How do I write a Good to meet you? How do I express the joy of returning home from the school run each Thursday morning, lugging the pram up the stairs, depositing a small boy next to the door and unlocking my black letterbox to find a fresh Guardian Weekly sealed in its plastic.
“What gems await me this week?” I think, “What of the state of the world?” An incredible photo of a Syrian teenager leaps out at me; he’s coated white with dust from an explosion, blood pouring down his leg. On the next page I read about the young boys alone in the camp in Calais. I put my hand on the newspaper and cry. How can we in Australia help them? The Weekly puts people in my prayers and prompts action. But it’s the writing that gets me.
I’m a Sydney writer with a background in EFL teaching and got put on to the Weekly through my children’s activist-granny, Sue. My Weekly gets passed on to my friend, Kate, who in turn shares it with another mum in the playground. I’d love to see other young people introduce themselves in this space.
GW has helped me get to know my world, and very often myself, better. There’s always hope too – I love the new Ethical Living section by Lucy Siegle and never miss What I’m really thinking and Oliver Burkeman. And I love reading Good to meet you. Thank you for printing such a special paper. I’ll write back in another decade!
If you would like to appear in this space, send a brief note to guardian.weekly@theguardian.com
