I experienced two of the biggest news stories of the mid-to-late 80s through my middle school pen pals.

My sixth grade pen pal, Katya, lived in Kiev, (very near Chernobyl) and my eighth grade pen pal, whose name escapes me, <img src="frown.gif" border="0"> lived in Alaska, near the site of the oil spill in Prince William Sound.

I "met" my eighth grade pen pal before the oil spill, and our letters were mostly about normal kid stuff until the disaster. Afterward, she wrote very movingly of the effect the oil spill was having on her family and friends.

Anyone else have similar experiences? I'll write more later, but I'm a little sleepy still. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

I, too, had quite a few penpals from around the world during the 80s... I remember receiving a letter from my penpal in Australia, Janelle, the very day of the Challenger explosion, and writing a letter to her that night detailing my feelings about this horiffic event. We also discussed Live Aid at length and also the bombing of the naval base in Lebanon. I still have contact with Janelle to this very day...

<FONT COLOR="#6699cc" SIZE="1">[ May 10, 2001 11:57 AM: Message edited by: MDC ]</font>

When I was in the second grade I had a friend named Donna. Her Dad was in the Air Force so they moved around a lot. She ended up moving the end of that school year. We stayed pen pals until we were about 24, then we lost contact.

Never had a pen pal<img src="frown.gif" border="0"> I did have a friend who moved to FLA. in the 80s. We wrote for while but it just sorta died down. She moved back to area and I run into her every now and then but we dont talk. Odd huh?

I never had a pen pal as I was growing up either. My sister did though she used to write another girl her age in Wales England, they even talked on the phone a couple of times and traded currency, you know, curious things. But in todays age with the internet, email, forums, message groups, usenet ..... etc, we basically are taking on national and international pen pals, just a differnt format, and a whole lot quicker! I find talking with people from all over the world to be fun and educational, but when it is all said and done, we're all the same. <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0">

ITA, Urethane, the Internet is an International Social Club, that really has brought the world closer together. I, do, however, miss the Lost Art of letter writing; actually sitting down and putting pen to paper and writing my thoughts down...

The Valley of the 80s (http://www.SwiftSite.com/80sdude)

I need a pen pal <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> Does anyone want to be my pen pal? or e-mail pal? <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

*Waving arms and whistling* Oooh me...pick me <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

OK <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0"> We can be pen pals and the bestest of frends <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> We can exchange letter about boys, new hair styles and pms <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> hehe Just give me your address then I wll give you mine <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> We will have so much fun <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0"> 'giggles'

Boys?.....New hair styles???.....PMS?!?!?!?!<img src="eek.gif" border="0"> *Not Man runs screaming out of the room* <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0">

Fine then! <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> I guess I will have no pen pals <img src="frown.gif" border="0"> <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> I was going to write about candy and fun toys but since you ran away screaming....Does anyone else want to be my pen pal? I need a friend<img src="frown.gif" border="0"> hehe

Sorry topcat <img src="smile.gif" border="0"><img src="smile.gif" border="0"> I thought you were serious <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> I will be your friend...OK? <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

Whoo Hoooo ! Not Man is my friend <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> We can be pen pals <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> What should we write about? <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0">

Of course you are my friend topcat. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">
I am not sure I am new to having a pen (e-mail) pal. I never had one when I was in school. <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

Thats OK Not Man<img src="smile.gif" border="0"> Sorry <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> I got to personal <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> I was not trying to go that way <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> No hard feelings?

How could I be mad at you? <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> *Hugs for topcat* <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

Topcat, I'll be your penpal or anybody else's. I also miss putting pen to paper and getting my thoughts down although I adore the internet. Seriously though, email me privately so we can work out all the details. I miss getting letters from foreign locations and the thrill of waiting for one and then recieving it.

Chris

<img src="smile.gif" border="0">

I have me a great penpal and he is the BEST! <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> I will leave him a hug here
{{{{{{hug}}}}}}}} <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0">

Lucky guy....whoever he is <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0">