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The social distancing mandates, imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, isolated family members from each other in 2020. However, it also resulted in some lifelong friendships between people who would have otherwise never met. In the case of 99-year-old Minnesota resident Mary O'Neill, that person happens to be her two-year-old neighbor, Benjamin Olson.
Pandemic leads to unlikely friendship between toddler and 99-year-old neighbor TODAY 10 hrs ago Rachel Paula Abrahamson The bright spot of the pandemic for Benjamin Olson, a 2-year-old boy in Minnesota, has been becoming best friends with his next-door neighbor. Her name is Mary O’Neill and she will celebrate her 100th birthday in December. “For more than a year, he didn’t see other kids. He didn’t interact with anyone except our family and Mary,” Benjamin’s mom, Sarah Olson, told TODAY Parents. “They ended up forming an incredibly strong bond.” © Sarah Ols...
'His first best friend': This unlikely friendship bridges generations, a pandemic and a backyard fence Edward Segarra, USA TODAY © Sarah Olson Mary O'Neill and Benjamin Olson sit next to each other outside. Benjamin didn't have any playmates his age to interact with. Mary lived alone and spent her days watching TV game shows and playing an electronic version of Yahtzee. But as the isolation of the pandemic was at its height, Mary wasn't as lonely when she looked out of her kitchen and saw Benjamin and his mom playing in their backyard. Those moments marked the beginning...