From today's paper

I just love that phrase ' pen pals on steroids'. I realise that I had many pen pals when I was at school. It was something encouraged by my *very* strait-laced and strict school. So it must have been recognised, even then, that communication with like-minded people was a *good thing*. Hurrah for common sense >g< . In message , KJ writes

Do you remember how you were connected with those penpals? I always wanted one. I had romantic notions of trading long intimate letters with someone who was my perfect secret friend. When I did get a penpal from some sort of international organization, it was with a Japanese boy my age (12 years?). Between his English and my adolescent shyness, we didn't corespond long. I found the few letters I got from him in a box of old letters not too long ago and realize that I thought my penpal was a boy, but they may have given me a girl.

Anyway, I ask because I'm guessing that your strict school might have encouraged communication with students at similarly strict schools. The principal at a school in the U.S. might have set it up with the principal at a school overseas or in another state. It was as though your penpals were vetted for you so you had nothing to worry about. Someone might have represented herself as prettier, a better student, or more popular, but you wouldn't have been coresponding with a middle aged man pretending to be a teenage boy.

--Lia

At the age of 12 in 1948 I had 2 pen-friends in USA. One called Beverly Slusher from Seattle. I soon lost touch with her. The other was Caroline Nebel who lived at Route 1 Versailles ,Missouri. We contacted each other until around 1957. She sent me gifts for my two sons and for myself when we lived in Malta. 50years on I still have the cards and gifts that she sent for my babies . Also the Christmas book and the blue stone and pearl necklace and earrings she sent me. Then I lost touch with as did another of my old school pals that she used to write to. We believe that she became a nun and could no longer correspond with us. I would love to know what became of them both. Shirley

In message , Patti writes

You've caught me, Lia. I am a middle aged man pretending to be a 5'10" blonde Hootchie Mama. Got away with it for a long time, though, didn't I? Polly

"Julia Altshuler" Someone might have represented herself as prettier, a better student, or

I honestly can't remember, but it could have been through the Missions? I was at a convent school, and I'm sure I was given the name(s) at school. I wrote to my Indian friend for years! I took fright when he started saying he would like to come to England to meet me!! I have probably got some photographs somewhere - I'll have to see, one day when I have a spare few hours >g< . In message , Julia Altshuler writes

Ah, and I'm really a teenage boy: tall, thin, with wire rim glasses, taking all A.P. classes, wising off to teachers, and with a bit of a beard just growing in.

--Lia

I had, and still have a pen friend from Norway. Been corresponding for

55+ years. Actually we have absolutely nothing in common but the correspondence continues. She came to stay for 2 weeks when we were about 22 but I was working at the time, couldn't suddenly get time off, so my mother took her around. The poor girl must have been bored to tears.

Letters have now evolved into e-mails and if I don't answer promptly I get a speedly reminder! Funny though, even after all this time I still don't feel I really know her.

Sally at the Seaside~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~uk

Shirley Sh> At the age of 12 in 1948 I had 2 pen-friends in USA. One called Beverly

Howdy!

I just looked in the mirror and I AM who I say I am. My quilts are what I say they are ... altho' the stash is being a big cagey.

Best pen pals in the world, right here.

R/Sandy

I also had a pen pal, Doreen Bond in Cheshire, we lost touch sometime in the early '70s, she was done with school about the time I was in the 9th grade (we were the same age 15/16). Her father died and they opened a coffee bar in their front room. She married, lost a child, had more, and her husband started a window washing business after he lost his job. Bonnie, in Middletown, VA

I've been fortunate to make two very good friends through cyberspace; one a quilter who I was never fortunate enough to meet (she passed away), and another who has been my dear friend for nearly 15 years, and we did finally meet in person.

While it's true people can disguise themselves in cyberspace, a person has just as much opportunity of meeting people who are not who they pretend to be in person. Sure, they can't disguise how they look, but anyone can hide his/her true motives in any venue.

Yes, Pat, pen pals on steroids IS funny. I do think that RCTQ is more on the order of being Pin Pals! ;) PAT in VA/USA

Good one, PAT!! . In message , Pat in Virginia writes

I also used to write to an American Pen Friend many many years ago. She lived in Lansing, Michigan. Her name,Sherill Lee Foust. I loved receiving her letters.We always wrote about our latest 'boy friends' smile. ~She eventually got married, her letters then ceased. Sad really I felt I really knew her. She sent me lots of pictures of herself and her home . I have tried to find if she is still around . Irene Vernon uk

Could this be her?

ahhhh, pen pals. had one in Jr High school. he was from France. our french teacher set it up for each of her students to correspond to a french student, to "polish-up" our french. all i remember is his name was Pierre. dont remember much else, as my french was abismal. but you people are the BOMB!!! love you guys and gals!

amy in CNY