OVER 65 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP

DOROTHY SADLER PRATT

KATE LINDO HAUGHTON-JAMES

        Over 65 years ago when my mother Kate Lindo, a student at Westwood High School in Trelawny, Jamaica and Dorothy Sadler a freshman in high school in South Dakota, U.S.A. were given each other's names as part of an English assignment little did they know that it would lead to a long lasting friendship.


         On Monday, Dorothy departed this life and was laid to rest in Huron, South Dakota earlier today. Mom got married to Harry Haughton- James while Dorothy got married to Weldon Pratt.  Despite having to raise families among other responsibilities over the years they kept in touch exchanging letters, emails, cards, pictures and gifts. 


         We often hear the statement "Never give up on a dream" and this is so true.  The life long dream that they would meet some day became a reality in 2006.  Dorothy, her daughter Jane and son-in-law Orrin came to Jamaica and we met in the popular tourist resort of Ocho Rios. We had a good time chatting and laughing while we enjoyed the delicious Jamaican cuisine, tropical climate and breathtaking view of the waterfalls at the popular Ruins Restaurant. We even had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with the owner, Mr. Karl Hendrikson, who stopped by our table and spoke with us for awhile. Of course such an occasion could not pass without pictures. In an earlier post titled "THE JOYS OF PEN-PALLING" I have 2 pictures of that occasion.


        Dorothy is no longer physically here but the wonderful memories will live on forever.  My family and I look forward to keeping in touch with her daughter Jane and we know that Dorothy would be so happy about this.

        She is now in a better place and we will all meet again some day. I thank one of my Facebook friends and former Marymount High schoolmate Karen Kong Wilson for sharing this wonderful quotation by Dr. Seuss with me a few days ago - "Don't cry because it is over. Smile because it happened."


       In the meantime Mom and I will treasure all the pictures that she has received of Dorothy and her family and an article written by Crystal Pugsley in the Plainsman newspaper where Dorothy was interviewed about her meeting with my mom.