Pen pals meet at Christmas

Eight years ago, a former Emo girl and one from Australia became pen pals, first writing letters and then using e-mail to get to know each other.
This year, Shannon Carlson, now attending university in Kingston enrolled in a business administration course, and Tara Diamond, a travel and tourism graduate “down under,” began discussing how to meet for the first time.
After elaborating on several ideas, the girls decided it would be a fantastic idea to have Diamond come to Canada for Christmas.
They met at Pearson International Airport in Toronto–a joyous event for both to finally see each other face-to-face. Then their plan was to come to Emo to spend part of the festive season with Carlson’s parents, Bob and Ewen Dimit.
Coming here by way of Carlson’s brother-in-law, Shane McDonald, who had just completed a six-week course in Hamilton, Diamond said the trip was magnificent, adding it was something she had been looking forward to.
Besides the wonderful scenery, this also would be her first “white” Christmas.
“Down under in Australia, it is always a green Christmas [it is summer there in December] although we decorate with Christmas tinsel, bells, and streamers.”
“Our Christmas tree has some lighting [though] not as much as in Canada,” she added. “I love the change, it is wonderful.”
For her part, Carlson is planning to spend Christmas the Australian way, perhaps next year. “It would be returning the favour, and an experience I’m looking forward to,” she said.
The pair returned to Toronto via Winnipeg last Wednesday, and had planned to attend New Year’s Eve celebrations in Times Square in New York City.
“We are going there to have a good time and ring in the new millennium with a bang,” they said, aware of the risk involved but not thinking for one moment that anything will happen.
Diamond will stay in Canada until March, touring and visiting different locations throughout eastern Canada and upstate New York.
In the meantime, Carlson is returning to Queen’s University to complete her studies while Diamond is interested in going into security and becoming a policewoman down the road.