By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
HEATHER Downey knows it was destiny that led her to embark on the trip of a lifetime.
A confluence of dates representing anniversaries and memorials in the lee of Mother’s Day left her counting down the weeks since the start of the year.
Heather left Grovedale for Livermore, California yesterday to meet her pen pal of 38 years, La Nor Smith, for the first time.
“It was the perfect synergy of dates to leave on this visit. It was all meant to be,” Heather said between departure preparations.
Heather is more used to assisting others with their holiday plans through her work at Bellarine Bayside.
It was during her school years at the-then Morongo Girls College that the word-based friendship began and flourished.
“We were given options of what counties we wanted a pen friend from. Mum had been pen friends with someone in America for years and she encouraged me to do the same.
“There is a genuine friendship there, it’s not just the words on paper, but we care about each other’s lives.
“We have spoken on the phone off and on and now we use Facebook but we still hand write letters like we always have.
“I feel as though we know each other so well, there’s no apprehension. People who have pen friends would understand how I feel about this.”
The commitment has passed to a third generation with the daughter of one of Heather’s friends and La Nor’s god daughter now writing to each other.
