After reading the article on “The Art of Letter Writing” in your May issue of Downhome, I thought you may be interested in reading the enclosed article. I have kept it short but the main thought is that for 50 years I and my friend in England have written letters to each other twice a month. It is still a thrill and a joy each time I see an envelope from Barbara because I know that I am hearing from my best friend. In the spring of 1963 I was a grade 10 student at Holy Heart of Mary Regional High School in St. John’s. As part of our English class we had to get the name of a pen pal and write to them. I found the name of a girl in England and decided I would like to write to her. I wrote my first letter and felt a little awkward doing so because I wasn’t sure what to say. I waited and waited for her reply, wondering if she would decide to reply. Several of the girls in my class had written letters and hadn’t received replies. Finally after a few weeks I went home for lunch and Mom told me there was a letter for me on the table. I hurried to find an airmail letter with my name on it and postmarked England. I immediately open it and was pleased to see a three page letter. Her name was Barbara, she was my age and she enclosed a picture. From her writing she seemed to be a kind and caring person. It has been 50 years since I wrote that first letter. Little did I know that I was going to find my best friend at the other end of that letter. We have written twice a month since the beginning and it is still a great joy to see a letter from Barbara waiting for me when I check the mail daily. She has been there for me with her kindness, her support and her friendship. I have only met her once, but it was a truly rewarding and wonderful experience. She and her husband came to Canada for a few days about 10 years ago and spent a day in Toronto. It was bittersweet because I knew they wouldn’t be coming back to Canada and I wouldn’t be able to get to England. We are both retired and in our senior years now and these letters have become treasured momentos to us as we read and enjoy the wonderful words of a treasured friend. The art of letter writing has held a friendship together for us for 50 years and it has truly proven that friends are friends no matter where they are living, whether it is next door or across the world. For me letter writing has proven that a friend is a treasure forever.   Submitted By: NULL