Carolyn and Laura

Christmas Eve 1989 (I think), I was wait in a truck stop with my friend Karen in Nipigon, while Carolyn was waiting with her friend Melody (we were waiting for the Greyhound). Melody knew Karen so we sat with them. When the bus finally arrived, Carolyn and I sat together basically talked the whole hour from Nipigon to Thunder Bay. She was meeting some cousins for the first time and my sister was coming back that night from Toronto after one of her last chemo treatments. We exchanged addresses as she was going to school in Michigan. Thus began our friendship. Despite the miles that separated us over the years, our friendship is something I cherish. I have enjoyed visits to Elyria, Ohio to visit them during the fall time (beautiful), countless phone calls before her and her own family left for Indonesia. Of course, there are letters (I still have them today) and emails. So when I found out she would be in Thunder Bay last weekend, I knew I had to fly back for a short visit. I was able to assist her in maintaining the surprise party for her parents. When I was visiting them on the Friday afternoon, we explained that Carolyn, Karen (sister inlaw) and her daughters would be coming Sat morning to help me decorate the hall for my mom's combo party of her 65th birthday and retirement from full time ER nursing (my mom will be 65 and retiring July 2007). It was perfect to explain why they had to leave earlier in the morning. Thanks for your friendship Carolyn (and your family too). BTW - Bodnar and May were surprised when they walked into the hall seeing their family and friends.