FACT OF THE WEEK INCLUDED!
By Jacqueline Crivello
Opinion Segment Head
It has been about 178 days since December, when the virus first began to spread in Wuhan, China. From the time we first heard about this interesting virus up until it actually spread to the United States in February, we as a community have experienced many unusual circumstances. We have experienced a shortage of paper, as well as loss of contact with the world as it used to be, and through all of this we have tried to make the best of the given circumstances. Below are some heartwarming stories that will hopefully bring joy and hope to you during this pandemic.
An exchange of letters between neighbours in isolation:
Many grandparents and elders are struggling to leave the house due to poor health and physical limitations. So... a 93 year-old grandfather received a lovely present from his 5-year-old neighbor the other day in response to the isolation he has been experiencing. In a handwritten letter little Kirah said, "I just wanted to check to see if you're OK?" "I have drawn you a rainbow to remind you that you are not alone." The old man Ron ended up writing back giving the girl not only a big “Thank you” but a history lesson as well. "I was the first person to move into the crescent in 1955 and I have been here ever since," he wrote, adding on: "I thought your drawing of the rainbow was amazing and I am going to place it in my window for people to see." This story definitely warmed my heart and I hope it did for you as well.
Mom Creates Fantasy Landscape for Her Daughters with Sidewalk Chalk:
It’s clear that kids, elders, and parents have been struggling with the pandemic. Kids might have a harder time not seeing their friends and staying entertained inside the house, which could drive the parents crazy. An Illinois mother used her creativity to entertain her daughters by drawing amazing chalk art on the sidewalk. Not only was this amazing visual art, but the kids could also interact with it as well! They could either dive into the ocean, or even toast a marshmallow under the stars. Check out the video below to see more! This video got so many views that it was mentioned on the Today Show!
Take a look at this video:
Centenarian beats Covid-19 in time to celebrate his birthday:
On Wednesday April 1, Bill Lapschies, a US veteran, celebrated his 104th birthday. This man has not only survived the second World War but also the Spanish flu. People sat outside at the veterans’ home in Oregon with balloons and signs to share their birthday wishes. And, of course, they stayed 6 feet apart to abide by the guidelines.
Here is the video of Bill’s celebration:
D.C Firefighter Uses Bagpipes to Give a Welcome Pause from Pandemic:
A heroic firefighter, Jim Mizzara, decided to use his musical talents to bring smiles to peoples’ faces. He stood outside of Montgomery medical center and played “ God Bless America“ on the bagpipes. What a unique way to give a pause from the pandemic!
Here’s a link to see how this kind acts change peoples day:
The care home that lifted residents' spirits:
With the constant isolation from families while living in elder care homes, or even alone in their own house, older residents have been suffering greatly. Recently, at an old Welsh home, workers decided to take the elders’ minds off of the situation by playing a boardgame. This was no ordinary round of Sorry or Monopoly, as stated in the article. Instead, this was a giant game of hungry hippos with the center of the room being in the ball pit and the people with baskets on the outside. To catch the balls they would lift the baskets and be pushed back and forth in their wheelchairs, trying to collect the plastic balls the fastest. The elders pushed their wheelchairs and poked and prodded until finally, there was a winner. This is one of those stories that shows no matter how old you are, you will always be young at heart.
Here is the video:
The granddad and grandson who held a jam session on video chat...
James Gallagher (9 years old) and his grandfather, Paul Brown (73 years old), haven’t been able to be in the same room together, but, as stated in the article, “that has not stopped them hanging out”! James' mother Caroline shared a video on Twitter of them singing “I Want to Break Free” by Queen. This was a completely impromptu jam session, which made it all the more sweet!
I thought you would want to hear this as well: Here is a podcast that talks about the silver linings people are finding to bring hope and happiness!
These stories are far from over, but I wanted to give you, the reader, a glimpse into how the pandemic has given us these positive moments that we will never forget!
Fact of the Week:
Do you know why Dr. Suess wrote his most famous kids’ book?
Answer: Dr. Seuss actually wrote his most famous book to win a bet! In 1960, editor Bennett Cerf, the founder of Random House publishing, bet Theodor Geisel (AKA Dr. Seuss) that he could not write an entertaining children's book with fewer than 50 words. Low and behold, the result was the famous Green Eggs and Ham, which is one of the most popular children's books in history. Later in life, Dr. Seuss saw how successful, as well as useful, this 50 word constraint was for children just learning to read. He then went on to write many more books, and found the limitation of a strict word count to be an untapped source of creativity for his future.
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