Reviews from

Hearts aren't made to break

There is a price to pay for love

37 total reviews 
Comment from Mufasa
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Ray Price. I grew up in a Country & Western bar/ Restaurant, owned by my mom. That was 1966-1976. By the time I was ten or eleven, I could sing pretty much any song on that old jukebox, or the local AM rock and roll station. Back then my favorite Ray Price song was, 'For The Good Times.' I still like it, and his smooth voice. Thanks for reminding me - Well done.

MD

 Comment Written 09-Aug-2024


reply by the author on 09-Aug-2024
    Hello MD,
    thanks so much for the great review and comments. I think it would be interesting to grow up as you did. Do they still have jukeboxes? I've never really frequented bars, so I'm fortunate to have a classic country station to listen to. I remember that Ray Price song. When you speak of smooth voices, Jim Reeves comes to mind. The highs school science teacher where I worked for a few years enjoyed him and would play his songs during gym class.
    Have a blessed day.
    Tom
reply by Mufasa on 09-Aug-2024
    Oh man! 'Welcome To My World' and a Christmas song he sang.... can't recall it. 'SILVER BELLS'!! His singing was just effortless.
reply by the author on 09-Aug-2024
    Yes it was MD.
Comment from Sharon Elwell
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This piece was fun to read. I remember being embarrassed by my mother's country music, crouching down in the car in case we drove by anyone we knew. As I grew older, I got the hang of it. My favorite is "You Stepped on my Heart and Smashed that Sucker Flat." It's true that the price of love is a broken heart, and your writing brought that well to mind. Good work!

 Comment Written 09-Aug-2024


reply by the author on 09-Aug-2024
    Hello Sharon,
    that's so funny! Parents have a habit of embarrassing their kids I think. I don't know when the transition happened for me, but I do enjoy the classic country songs now. My culinary tastes changed too. I enjoy fresh broccoli and asparagus, two things I used to gag on when I was young. Ah well.
    Have a blessed day gal.
    Tom
Comment from Tom Horonzy
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Funny. Like you I came to appreciate country music as I aged, but not until my sixties, when The Highwaymen , and Shania caught my ear. AS for who sang Heartaches by the #, it was Ray Price, and it was a song to be dance to when played.

 Comment Written 09-Aug-2024


reply by the author on 09-Aug-2024
    Hi Tom,
    yes, I'm 72 now, and in part I suppose because I have a radio station close by that plays country and a car with a good radio, I started listening to it. There are a surprising number of good songs (in my opinion) that are country, but the ones I enjoy the most are older. As for Shania, I like one or two of her songs, but I was really attracted to her looks when I saw her on TV. She was easy on the eyes. Thanks for the great review.
    Have a blessed day.
    Tom
reply by Tom Horonzy on 09-Aug-2024
    Absolutely re: Shania
    Others I favor are the Osborne Brothers and Hank Ketchum (rip)
Comment from barbara.wilkey
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I became a country music fan about 2000. We were living in South Carolina because the Army put us there. LOL One of my sons played high school football and the team listened to country, so he did, then I did. There are some really good songs and some not so good ones, like in everything. I enjoyed reading.

Heartaches by the number, I had to look it up. LOL Ray Price did it probably back in the day, but it has been redone, by quite a few people.

so there wouldn't be a remaining spouse to grieve.No having to cook for (space needed after the period)

 Comment Written 09-Aug-2024


reply by the author on 09-Aug-2024
    Hi Barbara,
    I was in Charleston in the navy back in 74-76. I heard country music then, but didn't really care for it, with the exception of one or two songs. There was a parody I believe of Amazing Grace that I liked.
    "Amazing Grace, used to be her favorite song, Lord where has my good girl gone?" It was catchy and funny, but most of the songs didn't do much for me at the time, though I was trying to fit in with the area at the time, having watched the movie, Deliverance before moving there. Thanks so much for the great review gal.
    Have a blessed day.
    Tom
Comment from Debi Pick Marquette
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Hahaha, fishing as good as sex? Could be better, Tom. My hubby seems to get both less and less, except last week when we were at a family vacation for the week with out kids and grands. The fishing sucked and it broke their hearts. REALLY!! LOL.
Love your story. I too hated country music. My mom and dad listened to it, and my hubby loves the old Hank Williams music and I cannot handle the twing twang of that music, yet give me Willie Nelson any day. So I am getting better.

I love your take on the happy wife, happy life thing either. Actually I haven't seen you for a while and wanted to say hi. Also tell you that we read your book and loved it. Thank you again for it. I love that I have you in my library of friends.
Thanks for sharing this awesome story too, my friend. Love, Debi

 Comment Written 09-Aug-2024


reply by the author on 09-Aug-2024
    Hello Debi,
    well, if the fishing sucks, there's always the sex to look forward to. We have to have some highlights in our days. For some reason I like both Hank and Willie and a hundred others. I know what you mean about the twang, but something changed for me. I don't know why, but not only do I like country music, but I've come to enjoy broccoli and asparagus as well. How weird is that?
    I'm so glad that you enjoyed the book gal, it makes me happy to hear that. I'm looking for someone to print copies of my other two books right now. The publisher I had for the three books I wrote moved to Texas and is running an air conditioning company now. Just this summer I've sold seventy Grey Beards to a store in Hoonah, and now I'm down the nubs. I checked Amazon, and even though I don't need any formatting or anything, I want the same covers and everything, they still want $10.00 a book for printing. I can't make any money at that price. Hopefully I can find a printer here in the states to do it, or I'll have to go overseas, something I don't want to do. Oh well.
    Thanks again gal. Have a blessed day my friend.
    Tom
Comment from Begin Again
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Regardless the price, I'd pay it. Today is the fifth anniversary of my husband passing and it hurts, but the hurt isn't greater than the love I still feel when I think of our memories. I cared for him for ten years, knowing he was terminal, but I'd do it again a heartbeat. Love isn't all wine and roses, it's seasoned with lots of spices including one called pain. Regardless, it's the best serving I ever knew.
Smiles, Carol

 Comment Written 09-Aug-2024


reply by the author on 09-Aug-2024
    Hello Carol,
    I'm so sorry for your loss. Your love for your husband is outstanding gal, and an example for all married couples. You're so right, marriage is something that has to be worked at, like anything else. The more you put in to it, the more you get out of it. Thanks so much for sharing this. I hope your memories are many and pleasant. Have a blessed day.
    Tom
Comment from BethShelby
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Growing up in the south, meant growing up on country music because it was all we got on the local radio station. When I was a teenager I tried to break myself from liking it. I did like pops more then an also started liking classical and Southern gorpel, big band and jazz. Yes, love is theme of most music but with love comes broken hearts from a variety of reasons. I agree it, it is a shame it has to be that way. Fortunately I've never had a broken heart. After 61years with my husband, I missed him terrible when I lost him but I happy he'd lived so long an had a good life. I feel we'll be together again.

 Comment Written 09-Aug-2024


reply by the author on 09-Aug-2024
    Hello Beth,
    congratulations on your sixty one year marriage, so few people seem to be in it for the long haul anymore. I'm sorry for your loss, but it sounds like you've got some good memories.
    Have a blessed day gal.
    Tom
Comment from joann r romei
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this was great, the sentence that stuck out was, dad was happy so we were all happy, in families that's usually the way, a parent can set the mood of the household, for better or worse unfortunately.

 Comment Written 09-Aug-2024


reply by the author on 09-Aug-2024
    Hello Joann,
    thanks for the thoughtful review gal. You're right about setting the tone for the family. Being a parent doesn't come with any guidelines, so hopefully we've grown up in a loving family whose values we can draw on when we are raising our own. If not, then we can start with a fresh slate and make sure our kids have a good example to follow.
    Have a blessed day gal.
    Tom
Comment from Jacob1395
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I've never listened much to country music, myself. I have heard a lot more of it recently as artists seem to be releasing more country music, but to me the country songs they're releasing still seem influenced by pop. A well written piece, I enjoyed reading it.

 Comment Written 09-Aug-2024


reply by the author on 09-Aug-2024
    Hello Jacob,
    thanks so much for the fine review and comments. I actually am not that fond of the modern country artists, with the exception of a few. There seems to be a blending of traditional country with other genres for sure. I'm pretty much old school, though I never cared for it growing up. Like all things, our tastes change as we age I guess.
    Have a blessed day.
    Tom
Comment from Bill Schott
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This article about love songs touches on the sad/glad aspect of sad love songs and others. I recall Neil Diamond sang "Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" in a way of explaining how singing about these sad times can clear the lines for the better, happier ones.

 Comment Written 09-Aug-2024


reply by the author on 09-Aug-2024
    Hi Bill,
    thanks for the great review and comments. I remember that Neil Diamond song. I liked it. I liked most everything that he put out in the day. He had a unique voice. Thanks for sharing that.
    Have a blessed day.
    Tom