Best Friends Forever

Priscilla Long Hansen, 7-8-11

Sister Helen Werner, 7-8-11

Helen has a golden hint of red in her light hair, giving us a glimpse of the little redheaded girl she was 87 years ago when she shared a school desk with Priscilla.  At four years of age they were the youngest and only girls in the one room school house in Fowler, Michigan when they met in 1924.  It's no wonder they formed a friendship that would last a lifetime  in spite of their different life choices and thousands of miles of distance between them.  They share a bond very few ever experience.  They last met in person 23 years ago  at Helen's 50th Jubilee of entering the Maryknoll Missionaries.  Letters, phone calls and emails have kept them in touch through the years.  Yesterday they had lunch together in Gaylord, Michigan thanks to her niece Joanne and my Aunt Mary Ellen Heffron who drove Helen upstate to Gaylord to meet with Priscilla and me at Diana's Delights.  And what a delight it was!!

Before we were seated the girls found a chair and
got right to the business of catching up.

                                                                                   

Surrounded by ketchup and wine glasses Sr. Helen and Priscilla
 share a quiet moment  reminiscing and sharing the details of their lives.
 At times I think they were oblivious to the rest of the room.

                                                               

Sister Helen, Mary, Priscilla

                                                                             

Joanne (back left) is Helen's niece, Mary Ellen
 (back right) is my aunt, Priscilla is my mother in law.

A tearful good bye before Sister Helen returns to Fowler then Guatemala.  They both know this was their last opportunity to visit in person.  It was a bittersweet but truly enjoyable reunion of two special friends.