The Internet produces some amazing contacts.

I'm not talking about chat rooms or finding a soulmate via the Internet. Or just a good listener.

Sometimes a computer-friendly person comes upon a story I wrote on the Post-Gazette Web page and e-mails me.

That's how I became acquainted with Irene Scanlon, who contacted me about a column I wrote in 2002 about the late German-born fashion designer John Weitz.

I could tell she was a fun person. After all, she has a life-size Holstein cow sculpture on her front lawn.

She lives in the small town of Agawam,Mass., and creates handbags from recycled men's silk neckties.

"When I meet charming men and say I will give them a kiss for a silk tie, I find I've been giving a whole lot of kisses. I've asked my lawyer, my doctor, my dentist and men in the neighborhood for their ties. Men don't wear them as often and are always ready to give up a few."

That was her interest in Mr. Weitz, who designed neckties and men's clothing for many years before he died. Her patterns are mixed and matched, creating very colorful, unstructured bags which she sells at fairs and festivals.

She always tries to put the designer's label on the front of the bags.

Before she had the idea for the bags, in 1980 she opened her own consignment shop, "Irene's Closet," but after 20 years decided it was time to retire. But certainly not to a rocking chair.

"I wanted to quit to smell the roses. Having a store is 24-7. But I miss my customers. I might have retired too early."

Irene was the fourth-born in a family of 10 children. Her advice to young people, probably experienced while growing up: "Learn to share."

Most seniors downsize. She did it backward -- She moved from a condo and bought a house. The house and its garden with a fishpond have been on the Agawam Home and Garden Tour.

Possibly it is the life-size Holstein on her front lawn that best shows Irene's sense of humor.

"Bessie brings smiles but also many new friends," she says, "as people pull into my driveway, knock on my door and want to know where I got her."

Her personality jumps right off the screen as she describes her family, her daily life and her dismay that it costs $1,200 a month for day care for her granddaughter, Natalie.

She and her husband adopted two babies but were divorced when Erin was 10 and Tim was 7. So she raised them on her own and couldn't be more proud.

Erin now has two daughters, Sarah and Amanda. Sarah has a son, Brian, which made Irene a great-grandmother. He is, of course, "adorable."

When Irene was in her 40s she became interested in theater, even though she had never even been in a school play. Later she started Agawam Children's Theater, followed by a similar theater group, this time for the Agawam Senior Center, called the Silver Star Players.

"I was teaching students from age 5 to 85," she says.

Little wonder this woman seemed a perfect subject for this Senior Class column.

We're also the same age and have many of the same interests.

I told her I was having my 60th high school class reunion this summer and she said her class was skipping it this year.

"I don't really mind. It was practically an all-girl school -- 300 females and a dozen males."

Not much future there for offering kisses and gathering more silk ties.

Barbara Cloud can be reached at bcloud@post-gazette.com