Rhonda's Lonely Life's Behind Her
Illawarra Mercury
Friday December 5, 2008
RHONDA Bowen is a difficult woman to catch now that her list of new friends has expanded to 18.
Between meeting for cuppas, answering telephone calls and enjoying home visits, the 59-year-old has barely had time to reflect on her previously lonely status.Ms Bowen was featured in the Mercury last month, looking to be adopted by a senior who might enjoy her company.She had become increasingly lost and lonely after losing her mum Vi five years ago.While the Wollongong woman does have a circle of friends, the gap left by her mother's passing had not been filled.Within days of her public appeal, her phone rang off the hook with seniors looking for company, including; people living on their own, a widower in Tasmania and neighbours and friends from her old Bellambi district with whom she had lost touch.Rather than single out one person for friendship, as originally intended, she has decided to keep all of them."It's been fantastic. I'm in touch with all of them," Ms Bowen said."I visited a 90-year-old lady who lives around the corner and it went great."We nagged for an hour and I heard her say to her daughter, 'I like talking to her'. So her daughter's going to ring me when her mum's up for another visit."I've got a coffee this week with a lady down the road and on Monday at 8.30am I'm meeting a dear old man at his doctor's surgery, just to say gidday while he's waiting for his appointment."He lives at Barrack Heights and I don't have a car so I can't get around. The doctor's (surgery) is at the top end of Wollongong, so it's whatever works."Such has been the pace of her new social life, Ms Bowen said, she had to use a diary to keep track of her calls and appointments."I write in when they rang last and when they want to catch up for coffee, or if they're away for a certain time, just to make sure I don't miss anyone."
© 2008 Illawarra Mercury
