Pandemic BFFs: 2-yr-old celebrates best friend’s 100th birthday [Video]

• Benjamin Olson, 2, and neighbor Mary O’Neill, 99, developed a strong bond over the past year.
• The Olson family made sure to celebrate Mary by throwing a party for her 100th birthday.
• Benjamin was excited to celebrate his best friend’s birthday, while Mary’s family was excited to meet the sweet boy.

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A few months ago, we learned about the heartwarming story involving the friendship between 2-year-old Benjamin Olson and his next-door neighbor, 99-year-old Mary O’Neill, amid the pandemic. Since little Benjamin couldn’t see and play with other kids, the two whiled away their time meeting by the fence that separates their homes. While Mary treated Benjamin like her grandkid, she was Benjamin’s first best friend. We now have an update to their friendship, which involves Mary celebrating a huge milestone: her 100th birthday.

Friends and family set up a party to celebrate Mary’s 100th-year milestone, which will become official on Dec. 18.

Benjamin’s mom, Sarah, shared how excited he was to go to his buddy’s party. Mary’s family was also excited to meet him!

The party seemed to be a celebration of both Mary’s birthday and her friendship with Benjamin.

Sarah shared that Mary’s niece even gifted her a bag of treats to be shared with Benjamin during their time together.

She said, “Now pretty much every day, we see Mary and she asks, ‘Is it snack time? Can I bring him a snack?’”

Mary has become so beloved to the Olson family that they wanted her party to be extra special.

Sarah shared that they wanted to use the spotlight of their story to make Mary’s day. So she set up a P.O. Box where people can send in birthday cards.

She set a goal of 100 birthday cards, but the word spread far and wide. Before they knew it, they’ve received at least “300 cards from 21 states, plus a card from Germany.”

Collecting the cards has become one of Benjamin’s favorite activities.

When Benjamin’s friendship with Mary started, he couldn’t yet pronounce many words. So he has come up with a nickname for his best friend: Mimi.

“For him to come up with Mimi was really cute,” Sarah shared. “Now she’s just Mimi and he asks for Mimi all day long.”

Mary’s daughter, Sui Curtis, told NBC affiliate KARE 11 that she believes fate had a hand in the neighbors’ friendship.

Sui said, “She was sitting doing nothing and Benjamin was sent to her to make her move and make her go.”

Sarah also got tearful when she learned how much Benjamin meant to Mary: “I had never thought about it or considered it. I just thought it was two cute people hanging out together. To know that it’s had such a big impact on her is special.”

Source: TODAY