VOL. XXII, NO. 10
MAY 15, 1981

Special Friendships Spread Through the United States
BY LIBBY CLAUS

There was a time in my life when I had approximately thirty different types of pen-pals. This was because of all the interests I had in my wonderful, seventh grade year.

By eighth grade only two interests remained. I figure this was because most of my interests had changed. My teen idol brought me two new pen-pals. It all started that afternoon in 1976 when I was in the sixth grade and I filled out my first form for receiving a pen-pal.

Three weeks went by and I hadn't heard from the girl yet, but by the fourth week it happened. I heard from Lori K. for the first time and she was from Norfolk, Neb. and her family owned a farm. The number of sheep her family owned was endless. She was the first pal I ever called on the telephone. She answered with a country accent and thought I was her best friend, Penny, pulling her leg. On June 14 she and I will have been writing for five years. Just two weeks ago, she sent me an invitation to her graduation ceremony. I wish I could go and meet her, but things were planned way ahead of time.

The next pen-pal I received was Aileen. She's a southerner but doesn't have an accent. She lives in Florida.
 Lori L. was chosen on a list of fifty because I never had a pen-pal from Wyoming before and she's a cowboy alright. I've got a picture to prove it. She's the oldest of the five pen-pals and has a reputation in my book about being an Ann Landers type.

Monica was discovered when we joined a fan club for our most favorite celebrity under twenty. She had said that she had some live pictures of this star. I wrote for them, willing to pay, but she said I didn't have to and eventually our friendship grew and grew.

Jeremy, the latest on my pen-pal list, was discovered at my father's 25th college reunion along with six other people. but, so far he and I are the only ones that really have kept in touch. He has recently writ-ten to tell me what kids do in California on hot days. They do the same things as around here: wear shorts, play that good rock and roll music, and bear the heat during school hours. Jeremy is also full of puns. One time I wrote and said that I was sorry to hear about the earthquakes. He wrote back assuring me not to worry about them because they're everything they're cracked up to be.

This summer I'll be working, going to school, and now writing more letters.