Two close friends made the surprising discovery that, contrary to what many people believe, the grass is really the greenest when all of you are standing on the same side of the fence together. The years 2020 and 2021 were packed with a lot of obstacles, but they also provided a lot of opportunity for individuals to rediscover themselves, their hobbies, and even to reconnect with old acquaintances. Despite all the difficulties, the years 2020 and 2021 also gave a lot of opportunities. After having some leisure to finally connect with others they may not have been able to previously, many people were finally able to build new connections, which is even more astounding than the fact that they were able to do so.

For Benjamin Olson, who was just 2 years old at the time, and Mary O’Neill, who was 99 years old at the time, they realized how simple it was to develop a warm connection through a chain-linked fence. O’Neill does not have any living relatives nearby since her children, grandkids, or great-grandchildren do not reside in the same state that she does. Since O’Neill’s spouse passed away a number of years ago, she is presently a widow. She had been quarantined for a significant chunk of the coronavirus epidemic, but she was fortunate enough to find some companionship when she formed an unusual but completely endearing connection with her neighbor who lived next door to her.

Benjamin and O’Neill have become the greatest of friends despite the fact that their age difference is 97 years. This is due to the fact that they have loved spending time together outdoors at a safe distance while the epidemic has been going on. The two were able to find a means to keep their sweet relationship alive in their own backyards in their neighborhood in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it has since won the affection of many others from all over the globe. The two have been allowed to spend even more time together as time has gone and limitations have been less stringent, and they have continued to take pleasure in each other’s presence.

According to CBS News, O’Neill and Benjamin’s families were neighbors long before Benjamin was even born; nevertheless, Benjamin’s family did not interact with O’Neill very often. Due to the fact that they were confined to their homes for the better part of the year 2020 as a consequence of the epidemic, the Olson family started spending more time outside in their yard, while O’Neill would spend more time in hers. This led to the neighbors spending more time together. As time went on, Benjamin and O’Neill became close friends with one another and had many good times together.

“He would go up to Mary and bring her a ball whenever he saw her in the yard,” said Sarah Olson, Benjamin’s mother. “When he saw Mary in the yard, he would bring her a ball.” According to O’Neill, the two of them created their very own game that they referred to as “cane ball” by hitting the ball back and forth to one another using their canes. Additionally, O’Neill presented Benjamin with a crate of toy trucks that had been in her late son’s collection. The two had fun together blowing bubbles and playing with water pistols. Her relationship with Benjamin reawakened the childish energy that was slept inside her, and as a result, she has found what it means to be a child once again.

According to Olson’s comments to KARE 11, O’Neill became her son’s “first best buddy,” and the transition to the new companionship was rather painless. According to CBS News, Olson was quoted as saying, “We didn’t have to work on it at all; it just occurred pretty naturally.” [Citation needed] She continued by saying, “Bond can simply develop in so many different ways, and I’m just very thrilled that they were able to create this friendship regardless of whether or not they were in quarantine.” I’m glad they got to know one other and developed this bond because it’s important to her, and it’s also important to him.

Even O’Neill’s milestone birthday, when she became 100 years old in August of 2021, was honored by the people who were so close to her. KARE 11 reports that the two athletes continue to compete together on a near-daily basis.