Monday, July 30, 2007

When Are You Too Old For A Pen Pal?

About seven months ago, I suddenly heard from the boyfriend I had when I was 16--my first love. He tracked me down from a relative that appeared in the news, writing to the relative to ask if I was any relation. So, at 54, I acquired a pen pal and we now correspond regularly talking about our children, our spouses, our aging parents, and Life. It's different than talking with contemporary friends or co-workers--this is someone that knows the Me before all the layers of growing older and all the attached experiences piled on. Although he's taken a very different route religiously than I did, we keep finding parallels in our lives that are freakily (yes, I know that's not a real word, but it is freaky)similar. And as we share our life's journeys, it gives both of us a chance to explore where we've been since we were teenagers.

I bet you're thinking, "Uh oh. . .trouble". Nope, nothing like that. Both marriages are great. It's just nice to talk to someone that remembers Young Me.

4 comments:

yours truly said...

I just stopped in to visit your blog this morning and enjoyed the reading very much. So many wonderful people out there! Nice to meet you. Happy blogging!

In her own Voice said...

haha, looks like yours truly and I frequent the same places!

Dropping in today sporting my new profile image--Audrey looking all thoughtful and dreamy! Like it?

Would you mind me placing your link on my blog? It would be easier for me to navigate here. (unless there's another way I haven't figured out yet!)

In her own Voice said...

I can sooo relate to the freedom you must feel in being able to talk to the old boyfriend! (Actually just read this post!)

It's uncanny how much I've been going back and thinking about myself in those maiden years, as if to seek advice from her about how I want to "be" as I move into the next decade of my life!

In answer to your question about how to contact, it appears neither of us have posted our email addresses on our profiles. So without one of us doing that or exchanging them in the comment section, I don't know how that might happen...

I'm willing for you to have my email address, but don't want to post it here on the site. Well, wait, I do actually have an old aol address that doesn't identify me and I can give you that and we can go from there. I don't check those accounts anymore, so let me know if you're going to send something and I will open it up. Then I can give you my normal address.

It's MoondanceM9@aol.com

In her own Voice said...

Hey there,
Wanted to let you know I've just posted a social commentary blog prompted by the Minneapolis bridge collapse. Would like to hear a comment or two on your response.

BTW, I hope I didn't misinterpret your meaning about ways for us to send and receive messages. I hadn't heard back from you and I saw that the comment below my last one had been deleted. Hope there's no misunderstanding undermining our continued blog fellowship!