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A32 LOCAL
Monday 6 april 2020

Stories R US: Write about COVID-19 on the islands

OHIO, US — The future will ing for personal turned into
find us looking back on writing for public. Through
the pandemic of 2020. Ar- phases, stages, and ages,
ticles in newspapers will a writer writes. Because sto-
be archived. Children will ries R US.
grow up with school can-
celation tales. Each indi- “Like many others who
vidual will have a similar, turned into writers, I disap-
yet a distinctive story about peared into books when
the coronavirus. The days I was very young, disap-
of COVID-19 will be tran- peared into them like
scribed in history books. someone running into the
woods. What surprised and
I grew up inside of books. still surprises me is that there
Escaping between the was another side to the for-
front and the back covers est of stories and the soli-
brought solace from ex- tude, that I came out that Melissa Martin, Ph.D. is an
ternal and internal chaos. religion. Themes of love made into movies. Fantasy, other side and met people author, columnist, educator,
Traveling faraway, but still and lust, faithfulness and in- reality, or both? there. Writers are solitaries and therapist. She lives in U.S.
staying home was possible fidelity, fulfilled hearts and by vocation and necessity.
within the pages. Each broken hearts. Themes of I grew up inside of an ink I sometimes think the test is becca Solnit, in her essay
person is a story and each what was lost and themes pen. With millions of words not so much talent, which is Flight, from The Faraway
person has a story. Whether of what was found. Good dancing inside my head, not as rare as people think, Nearby
fiction or nonfiction, stories vs. evil. Right vs wrong. Rich I tried to empty them out but purpose or vocation,
R US. vs poor. Tales of accep- onto paper. Swirling-twirl- which manifests in part as A recent article in Forbes
tance and tales of betray- ing words full of adoles- the ability to endure a lot is telling how to author our
From the beginning of al. Anecdotes about sex, cent angst. Using poetry of solitude and keep work- story. “COVID-19 has many
the beginning, humans kids, money; three salient to alleviate the confusion ing. Before writers are writ- of us hunkering down in
lived and then told narra- aspects of daily living—full and problems brought on ers they are readers, living place and social distanc-
tives about tragedy and of drama. And chronicles by puberty. Journaling the in books, through books, in ing. If you are a writer,
triumph. Themes of birth- of plagues, epidemics, and day’s events into a pastel- the lives of others that are and have all your survival
ing and themes of dying pandemics. Science fic- colored diary with a key. also the heads of others, in needs met (food, shelter,
- foundation of humanity. tion thrillers about diseases Hiding it away from prying that act that is so intimate support), then it might be
Themes of relationship and that devour humankind get eyes of others. Years of writ- and yet so alone.” – Re- the opportunity you need
to get your story written.”
Warm message from New York www.forbes.com.

One does not need to be
NEW YORK, US — Aruba Today is al- Aruba for over 30 years, with my wife a professional writer to
ways connected to our beloved fol- and I having had our honeymoon compose her/his own ac-
lowers and readers, many of them there in 1989. In more recent years count of the pandemic of
from the U.S. We welcome you to we have been fortunate enough to 2020. Just follow the basics.
send us your thoughts and share visit three or four times a year, often A story needs to have a
with us your experiences during this with our adult children. We have narrative arc (a beginning,
hard times where we wish you were many wonderful friends on the is- middle, and end). The best
here and you love to enjoy our tropi- land, some who have visited us here character arc reveals an
cal paradise right at this moment. in New York. inner transformation, not
Today we would like to share with just a change in circum-
you a beautiful message from the I know Aruba to be a very special stances.
New York family Fair. place, and my life and my family’s
lives have been forever enriched by You are part of the pan-
“Here in New York we have been hit having discovered it. demic story and so am I.
especially hard by the present crisis. My family and I would like to wish Living on an island makes
Everyone now knows of someone These are and will be tough times the citizens of Aruba all the best. your experience unique
we have lost. But as I sit, unable to for all of us, and I wanted to make Stay strong, be well and stay safe. along with culture, weath-
leave my home, one comfort that I sure that I took a moment to express er, and survival.
take is in my thoughts and memories my appreciation to the people of We will see you very soon!
of Aruba and the beauty of its land- Aruba for allowing us to be guests in Write your own story and
scape and its people. your great country building lifelong Sincerely, send it to your newspa-
memories and friendships that we per’s Letter to the Editor.
My family and I have been going to will always cherish. David Fair, Linda Fair and family” q Stories R US.q