.png)
Letters to Irena: More Than 33 Years of Friendship and the Surprise of a Lifetime
- Lilla McGuire
- Jun 26
- 5 min read
For more than 33 years, their friendship lived only on paper. They never imagined the moment they would finally meet.
When my mom was younger, she was encouraged to find a pen pal to correspond with, and that's where this story begins.
Through countless life moments, they continued writing. For more than 33 years. No phone calls or emails, just notes and photographs sealed and mailed across the sea. But in July of 2017, everything changed.
Early one morning, the phone rang. When my mom answered, she did not immediately believe the story. A woman claimed to work for Pop TV in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and she told my mom they wanted to fly her to Slovenia to be on TV. After some back and forth, my mom was still skeptical. I mean, why would a random TV station in Slovenia be calling in the first place?
To corroborate the story, my mother contacted the U.S. embassy in Slovenia, presenting the information to them. When she hung up, she seemed in shock. Pop TV was a real station. With this new information, my mom got back in touch with Vesna, the Pop TV correspondent.
Pop TV had a show called Dan najlepših sanj (The Day of the Most Beautiful Dreams), which was known for emotional stories and making dreams come true. The show had received a nomination for Irena, my mom's pen pal. According to Vesna, Irena's friend had nominated her because she had commented, "My greatest wish is to meet my American pen pal."
When she asked me if I wanted to go, of course I did not hesitate! This felt like an unbelievable movie moment, something you hear happening to someone else. This was SLOVENIA. It all felt so unreal.
So the plans were set, my mom and I were scheduled to fly to Slovenia that November for filming.
We were in Slovenia for 10 days, and the fourth day was Pop TV day.
On the Set of Dan najlepših sanj
We got to tour the set, meet the crew, and have our makeup done. My mom had interviews with Peter Poles, the host of Dan najlepših sanj, briefing her on how everything would happen.
And the best part? Irena had no idea.
As the show began, I sat backstage in a conference room, watching with some of the crew. Irena sat down and Peter began telling her story.
The letters, the years, and the friendship that had lasted decades. I remember the moment Peter announced the video of my mom, and Irena began to tear up as my mom's video started to play:
"Hi, Irena. I've enjoyed writing letters to you all these years, but I thought that after more than 33 years you should hear my voice and see my face on camera. I just wanted to tell you that I am very grateful for our friendship, and you're a special person to me. I wish we could meet face to face one day. Through you I have learned a number of things about Slovenia. I have even learned some Slovenian words. I have recently written you a letter, which you will receive soon, and when you get it, you will find some special news from me. Until then, best wishes from the U.S.A. Bye."
After the video ended, I made my way toward the curtains of the stage to watch and record what was to come. Peter asked Irena how it made her feel, and you could see Irena was emotional. Peter said he had one more surprise for Irena, and Irena's eyes turned towards the wall as it rose.
After more than 33 years in the making, and thousands of letters, my mom exited the capsule, and the two embraced for the first time.
Watching this moment is so hard to describe. It was a beautiful moment, a significant moment. Something that doesn't happen often, but somehow did. I was crying and some of the crew were emotional. We wait for things. We assume there will always be more time. A better moment. A chance to make something happen later. We say, "Tomorrow," but then tomorrow is pushed again until it's too late.
I ask myself sometimes, would my mom and Irena have ever met in this lifetime if it hadn't been for Matejka, Irena's friend, nominating her for the show?
I like to think so, but I don't know.
The trip wasn't just about going somewhere new, and it wasn't about being on the show. It was about a friendship that has lasted for over, more than 33 years and the moment it finally became real.
And I don't think I will ever forget what it felt like to watch it happen.
Slovenia, 33 Years in the Making
We spent a few days being shown Slovenia by Irena and her boyfriend, Jože. From the majestic mountains surrounding Lake Bled to the small town of Trbovlje, where Irena called home. I was lucky to have met Irena's late father, Mr. Duplisak. Even though we were unable to communicate with each other without Irena’s translation, I was able to look through the scrapbook Irena had kept with every letter and every picture my mother has shared with her over the years.
We explored so much of Slovenia, including two neighboring countries, Croatia and Italy.
On the day we were meant to return to the U.S., a blizzard came through causing our flight to be cancelled. We found ourselves at a quaint inn, Domačija Vodnik located in Cerklje na Gorenjskem. I mean I thought this trip was already a dream, but the small inn and village made me feel as though I had stepped into a Hallmark movie.
Final Thoughts
To this day, I still cannot believe I got to experience this rare moment, 33 years in the making. Two people, oceans apart, meeting for the first time. I went on such an adventure, seeing so many amazing things and meeting such wonderful people who welcomed us with open arms.
This memory will stay with me for the rest of my life. We wait for things. We say, "Tomorrow," but then tomorrow is pushed again until it's too late. I remember hearing my mom talk about visiting Irena, and it was always a “one day.” This is one of the reasons I became a travel advisor. I want to turn those one-day moments into today.