Living Through the Coronavirus
When COVID-19 shut down the state of Michigan, we knew we needed to stay connected. We needed to hear each other’s stories to process the strange new world we were living in. That’s why the National Writers Series created the Life in the Time of the Virus competition, offering awards in various categories to writers who expressed the challenges, heartaches, confusion, and even silver linings of the pandemic. Read on to hear from the writers of northern Michigan during one of the most turbulent moments of our lifetimes.
1st Place – Pandemic Percussion
by Athena Gillespie, 06/30/2020, Traverse City, MI
High School 9-12 Category
As I lay in bed, the natural light from my window slowly dwindling, I hear them. A cacophony of drums, maracas, pots, pans, and more. I glance at the clock. 8:00 PM on the dot. I wasn’t expecting a tradition that started in March to last all the way to May, but it was something I had adjusted to and learned to appreciate. Every night, my neighbors stood on their porches and banged on drums, etc. for one full minute. No less, and (usually) no more . . .
3rd Place – New Tricks for Old Dogs
by Robert Brintnall, 06/13/2020, Buckley, MI
Adult Category
New Tricks for Old Dogs
At a staff meeting earlier this year the principal demonstrated a teaching tool where kids held up a special card to represent their answer to a question. Then the teacher could scan the whole room with an app on their phone and instantly project the results on a screen . . .
1st Place – La Ventana Cerrando
by Ella Kirkwood, 05/24/2020, Traverse City, MI
Middle School 6-8 Category
La Ventana: Climbing term used to describe the perfect window of opportunity for an ascent; Also, “the Window” in Spanish.
Cerrando: closing.
We had great expectations for 2020 . . .
Special Mention – How The Corona Virus Impacted Me
by Savannah Wells, 05/13/2020, Boyne City, Mi
Elementary K-5 Category
Hi, my name is Savannah Wells and, well, I’m going to be telling you how my life has changed because of the Corona Virus. My mom is a flight attendant so she is considered an essential worker but according to the CDC guidelines, she is at high risk so she cannot work but she is still getting a portion of her pay so for a family of 5 we can barely make a living, but because of our wonderful schools and city, we can have snacks and a full meal . . .
3rd Place – Internal Drama
by Akyedzi Acheampong, 05/12/2020, Traverse City, MI
Elementary K-5 Category
Hi, my name is Akyedzi but you can call me Chez and this is what is going on in my head. Wait can pigs fly? When did I get a cow? Oh, I don’t have a cow. What’s the difference between a potato and a potato? Why am I doing this anyway? Oh yeah it is for a prize. Now I am . . .
2nd Place – Hi-lo, hi..low times
by Ashley Bursian, May 9th, 2020, traverse city, Mi
Adult Category
Luckily for me, I have some experience with the hardships of quarantine.
There was once a point in my life, while homeless, that myself and two sons lived year round in a 1964 hi-lo camper, for 2 years. This is a camper about the size of an average household bathroom, or small, studio apartment size kitchen, perhaps, to warrant perspective . . .
2nd Place – At Home
by Mae Schillinger, 05/07/2020, Traverse City, MI
Elementary K-5 Category
The deer are running across the backyard.
I am six.
Will this Corona virus ever stop? . .
2nd Place – Taken for Granted
by Alyssa Masiewicz, 05/07/2020, Traverse City, MI
High School 9-12 Category
Before this global pandemic occurred, I never realized how lucky I was. I had two working parents. I got to go to school and be with my friends. I got to go to class and ask questions to teachers in person . . .
1st Place – Nelly Thinks
by Issabelle Brooks, 04/17/2020, Beulah, MI
Elementary K-5 Category
“Oh hey! I didn’t smell you there!” My name is Nelly. I am a German Shorthair Pointer. I’m almost a year old but I am the queen of my house. I love to help clean dad’s toes.
My sworn enemy is kitty the cat. She is as black as your nightmares . . .
1st Place – Touch
by Anne-Marie Oomen
04/09/2020, Empire, MI
Adult Category
I walked the empty road to a neighbor’s house.
I hesitated to knock—I’d have to touch the door,
but then I did. She came, her hair mussed,
smiled, and put her palm against the glass
and I put mine against the cool on my side.
2nd Place – A Deadly Dream
by Alexis Beeler, 04/09/2020, Traverse City, MI
Middle School 6-8 Category
The soft clink of the ceramic onto the glass gave way to the peaceful surroundings of a Monday morning. The sun peaking through the trees, dying the dark sky with oranges and reds. It seemed that it was the only aspect of the day I could grasp. I could rely on the sun rising, showering warmth onto the Earth . . .
3rd Place – Weirdest Bike Ride Ever
by Alex Reynolds, 04/08/2020, Traverse City, MI
Middle School 6-8 Category
Let’s go for a bike ride,” my mom said.
“Ok,” I replied. “But let’s go to the library this time.”
I had been out of school for 3 weeks because schools were closed due to
COVID19 . . .
It’s a Small World After All
by Barb Gordon-Kessel, 06/30/2020, Traverse City, MI. Adult Category
Family Happiness: A medicine for us all
by MICHAEL SIMS, 06/29/2020, Traverse, MI. Adult Category
Piano and the Living Room-Zoom
by Elizabeth Reed, 06/24/2020, Belmont, Ma. Adult Category
The Privilege of a Simple Life
by Mae Stier, 06/23/2020, Interlochen, MI. Adult Category
1st Place – Pandemic Percussion
by Athena Gillespie, 06/30/2020, Traverse City, MI
High School 9-12 Category
As I lay in bed, the natural light from my window slowly dwindling, I hear them. A cacophony of drums, maracas, pots, pans, and more. I glance at the clock. 8:00 PM on the dot. I wasn’t expecting a tradition that started in March to last all the way to May, but it was something I had adjusted to and learned to appreciate. Every night, my neighbors stood on their porches and banged on drums, etc. for one full minute. No less, and (usually) no more . . .
Our New Normal
by Jäeger Griswold, 06/30/2020, Central Lake, MI. High School 9-12 Category
Our Fight
by Sophie Nickel, 06/16/2020, Traverse City, MI. High School 9-12 Category
19 vs ’20
by Lucy Stiebel, 05/12/2020, Traverse City, Mi. High School 9-12 Category
2nd Place – Taken for Granted
by Alyssa Masiewicz, 05/07/2020, Traverse City, MI
High School 9-12 Category
Before this global pandemic occurred, I never realized how lucky I was. I had two working parents. I got to go to school and be with my friends. I got to go to class and ask questions to teachers in person . . .
Curve Ball
by Haley DeLoy, 04/23/2020, Traverse City, Mi. High School 9-12 Category
The World Put on Pause
by Erin Evans, 04/22/2020, Bellaire, MI. High School 9-12 Category
A Blessing in Disguise
by Jordan Lesperance, 04/21/2020, Grawn, MI. High School 9-12 Category
Living in the pandemic
by Jamie Corn, 04/16/2020, Cadillac, Mi. High School 9-12 Category
3rd Place – Create
by Emma Laible, 04/02/2020, Traverse City, Mi
High School Category
“Oh my gosh! No school for three weeks! This is gonna be great!”
“Ugh, that means I have to turn in all of my late assignments by tomorrow.”
“Girls, this is serious. This isn’t something we should be celebrating.” . . .
Our Life Today
by Emilie Frechette, 04/16/2020, Traverse City, MI. Middle School 6-8 Category
Living the Virus Life
by Olivia Bageris, 04/16/2020, Traverse City, MI. Middle School 6-8 Category
A Day In The Life (Corona Virus Edition)
by Sam Elkins, 04/15/2020, Traverse City, Mi. Middle School 6-8 Category
COVID-19 Droplets
by Abigail Houghton, 04/14/2020, Traverse City, MI. Middle School 6-8 Category
Stuck Home
by Kira Butler, 04/14/2020, Interlochen, MI. Middle School 6-8 Category
wondering and afraid
by Walker VanderMeulen, 04/13/2020, grawn, mi. Middle School 6-8 Category
my life this year
by Brianna Brackett, 04/13/2020, Traverse City, MI. Middle School 6-8 Category
Living The Virus Life
by Olivia Bageris, 04/13/2020, Traverse City, MI. Middle School 6-8 Category
covid-19 Fly
by marlie mcgregor, 04/13/2020, Traverse city Mi, MI. Middle School 6-8 Category
Life During the Coronavirus Pandemic
by Ella Wilkes, 04/10/2020, Traverse City, MI. Middle School 6-8 Category
Life in a Pandemic
by Seth Munro, 04/09/2020, Traverse City, MI. Middle School 6-8 Category
Special Mention – How The Corona Virus Impacted Me
by Savannah Wells, 05/13/2020, Boyne City, Mi
Elementary K-5 Category
Hi, my name is Savannah Wells and, well, I’m going to be telling you how my life has changed because of the Corona Virus. My mom is a flight attendant so she is considered an essential worker but according to the CDC guidelines, she is at high risk so she cannot work but she is still getting a portion of her pay so for a family of 5 we can barely make a living, but because of our wonderful schools and city, we can have snacks and a full meal . . .
Covid-19 took over my life 2020
by Ava Hissong, 05/13/2020, boyne city mi, Mi. Elementary K-5 Category
3rd Place – Internal Drama
by Akyedzi Acheampong, 05/12/2020, Traverse City, MI
Elementary K-5 Category
Hi, my name is Akyedzi but you can call me Chez and this is what is going on in my head. Wait can pigs fly? When did I get a cow? Oh, I don’t have a cow. What’s the difference between a potato and a potato? Why am I doing this anyway? Oh yeah it is for a prize. Now I am . . .
Thoughts
by Evi Mar Danielson, 05/12/2020, Traverse City, MI. Elementary K-5 Category
2nd Place – At Home
by Mae Schillinger, 05/07/2020, Traverse City, MI
Elementary K-5 Category
The deer are running across the backyard.
I am six.
Will this Corona virus ever stop? . .
Odd Times
by Giuliana Dercole, 04/30/2020, Suttons Bay, MI. Elementary K-5 Category
Scared
by Cora Schillinger, 04/29/2020, Traverse City, MI. Elementary K-5 Category
1st Place – Nelly Thinks
by Issabelle Brooks, 04/17/2020, Beulah, MI
Elementary K-5 Category
“Oh hey! I didn’t smell you there!” My name is Nelly. I am a German Shorthair Pointer. I’m almost a year old but I am the queen of my house. I love to help clean dad’s toes.
My sworn enemy is kitty the cat. She is as black as your nightmares . . .
Staying Home
by Morgan Runyon-Wierman, 04/17/2020, Traverse City, MI. Elementary K-5 Category
