Hello Friends:
I counted my chickens before they hatched. And so the annual winter sinus infection and bronchitis hit me when I wasn’t looking. But before that happened, I caught up with one of my “penpals”.
I never met any of my childhood penpals. So it was lovely to meet someone with whom I only started corresponding in adulthood!
Years ago, Dick and Angel Strawbridge started a TV show and, coming from a background in network television myself, I encouraged them and told my friends to watch the series — called Escape to the Chateau.
Throughout the years, Angel and I kept in touch, sometimes sporadically.
Her kids enjoyed the Myrtle the Purple Turtle series. (I think the Myrtle fridge magnet is still in their kitchen). And when she wrote a new book, I cheered her on.
So my husband decided to buy us tickets to the Toronto stop of their North American tour – a fabulous show.
I was pleased with their shoutout of me and the Myrtle books from the stage. Nicer still was seeing how Arthur and Dorothy have grown, and meeting Angel and Dick in person. We kept hugging each other – we may not meet again!
Also in uplifting news:
The first batch of amaryllis bulbs brought indoors, over-wintered and planted, has bloomed. Hooray!
My best wishes, friends.
What a wonderful thing, to finally meet a childhood penpal as an adult! And you have kept in contact all these years!
Wishing you all the very best in life, and I hope you will meet again. Your post made my morning.
The amaryllis blooms are beautiful!
Well, I’m certainly hoping to meet you in person too! Don’t know when, but that’s on my bucket list!
It is on my bucket list, too.
How nice to finally meet. Your amaryllis are looking great and I have one outside that is about to bloom. It’s always good to see you post. Hope you feel better.
I shall have to check your blog for a photo if those blooms! Good to hear from you.
Holy cats, Cynthia! Dick and Angel. How cool is that? We’ve watched all their shows, and we admire them so much. It’s amazing what they’ve accomplished.
They’re remarkable. And as lovely in person as on the screen. And the little kids who read the Myrtle the Purple Turtle books are big now!
Yes, I am sure the kids have grown. I remember when Dorothy was just a little baby. So adorable!
It was good to see a new post from you come across my email. Thank you for the update. I hope you’re recovered from your wintertime illness. It’s always so exciting to see an amaryllis bloom.
Good to hear from you too, Liz. I’m feeling much better now and thankful for it.
I’m glad you’re feeling better, Cynthia.
How nice that you were able to see and visit with your friends/pen pals Cynthia. I love the smell of amaryllis flowers in small doses and hope you’re feeling better. Take care.
Is it spring yet? Happy Days to you.
Thank you. Yes, it’s spring!
Wonderful visit recap. Hope you health returns with the Spring.
A wonderful meeting. I am sorry about your annual winer ailments
Hope you are feeling better. What a fun experience meeting a penpal in person. Your Amaryllis are beautiful. Congrats to your green thumb.
Fabulous, friends, significant other, and flowers! best rewards in life.
rita
Sounds like the trip of a lifetime – what a marvellous meeting!
Cynthia, I’m sorry you’ve been poorly and hope you’re over the worst of it all. Oh, those friendships are precious and what an amazing time to connect in person – no wonder there were hugs galore! How special that they mentioned your books at the show, bless! Take care and Happy Spring! Xx
Thank you, Annika!
So sorry to hear that winter/spring ailments caught up with you too, Cynthia. Here’s to a healthy summer. And lovely to hear about your trip and catching up with old penpals. :-) Always a reason to smile. 🙂
I hope you’ve recovered from your winter illnesses Cynthia. I’m very familiar with Dick and Angel from the TV, it must have been interesting to meet them in person!
What a lovely story. A sort of soulmate in your writing world. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Jacqui.
How delightful to meet after all the years of friendship from across the Atlantic. Hope that with spring and warm temps that you have fully recovered and doing well.
What a treat to meet someone you’ve known through writing after so many years. It’s a challenge to keep in touch nowadays, so to not have done so is an accomplishment in and of itself. I hope by now you are feeling beyond 100%!
Not so many years, actually. Our first letters were exchanged after they started the show. Now they’ve launched a new series but I don’t think we can get it here.