Cheryl Metivier

For anyone who has ever placed an expiry date on their dreams or aspirations, Lilian Lewis encourages them to rethink that position.

Lewis, a mother and grandmother has dared to challenge herself to persist until her dreams manifested. For as long as she can remember she has loved to write, and she has written, and at 77, she is now the proud author of Aunty Ivy’s story: How Coronavirus Changed lifestyles in 2020 – Month to Month Recall, available at select bookstores nationwide, and on Amazon.

"Any topic that I find interesting, I write about it; I have a dream, I write it down; I go down the road and see something interesting, I write it down. Even spiritual experiences," Lewis told WMN.

She said the novelty of the covid 19 pandemic struck a chord with her and resonated deeply, so daily, she journalled about the changes that she was witnessing around her; about how ordinary events and routines had changed so drastically – shopping, birthday parties, attending church services, celebrating Christmas and other special occasions – everything. She had neither witnessed nor experienced anything like this, and based on the conversations she had held with her parents and grandparents, they too had never lived through any such challenges. She therefore wrote intentionally, not yet aware that this would end up being her first publication, but instinctively, she was determined that future generations would be able to relive the pandemic years through her eyes and by her words.

Lewis and her only daughter Veronica Carasquero (also a published author) share a special bond, and when she shared some of what she had written about the pandemic Carasquero was impressed, and almost instantly sensed, as did her mother, that this might be the one – the script that could take her out of anonymity, and introduce her to the literary world. Lewis said her daughter asked almost immediately, '“Mammy, yuh want to write the book?' I said,'Yes,' and she said, 'I will help you write your book.'”

From that point, almost four years ago, publication process began in earnest and the duo began to pursue what has been Lewis’ lifelong labour of love. Buoyed by the support and encouragement of family, friends, neighbours and loved ones, they embarked on the journey.

Lewis described her childhood in Paramin as a happy one. She was one of seven siblings, and she is thankful that up until her parents died she was able to care for them, while simultaneously looking after her three children – two boys and one girl. As a single mother it was not always easy, but she managed to do it successfully. She provided for her family by farming, and was uncompromising when it came to her children's education. She did her best to ensure that they were adequately provided for. She said she always wanted “bright children."

“So I used to take them all about. And where I could go? Was mostly prayers eh, so we used to go to prayers all over. I gave my best and I can say that things turned out nicely.”

She even found time to serve as the