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Show v V la B m L ' ' I Lucille Bridges show on map. some of the places where she has pen pals, totaling over 40. She keeps In contact with these people through regular 40 Pen -Pals Keeping Panguitch Woman Busy When a person writes 34 to 40 pen pals from all over the world she gains a knowledge about the country around her, learns of different per sonalities and in the case of Lucille Bridges, Panguitch, gains a lot of handicraft ideas. Through writing to so many women, they have all formed a quilt club, doll club, recipe club and other types of dubs. They send a quilt pattern of their state designed by themselves and in return receive quilt blocks from other women. "I have received about 60 quilt blocks from all but 10 states which include New Mexico, Oregon, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Hawaii, Maryland, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and South Dakota." At the present time Lucile writes to 34 pen pals; four in England, two in Canada, one in New Zealand, two in Australia and the rest in the United States. How did she get so many? Some she got out of books, others she started writing to because one of her pen pals would say, "Would you please write to my friend. She is lonely." "It is interesting to hear about their families and what they do. Part of the ladies work; others don't. I write to ladies between the ages of 24 and 82," she said. It is interesting to note when it is winter here it is summer in Australia. They have Christmas in the middle of summer. Sounds funny for people to be going to the beach to have a barbeque for Christmas. Although the English ladies speak the same language as we use, many of the words have different meaning. "I have to constantly look in the English dictionary to see what the words mean. For instance they go on a holiday to the seaside, where we go on a vacation to the beach." "I have written to one of the pen pals in England since I was 15. That is over 30 years. She is coming to Panguitch next summer to meet us. I am so excittJ I u.n hardly wait," Lucille said. One u ,! e women is about 45, she is unmarried and still lives with and takes care of her mother Ano'Jier has a ceramic hop that slie and her husband run. Another woman has many meoical problems, she is ill, her son was in an accident several years ago and will never be able to get around Some of the ladies live lives that make you appreciate what we have, she said. "We find usually our problems aren't bad after all. For instance one lady has five children, her husband is out of work, her boy ran away from home, her girls are on drugs." She has learned a great deal about the country. "Did you know Idaho is bordered by six other states and Canada?" She learns different ways to make different items. Some women have energy plus Lucille seems to be this type woman. Her house is spotless, she has a small son and the rest of her children are married except an 18-year-old girl at home. She works part time at the KOA campground, located just across the street from where they live and she said she has met many wonderful people there. She loves to visit with them, again learning about the area they come from, their way of doing things. "Many have become lasting friends," she added. Irtters and is well informed on customs, habits and attitudes of people throughout the world because of her correspondence. She and a group of local ladies love to go out hunting for rocks and arrowheads. She loves to paint using oils and has only painted once with water colors and feels this way is harder. "I have so many things I would love to do!" She has discovered she can get her work done by noon, including her baking and have the rest of the day to do what she wants. She doesn't worry about what to do with spare time during the afternoon hours. "My problem is I have too many hobbies," she said. How does her husband feel? "He doesn't mind at all. The only time he really jawed me was last summer when I ordered 90 skeins of yam because they were on sale." However it is only a year later and she only has 20 skeins left. She has made afghans, pillow tops and sweaters for gifts. One ambition she has is to write a book. "But I will probably be 87 before then," she added. "Until then 1 have plenty to keep me busy." She does write poetry and short stories in her spare time. |
