(AP) – A woman from Australia and her American pen pal have met in Texas after 74 years of sharing their lives by writing letters.

87-year-old Norma “Kitty” Frati welcomed 83-year-old Audrey Sims of Perth, Australia, for a visit. Their face-to-face introduction and embrace came Monday afternoon at Corpus Christi International Airport.

Frati, who lives in nearby Portland, was a 13-year-old eighth-grader in Winfield, Kan., when a school project led to her correspondence with Sims – who was 9 years old. The girls grew up and continued writing with details of their lives – but never met.

Sims, whose three daughters joined her on the trip, says the friendship by mail has meant everything to her.

Frati says the pen pals will keep writing letters.