Unlikely Friendship: Rapper and 81-Year-Old Connect Through Words With Friends
From Words to Worlds: An Unlikely Friendship
A remarkable friendship between two people from different generations shows how games can bring us together. Spencer Sloan, a 22-year-old rapper and producer who lives in Harlem, New York, traveled to Palm Beach, Florida to meet his 81-year-old friend Rosalyn Gutman in person for the first time.
The Digital Connection
Spencer, who makes music under the name Harlem Empty, and Rosalyn, a retiree, met while playing the mobile game Words With Friends. Over time, they completed more than 400 games against each other. What started as just a word game turned into something much more meaningful.
When they first started playing together, Spencer was still living in Maryland. As they played, they began to chat more and more. Spencer soon found that Rosalyn became someone he could trust and talk to about important things in his life.
Beyond Just a Game
Their conversations went far beyond the game itself. They talked about life, shared thoughts on politics, and even discussed Spencer's future. Rosalyn became a supporter of Spencer's dreams, encouraging him to make the big move to New York City to chase his music career.
Meeting in Person
As their friendship grew stronger, Spencer began to consider Rosalyn one of his best friends, despite never having met face-to-face. When the opportunity came up for Spencer to travel to Florida, he jumped at the chance. A friend's mother offered to fly with him to Florida, making it possible for him to finally meet Rosalyn in person.
A Natural Connection
The in-person meeting between the young rapper and the retiree was just as special as their online friendship. Spencer described meeting Rosalyn as an "awesome experience" and said it didn't feel like they were meeting for the first time at all. Their connection, built over hundreds of games and countless conversations, made their first meeting feel like a reunion of old friends.
Their story shows how meaningful connections can form in unexpected places, bridging gaps between generations, geography, and different walks of life.
