Pen pals for life

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MOSSEL BAY NEWS - In 1966, a 10-year-old girl embarked on a special friendship. Her school principal inspired children to become pen pals with peers overseas.

Mossel Bay resident Elizabeth Izaakse (Tolken), now aged 67, was a Grade 4 learner at Fauna Park Primary School in Phalaborwa when she penned her inaugural letter, along with a photo of herself, to her newfound American pen pal, Mary-Ann Lee (Sebring), now also 67, from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.

It didn't take long before she received her first letter from America.

PHOTO GALLERY: Pen pals forever

Bursting with excitement, she eagerly opened the letter, which contained not only words but also a snapshot of her new friend and her dog.

For 35 years, these two pen pals shared their lives on paper, without any phone conversations. Elizabeth relocated within South Africa about seven times during these years. The friends corresponded about three or four times annually. Interestingly, both of them had daughters. Without each other being aware of it, Elizabeth named her daughter Yolana, while coincidentally Mary's daughter was named Elana. Both daughters are in their 40s now. The Izaakses also have a son, named after his father, Anton.

Challenges

Mary faced considerable challenges after the loss of her mother in 2001 and her father in early 2002. With all the sorrows at that time, Mary decided to visit South Africa. In March 2002, at Cape Town International Airport, the two pen pals finally met face to face after 35 years' correspondence.

"Our initial meeting was a bit strange. I had known this woman for 35 years, yet I didn't really know her. The experience was a mix of emotions. We cried, we laughed and both of us were brimming with excitement. We discussed everything imaginable," recounts Elizabeth.

"We enjoyed an incredible 10 days together in Cape Town, Mossel Bay, and the neighbouring towns," Elizabeth recalls. Mary said: "Meeting up with Elizabeth was a lifelong dream that has finally come true."

United States

From a young age, Elizabeth consistently expressed to her mother her aspiration to visit the United States. It took her four decades to finally fulfil this dream. In 2006, Elizabeth turned 50 and, with her husband's blessing, journeyed to America to meet Mary, Mary's daughter Elana and friend James, at JFK Airport in July 2006. "That visit was truly amazing," Elizabeth recalls. "Mary always told me we must reunite before we rest, meaning we should meet again before we pass away."

Fast forward 17 years to June this year, this time accompanied by her husband Anton, Elizabeth travelled to America and arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey to visit Mary and her new friend Mark in the village of Bath, Pennsylvania. Their itinerary included visits to New York City, numerous towns around Bath, and a trip to Mark's cabin in the 1000 Islands. "Words can't capture the beauty we experienced there," Elizabeth exclaims.

Two weeks later, the Izaakses returned to Mossel Bay, with cherished memories of their time with Mary, their enduring pen pal. Elizabeth shared with the Mossel Bay Advertiser that modern technology has immensely facilitated communication, with WhatsApp and emails bridging the gap. Unlike the past, where postal communication took considerable time, today messages traverse the globe in an instant.

"We still communicate regularly, electronically and even through WhatsApp video calls," she affirms.

Photo: Supplied