So what becomes of a tripod when it loses a leg?

I am very sorry to write that the trio that is myself, Sarah and Dianne has lost it's bubbliest musketeer.
Dianne received the sad news today that her dear Grandma had passed away early this morning. Without a moments hesitation she decided that she needed to go home to Canada. After hours of holding at the end of the phone and scanning the Internet for cheap flights we drove her on her final trip in W.I.C. to Wellington airport. It was a heartbreaking farewell. It was only as she went out of sight through the departure gate doors that I realised that it could have been any of us going home prematurely because of reasons out of our control. The possibility that I would have to go home early because of reasons other than me running out of money is certainly something that I thought about before leaving and something that we have all discussed here. Honestly if something was to happen that would force me to consider returning early I couldn't have predicted what I would do in such an unfortunate situation...until today. Seeing Dianne in that predicament it was hard not to imagine myself in her shoes and I realised that I would probably do exactly the same thing. If not just for my own piece if mind, then for the comfort of others. It's not nice thought but its one that must be considered when you are so far away from family and friends.
I will miss Dianne hugely and I regret that we parted on such sad terms.