Dan sent a balloon into the sky in 1981 with a note attached, which was found by an 11-year old girl named Shelly in Ontario, Canada. Shelly and Dan began writing letters to each other and formed a lifelong friendship. Over the decades, both Shelly and Dan got married, had children, and pursued different careers and education, but continued to stay in touch through letters and visits despite living far apart in the US and Canada. Their unique friendship started with a balloon note over 30 years ago continues to this day.

1. Shelly &Shelly &
DanDanPen Pals
From
Detroit, Michigan
To
Ontario, Canada

3. It begins back in:It begins back in:
FebruaryFebruary
19811981
It begins back in:It begins back in:
FebruaryFebruary
19811981

4. 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.

6. Up, Up and AwayUp, Up and Away
The balloon was off and
heading North East toward
Lake Erie!

7. March 5March 5thth
, 1981, 1981
The balloon had landed!
The balloon was found!
A letter was sent to Dan
From Shelly!

9. Shelly was elevenShelly was eleven
years old and inyears old and in
the sixth grade.the sixth grade.

10. 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!

11. Dan returned Shelly’s letter and
Shelly wrote back with a bit more info ..

13. Dan knew of American things like Batman, Baseball, MarilynDan 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?

14. Shelly sent the firstShelly sent the first
picture to bepicture to be
shared with hershared with her
new Pen Pal.new Pen Pal.

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

17. Shelly 8Shelly 8thth
Grade, 1982Grade, 1982

18. 9th
Grade, 1983

19. Dan graduates from high school in 1984

20. Soon, Dan would travel to Langton, Ontario
to visit Shelly and her family for the first
time on January of 1985

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

23. Shelly in 11Shelly in 11thth
Grade,Grade,
19851985

24. In 1985, Dan joined the United
States Marine Corps. while Shelly
continued on through high
school in Canada.

26. .

28. Lance Corporal Groves 1985

29. Jessica is born on October 15th
, 1988!
While in the Marines, Dan became a
father to his first daughter Jessica

30. 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.

31. Shelly visits Michigan in 1991
.

32. Shelly and JessicaShelly and Jessica

33. Summer of
1991
Dan
Shelly
Jess’ Cousin Jennifer
Jessica

34. One year later …One year later …

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

36. And they continued to write back and forthAnd 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 soonShelly 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

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

38. 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.

39. Place-kicking for Semi-Pro
Football in Colorado!

40. University Graduation 1998University Graduation 1998

41. Back to Michigan!
In 1999, Dan and DebbieIn 1999, Dan and Debbie
decided to move back todecided to move back to
where both their familieswhere both their families
were in Michigan. Dan’s NFLwere in Michigan. Dan’s NFL
hopes did not pan out.hopes did not pan out.
The kids were growing upThe kids were growing up
and needed to be close toand needed to be close to
their family and friends.their family and friends.
It was a lot easier to visitIt was a lot easier to visit
Shelly while in MichiganShelly while in Michigan
than Colorado.than Colorado.

42. All Smiles for the kids going home!

43. 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!

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

46. 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.

47. Sabryna, Shelly’s nephew and Baxter
making a splashing acquaintance while
visiting Shelly and her family!

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

50. Dan (Dan (in whitein white)) & future law school
hopefuls at the University of Detroit,
Mercy in Michigan

51. Katryna brings blessingsKatryna brings blessings
for Shelly and Gregfor Shelly and Greg

52. Shelly and Greg are proud to announce
their newest Angel in 2003
KurtisKurtis

53. Pen Pal …
and Mom ...
Shelly
with Kurtis

54. Time continues onTime continues on
As does the friendship ofAs does the friendship of
Pen Pals Shelly & DanPen Pals Shelly & Dan
Who knows what the futureWho knows what the future
will hold for either one of themwill hold for either one of them
or their families, but through itor their families, but through it
all, I wish to say …all, I wish to say …

58. Like the Heavenly light from GodLike the Heavenly light from God
aboveabove
Thank you for your WonderfulThank you for your Wonderful
FriendshipFriendship
With Love,With Love,
Dan.Dan.

60. Created for Pen Pals
Shelly and Dan
on
March 12th
, 2005
by:
Dan Groves