While cleaning out some papers yesterday, we came upon a letter from a pen pal from Wales that I corresponded with for years. I began writing to her when I was in 7th grade and continued until her death. The letter we found related the turning point (for the worse) in her life. We wrote as we went through school together, but correspondence decreased after I left for college and the Navy, but this letter arrived a few months after I married. Pat (for that was her name) had married and had two children while I was doing my other stuff, and she had lost track of my address while I was moving all over the place. The letter found was a response to a letter I had written to her once I had a stable address and had married. She had become pregnant and delivered twins, after which her husband left her for another, supposedly stating he "couldn't take the responsibility of 4 children". What a weasel! Anyway, after her divorce, she developed a severe case of MS and eventually died of complications. I have no idea what happened to her family, although the children had all grown by the time she died. I just thought I would post this sad story as it brought the sadness I felt as she continued though her life. She was forced to move, as she could no longer afford where she was living after her husband's abandonment.
Very moving , I could imagine you having a little tear reading that final letter from your pen pal Before I fled the town where I was born ( 500 miles from the nearest city ) Adelaide I had a pen friend . My parents had left town and the home had new residents so I’ve got no idea what happened to any mail from him after my parents left town ( I suspect they got kicked out for not paying the rent ) ( town had about 40.000 residents at the time ) he lived in the US can’t even remember where, we corresponded for about 10 years from when I was 14 years old @Don Alaska
I had two pen friends, pen pals in Australia. One was in NSW and one was in Tasmania. The one in Tasmania stopped writing and the one in NSW just faded away as we got older. I also had one in Brittany in France.
I had a pen pal from Wales that I have lost. Her husband was in the oil business so they were international, not able to keep friends as they moved quite a bit. But we kept up over our horses. One time she had wanted to see Montana???? not Wisconsin. So I hooked her up with a friend I knew there to give her info on her visit. We never met up and I have since lost her.
I had a dear friend from England who introduced me to a few of these senior forums. Some of us here knew her as Maywalk. Her name was actually Maisie Walker, and she was in her mid 90s. Maisie had been ill on and off over the past couple of years and was in and out of the hospital. She passed away yesterday and will truly be missed by me. We'd email each other and always end with a joke. She had a terrific sense of humor. She wrote of her experiences throughout WWII. Some were written with great humor, and you should try to read these accounts.
Sorry to hear of the loss of your friend @Lois Winters. It sounds as though she lived a long life and contributed to the lives of others.
My condolences on the passing of your friend, Lois. I'm glad she had a great life — and that you had such a great friend in your life.
Lois, I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your friend. They are falling around me as well. My childhood friends, I only have one left and I haven't heard from her in a while. But we think of them often as good memories from the past are uplifting.
Lois this is sad, I know she will be missed, My best friend is ok but like me has health issues, and she is very important to me since we were 12.
She was a member here, although it's been more than a couple of years since she's been here. I bought one of her books.
I'm sorry for the loss of your friend, Lois. My mother was also a British WW2 survivor, a few years older than Maisie. A special generation slowly disappearing...