It was Cheryl’s long, black curly hair that first caught Lisa’s attention in 1967. They were at primary school together in Lakeland, Florida, and Cheryl would joke around with Lisa by dangling her ponytail on her desk. “She was always being silly,” remembers Lisa. In second grade, Cheryl broke her arm. “The teacher asked Lisa to write the answers for me. She’s so smart, so she was helping me with the answers too.”
Lisa says they made each other laugh, just as they do now. “She was really outgoing and I’m a lot quieter, so I think Cheryl brought me out of my shell a little bit.” They grew up living on the same street and went through primary and high school together, always remaining close. “We were in a club where you could volunteer for the local community, as well as our junior high band,” says Cheryl. “We would go to the movies together as part of a big group of friends.” Later, they ended up at the same college, the University of Florida; Cheryl got married shortly after they graduated and Lisa was one of her bridesmaids. “We were so close, I don’t think we ever even had a fight,” says Cheryl. They were also “really close” with each other’s mothers, too. “I remember Cheryl’s mum made this amazing cheesecake and would drive up the street to bring it to us,” says Lisa.
After marrying, Cheryl and her husband moved to South Florida. She became an editor for an interior design magazine before raising her three children. She now runs her own party planning business after relocating to LA with her husband 10 years ago. In 2002, Lisa moved to New Zealand, where she lives now. “I’d been in Antarctica before that, working in a science lab. I later became a researcher in palliative care,” she says. Although the pair stayed in touch for a while, both admit their busy lives, the distance and time zone differences became too much, and they drifted apart. “I never stopped thinking about her,” says Cheryl.
Then, in 2022, Lisa’s mum died. Although they weren’t connected at the time, Cheryl saw Lisa’s sister, Alison, post on Facebook about the news. “I was beside myself, so I reached out to Alison to find Lisa,” she says. “I have many stories about Mrs Williams; she was a bright light, very funny and a great lady. She was a big part of my life growing up.”
Cheryl even had a dream that she saw Lisa’s mum. “She used to make boiled peanuts, which is a southern thing. In the dream she was in the kitchen making them and smiling. She came over and gave me a big hug.”
Alison gave Cheryl Lisa’s phone number and the pair reconnected on WhatsApp. “We had a call and it was really good,” says Lisa. “We were laughing so much, it was like no time had passed.” In August 2022, Lisa booked a flight to go and see Cheryl in LA. “She has the most generous heart and it’s so easy to be together,” says Lisa. “It meant a great deal that she got in contact with me. My mother loved Cheryl dearly, and so I am not surprised she visited her ... and prompted her to get in touch! Cheryl is kind of psychic that way.”
Cheryl loves how technology has brought them back together. “I can reach Lisa with the touch of a button. The first time we spoke again, my ribs hurt from laughing so much,” she says. “You have so many loves over the years. If you’re lucky, you find someone who comes with you for your whole life.”
Lisa says they are still alike – just as they were when they were children. “Our backs are hurting at the same time, and we’re sharing the same life transitions. We get to be wise old ladies together. And Cheryl makes life fun.”
