HeartOn
Page 18
amyjocousins@gmail.com
Acknowledgments
My time in Puerto Rico was truly magical. I will forever be grateful to my friend H.S. for taking me there, for our time in Old San Juan, for reminding me why I shouldn’t lie about my weight when a prop plane operator asks, for the amazing stay at Hix Island House, the one-eyed pony trail rides, the afternoons in the used bookstore, the bio bay tour, the help reading maps to the tiny, secret beaches and being willing to risk upending our rented Jeep to get to them, and for not making fun of my desire for death-dying adventure (maybe the tiniest exaggeration, that) when we realized the giant, public beach right in town was gorgeous and empty. Many thanks too, to our holiday friend, the bartender at Bananas, where we ate lunch every day. When I said on our last day that I didn’t want to go home, he found me a job, a room to rent, and a Jeep for sale before lunch was over. I wish I’d stayed!
The US government’s slow response to the hurricane’s devastation has been disastrously inadequate and must continue to improve for the millions of US citizens still in need of help there. Chef José Andres and World Central Kitchen provided an inspiring example of the ability of locals working with agile coordination on the ground to provide urgently needed meal services post-disaster. I am a proud supporter of that entire organization and the work they do worldwide in the face of immense challenges. Click through the link above to donate!
The most needed support must come, of course, from the US government. Constant pressure on our congressional representatives must be applied to force action on this point. You can use your zip code to find contact info for your House and Senate members at https://whoismyrepresentative.com/ and then email or call them to demand ongoing support for Puerto Rico’s relief needs.
Special thanks to Eddie for noticing how much time had passed since the original creation of HeartOn and the missing pieces. And to Misha for always answering last-minute cries for help, even when there are gold coins to be earned.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
HeartOn: © by Amy Jo Albinak
Cover Design by Black Jazz Design
Edited by Christa Soule Desir
Proofreading by Lillie’s Literary Services
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All rights reserved. Where such permission is sufficient, the author grants the right to strip any DRM which may be applied to this work.
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For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact Amy Jo Cousins at http://amyjocousins.com/.
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Manufactured in the United States of America
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First Edition January 201i
Created with Vellum