It took more than a quarter of a century for Barbara Bowers to meet Brenda Elam in person, but the wait was worth it.
What started out as a complaint between two textile-based industries 28 years ago turned into a lifelong friendship that defies age, miles, 28 years of phone calls, cards, letters and gifts.
That bond was strengthened in September when Elam came to Lancaster to visit Bowers.
One day in 1981, Bowers, who was a claims manager at Grace Finishing for Springs Industries, fielded a phone call from Elam, who worked for the Haggar Company.