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By Ernie Smothers
smothers@mckenziebanner.com |
Enjoying a visit to the Dole Plantation were (L to R)
Jim Liao, wife Judy, Judy Roberts, Vicky Anderson, and
Demetria Collins.
Huntingdon Middle School Guidance Counselor Judy Roberts
could not believe her good fortune. On her first-ever
trip to Hawaii; she had not only succeeded in locating a
friend from her childhood, but was now only moments away
from meeting her.
The only problem, however, was that Judy had no idea
what her friend looked like.
Pen Pals
Forty-five years ago, in the fall of 1962, then
Clarksburg fourth grader Judy (Smothers) decided to
write a letter to the fourth grade class in Hilo,
Hawaii.
A short time later, Judy received a letter from a fellow
fourth grade student at Hilo named Judy Nagata.
She recalled, “My new pen pal told me that her teacher
had chosen me for her to write to because our first
names were the same and our ages were nearly the same.”
Roberts said that the first communications between the
two focused on relating about each’s school experiences.
Unlike today, in the age of near-instantaneous Internet
e-mail response, communications between the two were
tedious.
“It would usually take about a month between the time I
would send her a letter and when I would receive her
response,” she stated.
Roberts noted that in time, the two began to share more
than just written observations of their life and
culture.
Smiling, she recalled, “Judy and I began to send photos,
birthday cards and gifts to each other. Every Christmas,
we would send cards and presents to each other. I still
have many of the gifts, cards and presents I received
back then.”
By the time she had entered fifth grade, Judy’s teacher,
Mrs. Mabel Rush, would read her pen pals letters to the
class.
“Her letters were interesting to my classmates,
especially since she lived so far away,” she added.
Roberts noted that the two continued to write each other
until the end of the fifth grade.
Then, inexplicably, the letters stopped.
She said, “I have asked myself many times through the
years why we stopped writing each other after the fifth
grade. I honestly don’t remember.” She continued, “Maybe
it was because our lives became too busy with school and
social activities…I just don’t know.”
Life goes on
In the years that followed, Judy graduated high school
and college, met, fell in love with and married Steve
Roberts, and settled in the Red Top community located
five miles from Huntingdon. The parents of two sons,
Chett and Cody, She has worked in the field of education
for 29 years.
A Trip through Time
In September of 2005, Vicky Anderson, wife of Judy’s
first cousin Larry from Jackson, informed that they were
planning a cruise to Hawaii in the spring of 2006 with
friend Demetria Collins and asked Judy if she was
interested in joining them.
Judy stated, “I was thrilled when I heard about their
plans (for the trip). I had never had the opportunity to
go to Hawaii, and going there would fulfill a life-long
dream. In addition, I was excited to learn that the
cruise ship we would travel on was scheduled to dock the
first day in Hilo, giving me an opportunity to attempt
to locate my pen-pal.”
Reflecting on arriving in Hilo, Judy recalled, “After
our ship docked that morning, we ate breakfast at a
restaurant located on the port. After the meal, I spoke
to an older lady who resided there regarding my interest
in locating my pen pal. She provided me with a list of
ten to twelve phone numbers of families with the last
name Nagata that lived on the island.”
Upon returning to her room, Judy immediately began
placing calls.
She said, “After completing the third or fourth
unsuccessful call, I scanned the list and noticed
something quite peculiar. She added, “There was a phone
number near the middle of the list that was a number
that was identical to our home phone except it had one
different number. I dialed it. The person who answered
stated that she was 88 years of age. She sounded as
though she was in frail condition, and was having
difficulty understanding me.” She continued, “I asked
her if she remembered her daughter having a pen-pal from
Tennessee when she was a child and she responded that
she thought she did. I explained to her that I was that
person and very much wanted to speak with her daughter.
Her mom told me that Judy had married and moved to
Honolulu. Fortunately, she provided me with her phone
number.”
Armed with the needed information, Judy persistently
called the number all that day. Finally, later that
evening, her pen-pal answered the phone.
Hello Again
 
Judy Roberts speaks for the first time with pen
pal Judy (Nagata) Liao.
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Reflecting on the conversation, Judy smiled, “I remember
telling her that I was her pen-pal from 45 years ago,
and that I was on vacation in Hawaii and had hoped to
find her. It was a special and emotional conversation,”
she added, her eyes glistening at the memory.
Judy, in relating to her long-lost friend that her
cruise ship was scheduled to spend its last day and
night docked at Honolulu, asked if it was possible for
the families to meet. Her friend stated that she and her
husband would visit at their hotel on the day of their
arrival.
Judy recalled, “The morning of the meeting, I was on
pins and needles. I couldn’t remember what she looked
like. A couple came in and sat down near us. Thinking it
might be them; I went over and asked if they were
looking for someone. Judy and her husband walked up at
that time and heard me speaking about my pen-pal.”
After introduction, Judy stated that her pen pal told
her that she looked familiar to her.
During conversation, the now Judy Liao stated that she
and her husband Jim, a retired civil engineer, had met
at college while she was earning a degree in business.
The couple is the parents of a twin son and daughter.
After retiring from their respective fields, the couple
purchased a small farm to raise Gardenia plants
commercially.
Judy said, “Their business must be a fairly large
operation. They employ five to six people full-time and
also employ part-time help.” She continued, “Judy’s job
is to pick the best blossoms to be used in Lays.”
After enjoying lunch together, the couples enjoyed a
tour of the Dole Pineapple Plantation in Oahu.
Judy said that much of the conversation between the two
friends centered on the terrible epidemic of drug abuse
rampant in Hawaii and America. Jim, an avid basketball
fan, spoke about enjoying watching the University of
Tennessee Lady Volunteers women’s basketball team
compete on television.
“I asked Judy if she would be interested in visiting us
in Tennessee, and she said yes. Her husband, however,
did not seem interested in doing so due to having to
leave the farm.”
Continuum
Judy stated that she and her pen pal have kept in touch
since their meeting.
“We are writing letters to each other again, and it’s
great. I had always dreamed that I would meet her but
never really thought I would. It was a wonderful
experience.” Concluding, Judy said, “Our meeting was
meant to be. This was supposed to happen.” |
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