In this episode, Lynda and Jon imagine how profoundly different their childhood experiences of grief might have been if today’s social media, technology, online resources and constant ability to connect had existed when they were children.

For Lynda, social media might have meant feeling far less alone after the plane crash that killed her mother and two sisters. Beyond her immediate family and friends, she had no way of knowing how many people had been affected by the tragedy or how many strangers were grieving alongside her. She imagines the messages, comments and outpouring of support that might have surrounded her and her dad, something that could have felt like a huge warm hug at a time when both of them desperately needed one.

Jon reflects on how technology might have changed his experience as well. His father could have searched for information about childhood grief, found resources to help him understand what his children were going through, and perhaps found support for himself. And for Jon, there is something even more personal: today, we record so much of our lives. Had smartphones existed then, he might have videos and recordings of his mother. He might know the sound of her voice, the way she laughed, how she moved, what she liked and disliked, and pieces of her personality that are simply unavailable to him now.

Lynda also reflects on how differently Air Canada might have responded to her and her father if their treatment of grieving families had unfolded in a world where everyone was watching and experiences could be shared publicly. Technology might also have helped the families affected by the crash find one another instead of some of them meeting for the first time approximately 40 years later.

Lynda and Jon ask whether society has truly come a long way in understanding grief. Their answer is yes, there are far more resources, conversations and opportunities for connection today, but there is still so much more to learn. Grief is deeply personal, and there is no single way to experience it.

Perhaps the most important takeaway from this conversation is also the simplest: no matter how young or old someone is, they very likely still want to talk about the person who died. They want opportunities to share their memories and their feelings. And most of all, they want to know that the person they loved has not been forgotten, and will not be forgotten.