier… but simply to share that my grandma was the first to show me that love and the idea of love transcend physical presence. As I think on our time together, I'm reminded of the power of love - a power that endures despite distance and time.

Love you Grandma,

Micael.