Friendship that is real doesn’t have any limits.
Mary O’Neill and Benjamin Olson live next door to each other and spend a lot of time together playing ball, talking, and just enjoying each other’s company. The fact that they are 97 years apart doesn’t seem to matter at all.
Due to the pandemic, it was good for the two neighbors to find each other.
Mary, who was 99, spent a lot of time alone at home. She would pass the time by playing Yahtzee on a portable electronic device or watching TV. “I play against myself,” Mary said. Benjamin was with his parents and younger brother at home.
“This house is mostly just us…He has never really been friends with anyone else.” – Sarah Olson, Benjamin’s mom.
When Mary and Benjamin went outside for the first time, everything changed. They quickly became friends. Mary goes to the fence in her yard and waves to Benjamin. “Hi Benjamin!,” she says. Benjamin runs down his back steps with joy to see his friend.
Benjamin runs to get a ball so they can start playing, which is one of their favorite things to do.
It’s called “Cane Ball.” With a smile, Mary says. She puts her cane over the fence and hits Benjamin’s ball with it. They both laugh and smile and start the game over again right away. “Here it comes,” Mary tells Benjamin.
Sarah, Benjamin’s mom, starts to cry when she talks about how cute it is that they are friends. “His very first best friend,” she says.
“I missed seeing them, especially when it was too cold for them to come out or when it was raining.” – Mary O’Neil
Mary’s words make Benjamin’s mom think about how important this friendship has become. “I had never known that,” says Sarah. “I’m so happy that they have each other.”
Benjamin points his stomp rocket over the fence into Mary’s yard to start the games over again. Mary says, “Go!” and it starts to move.
Mary’s old son’s cars were a treat for Benjamin.
Mary’s son used to own the cars. “My son’s,” Mary says. “He died, so they have been sitting in the basement for a very long time.” Mary’s husband had died 37 years before. Her house is full of pictures of her grandkids and great-grandchildren, who live out of state and can’t visit as often. She also shows pictures of Benjamin and his younger brother with pride.
“They’re the closest thing I have to grandchildren around here,” said Mary O’Neill.
The days they spend in the backyard are full of bubble fun and gifts made of dirt. Benjamin walks over to Mary and hands her a handful of dirt. “Oh, I’m going to get some dirt!” As Benjamin hands her the dirt, she says, “Thank you!” “Oh, that’s nice dirt,” she says.