Special Reunions

Marilyn Jefferies Lee and her husband, Chris, picked us up at our Cairns hotel yesterday morning. This was a very special reunion for me since I hadn't seen her for 40 years and had never met Chris. Marilyn and I were "sisters" my senior year in high school when she came all the way from Queensland to live with my family in Wilmette (as in Illinois) through the American Field Service exchange program.

The day was filled with "Do you remember...?" reminiscing about things at home from a glass candy dish to listening to brother David at the piano as he learned to play jazz. Even though we both spoke English, I didn't 't know Australian and she didn't know American. We had fun learning - all those years ago.

Now one husband, three sons, and a brand new first grandchild for her and two husbands, a daughter and a son, and two grandchildren later for me, we have just begun to scratch the surface of catching up.

This trip has been amazing with new experiences and new friends, but my reunion with Marilyn is the most meaningful of all and was truly the driving force to come to Australia!

Today we head down to their home in Townsville where we will be for the next few days. I can't wait to meet the rest of her family and that new grandbaby. Another day and another adventure!