Shelly & Shelly & DanDan

Pen PalsFrom

Detroit, MichiganTo

Ontario, Canada

It begins back in:It begins back in:

February February

19811981

It begins back in:It begins back in:

February February

19811981

Heaven SentHeaven Sent On a cool February afternoon, Dan sent a helium

balloon up into the heavens from his home in Northville, Michigan with a note attached. He bought the balloon at 12-Oaks mall at the age of 15 while in the ninth grade. Would someone respond?

The note was securely sealed inside a plastic sandwich bag and closed with a twister tie so water could not damage it. A metal washer was also tied to the baggie so the balloon could not fly too high in the atmosphere and pop.

Up, Up and AwayUp, Up and Away

The balloon was off and heading North East toward

Lake Erie!

March 5March 5thth, 1981, 1981The balloon had landed!

The balloon was found!

A letter was sent to Dan

From Shelly!

Shelly was Shelly was eleven years eleven years

old and in old and in the sixth the sixth grade.grade.

Shelly later told Dan that her uncle actually found the balloon on the shore of

lake Erie and gave it to his nephew, Paul … Shelly’s brother. Paul asked shelly if she would be interested in writing as a Pen Pal and the rest

is history!

Dan returned Shelly’s letter andShelly wrote back with a bit more

info ..

Dan knew of American things like Batman, Baseball, Marilyn Dan knew of American things like Batman, Baseball, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley and the New Orleans Saints NFL team, Monroe, Elvis Presley and the New Orleans Saints NFL team,

but had never heard of … but had never heard of … Laura Secord?Laura Secord?

Shelly sent the first Shelly sent the first picture to be picture to be

shared with her shared with her

new Pen Pal.new Pen Pal.

Thus began their friendship through the mail!Thus began their friendship through the mail!

Shelly 8Shelly 8thth Grade, 1982 Grade, 1982

9th Grade, 1983

Dan graduates from high school in 1984

Soon, Dan would travel to Langton, Ontario to visit Shelly

and her family for the first time in January of 1985

Dan, Shelly, Shelly’s brother Paul and sister Kim.

Shelly in 11Shelly in 11thth Grade, 1985Grade, 1985

In 1985, Dan joined the United States Marine Corps. while Shelly

continued on through high school in Canada.

.

Lance Corporal Groves 1985

Jessica is born on October 15th, 1988!

While in the Marines, Dan became a father to his first daughter Jessica

Ten Years Later!Ten Years Later! By 1991, Shelly had graduated from high

school. Dan received an honorable discharge from the Marines and moved to Warren, Michigan with Jessica.

That summer, Shelly and her mother came to visit.

Shelly visits Michigan in 1991.

Shelly and Shelly and JessicaJessica

Summer of 1991

DanShellyJess’ Cousin JenniferJessica

One year later …One year later …

Dan & Jess visit Shelly in CanadaDan & Jess visit Shelly in Canada

And they continued to write back and forth And they continued to write back and forth even though life got busy for both of them. even though life got busy for both of them. In January of 1993, Dan married Debbie. In January of 1993, Dan married Debbie. Shelly was dating Greg and was also soon Shelly was dating Greg and was also soon

pursuing a higher education at the university!pursuing a higher education at the university!

Time Comes

Time Goes

Debbie and Dan, Jan. 8Debbie and Dan, Jan. 8thth, 1993, 1993

Life Marches On! After their marriage, Dan and Debbie had baby Sabryna

who was born on Oct. 15th, the same birthday as Jessica, only six years later in 1994. By Sept. 14th of 1996, Dan and Debbie had their first son Baxter.

Meanwhile, Shelly was still in the process of tending to her Canadian university studies for her degree.

In Oct. of 1996, Dan and his family moved to Colorado making the Pen Pals even farther apart! Dan had a chance to play Semi-Pro football in Colorado. From there maybe the NFL!

In December of 1998, Amanda arrived to make Dan and Debbie’s family a wee bit larger.

Place-kicking for Semi-Pro Football in Colorado!

University Graduation 1998University Graduation 1998

Back to Michigan! In 1999, Dan and Debbie In 1999, Dan and Debbie

decided to move back to decided to move back to where both their families where both their families were in Michigan. Dan’s were in Michigan. Dan’s NFL hopes did not pan NFL hopes did not pan out. out.

The kids were growing up The kids were growing up

and needed to be close to and needed to be close to their family and friends. their family and friends.

It was a lot easier to visit It was a lot easier to visit

Shelly while in Michigan Shelly while in Michigan than Colorado.than Colorado.

All Smiles for the kids going home!

A NEW MELLINEUM! • A new century with new changes for

both Shelly and Dan!• Shelly marries Greg!• Dan returns to college to be a lawyer

.

• Shelly and Greg have a daughter Katryna

• Debbie becomes pregnant with baby Jeffrey

• Dan and two of his kids, Sabryna & Baxter drive across the national boarder to visit Shelly and her family!

• We are all getting older and Dan is now quite bald!

Dan, Sabryna & Baxter visit Shelly and her family in 2002

.

What about Kim and Paul?

Somewhere between all of the writing and visiting between Shelly and Dan, Shelly’s

sister Kim married and had two sons. Shelly’s brother also married and had

children. Paul and his family moved a lot closer to Dan. Paul’s family left Canada and moved to the state of Indiana in the

good ole U.S.A.

Sabryna, Shelly’s nephew and Baxter making a splashing acquaintance while

visiting Shelly and her family!

Standing in front of the Renaissance Center of Detroit, Sabyrna and Baxter pose for a picture in Windsor, Canada on our way back home.

Dan (Dan (in whitein white) ) at the University of Detroit, Mercy in

Michigan, 2004

Katryna brings blessings Katryna brings blessings for Shelly and Gregfor Shelly and Greg

Shelly and Greg are proud to announce their newest Angel

in August of 2003

KurtiKurtiss

Pen Pal … and Mom ...

Shelly

with Kurtis

Dan Graduates from Law School

• In December of 2009, Dan completed his studies at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Michigan and passed the Michigan Bar Exam on his first attempt. From there, he worked with the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office for almost 2 years before going out into practicing civil litigation; now with the Lobb Law Firm.

AND …

• Dan’s Favorite NFL Team, The New Orleans Saints WON Super Bowl 44 in 2010 too!

• Dan was not in Canada with Shelly for this grand event, but in the French Quarter on Bourbon Street in New Orleans during the

Super Bowl game and the next week to celebrate this huge and long awaited victory!

Time continues on Time continues on As does the friendship ofAs does the friendship ofPen Pals Shelly & DanPen Pals Shelly & Dan

Who knows what the future Who knows what the future will hold for either one of them will hold for either one of them or their families, but through it or their families, but through it

all, I wish to say …all, I wish to say …

Like the Heavenly light Like the Heavenly light from God abovefrom God above

Thank you for your Thank you for your Wonderful FriendshipWonderful Friendship

With Love, With Love, Dan.Dan.

Created for Pen Pals

Shelly and Dan

onMarch 12th, 2005

by:

Dan Groves