Reconnecting with my childhood friends after 60 years
Lyn Pride (standing in the yellow jeans) with some of her childhood friends, taken in October 2013.
Like many of us during our nostalgic moments, Lyn Pride often thinks back to her school days and wonders what became of her dear childhood friends.
The 72-year-old from Western Australia has such fond memories of her early teenage years, particularly with a pair of twins she was close friends to, that one day she decided she was going to look for them and try to reconnect.
“My father knew the twin's uncle and he would sometimes meet him at the RSL club. I asked my father if he could find out about the twins and where they were. But sadly the uncle became quite ill before my father could see him and he passed away,” recalls Lynn.
“So then I thought I'll probably never going to see these people again!" Lyn laughs in hindsight.
She laughs now, because Lyn did find her long lost friends – and even better, through them she got in touch with many of her old primary school friends; people she hadn’t seen for almost 60 years.
Lyn remembered that one of her twin friends had combined her surname with her husband’s.
“I knew there wouldn't be too many surnames like that around. So I just went through the White Pages and hoped that they would still be in the Sydney area. Lo and behold up it came,” says Lyn, continuing, “It was the correct initials as well so I rang just to make sure and it was her and it was!”
The friends starting chatting like it was old times and soon a catch-up was organised in Sydney, as Lyn just happened to flying over to visit her family there. As twins Janet and Joyce were still in touch with other schoolmates, a special reunion get together was organised.
“We made a date and I went to Janet’s house [the original friend who I phoned], and there were people there I recognised instantly because they hadn't changed at all but others I just couldn't recognise,” says Lyn, reminding, “I hadn't seen them since I was in my very early teens!”
Lyn laughs as she retells meeting her dear twin friends after so long, “I said to the twins when I saw them don't tell me who is who because I used to be able to tell you apart so easily, so I stood there and looked at these two people. I would have passed them in the street and not know them!”
She adds, “Of course, I got it wrong,”
Lyn is thankful she made the decision that one fateful day to reconnect with her friends. Her initiative in taking the first step in reaching out has led to many old friends reuniting. The first meeting in Sydney was four or five years ago, and since then Lyn has been back a couple more times to see her friends. Thanks to the wonders of technology, they all still stay in touch through email.
Reminiscing about their first reunion, Lyn says, “We had so much to catch up on and we didn't have enough time to go through everybody. It was just fantastic, so good to catch up with people and hear their stories. We all brought school photos and other photos of our teenage years ad. Of course we all brought photos of our family to share. It was just all so good.”
Lyn encourages anyone thinking that it’s too late to reconnect with long lost friends or family members to take the first step.
“Don't be afraid to try, just get out there,” advises Lyn. “If you really would like to see someone again, then find ways of finding them. There are still friends out there that I can't find and I would love to see them and say hello again. Just do it!”
It’s never too late, and you never know, it may just lead to a rekindling of dear friendships.
“I find when you catch up with old friends it's like no time has passed and nothing has changed,” says Lynn, adding that seeing her school friends after almost six decades, “I feel like you sort of complete something. Something you've lost, you've found again.”
R U OK? is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to inspire Australians connect and to have regular, meaningful conversations every day of the year to help anyone who might not be ok. Find out more information by visiting the website here.
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