Remembering Yesterday
Viewing comments for Chapter 77 "A Shrinking Household"A widow's journey into her relationship with her
20 total reviews
Comment from thaities, Rebecca V.
Boy, talk about the empty nest syndrome! Your nest emptied out way too fast, but you got to start over with Connie and all her little friends.
reply by the author on 14-Nov-2020
  |
Boy, talk about the empty nest syndrome! Your nest emptied out way too fast, but you got to start over with Connie and all her little friends.
Comment Written 14-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 14-Nov-2020
-
Yes but they only went away temporarily. Even today, although they don't live with me, they are very much a part of my live. Thanks for the review and comments.
Beth
-
Children are lovely people.
Comment from zanya
Yes life is moving on now as the young family grow up, making some of their own choices now while being guided by their parents- it's almost like watching a movie at times - well done
reply by the author on 13-Nov-2020
|
Yes life is moving on now as the young family grow up, making some of their own choices now while being guided by their parents- it's almost like watching a movie at times - well done
Comment Written 13-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 13-Nov-2020
-
Thank you for the review and comments. It was sort of like a movie for me as well. My starring role what turning into more of cameo. The more things the kids did on their own, the more I realized that my role was turning into a bit part. LOL
Comment from Brett Matthew West
She had no right to break, or otherwise damage, yours or anybody else's property. That would have lead to something to make her quickly understand that, such as the loss of some of her favorite things.
P5 - bus boy should be busboy
Big changes can occur when the whippersnappers all go off and the nest becomes empty. One of the toughest things parents have to do is let them go after spending their youth nurturing them.
reply by the author on 13-Nov-2020
|
She had no right to break, or otherwise damage, yours or anybody else's property. That would have lead to something to make her quickly understand that, such as the loss of some of her favorite things.
P5 - bus boy should be busboy
Big changes can occur when the whippersnappers all go off and the nest becomes empty. One of the toughest things parents have to do is let them go after spending their youth nurturing them.
Comment Written 13-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 13-Nov-2020
-
Thank you so much for the review and comments. Carol was not one to disobey. She realized she had no business breaking my records. That never happened again. I was very hard to let them go. even temporarily.
Beth
Comment from royowen
I think all parents need to write some sort of biography to let their children know what it was like raising them, and what perspective they eye it off like. For some reason I don't seem to be receiving your posts Beth, I'll have to check andcsee if the fan thing is working. Well done, excellent episode, blessings Roy
Typo : Like (the) her last birthday.
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2020
|
I think all parents need to write some sort of biography to let their children know what it was like raising them, and what perspective they eye it off like. For some reason I don't seem to be receiving your posts Beth, I'll have to check andcsee if the fan thing is working. Well done, excellent episode, blessings Roy
Typo : Like (the) her last birthday.
Comment Written 12-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2020
-
Thank you Roy, I so glad you are reading my post. You are on my buddy list but I don't see you on my fan list. I get your post everyday but you maybe you have become my fan? I don't really know what the difference is.
Beth
Comment from Y. M. Roger
Oh, the last one left there always seems to end up doing one of two things: getting really close to the parents or finding a really close friend to spend time away from them... sigh. A great addition to your family story here, Beth -- Sounds like y'all cleared the house faster than even college does! ;) :) Thanx for sharing! ;) Yvette
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2020
|
Oh, the last one left there always seems to end up doing one of two things: getting really close to the parents or finding a really close friend to spend time away from them... sigh. A great addition to your family story here, Beth -- Sounds like y'all cleared the house faster than even college does! ;) :) Thanx for sharing! ;) Yvette
Comment Written 12-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2020
-
Yes, we cleaned out temporarily. But we discovered that kids can be like boomerangs. They kept coming back. Eventually that stuck somewhere else but it was a long time coming. Thank for the great review.
Beth
Comment from Mary Kay Bonfante
You have an almost empty-nest situation here, except for Connie! That was some kind of a spiritual fervor that seized your daughter Carol, when she destroyed so many of your records. I went through something similar, early in my born-again life, and I destroyed or got rid of some things that I now wish I hadn't -- some diaries, and in particular, there was one alluring photo of me as a teenager. When my friend Jorge saw it (he's now my husband), I ripped it up because I thought it was too sexy to hold onto. Now in my 60s, with a body that sags in many of the wrong places, we both wish we could admire that photo together! But he still loves me as I am, which is much more important than an old photo. And I'm sure most of those old records could be replaced. It sounds like your daughter Carol's heart was very devoted to God, even though she went through different phases.
Some spags and suggestions:
For new readers, who may not have read my author notes. this is written...
-->
For new readers, who may not have read my author notes, this is written...
Early in 1979, Carol's fascination [delete line break after "1979"]
Don didn't know what do with himself.
-->
Don didn't know what to do with himself.
Christi was hired there as waitress,
-->
Christi was hired there as a waitress, [it might be okay without the article, but I think it might sound better with the "a"]
Soon Mother and I had more macreme baskets...
-->
Soon Mother and I had more macrame baskets... [I had skimmed this earlier, and I see you fixed all of the other misspellings of "macrame" that were here before!]
In June, Connie had her sixth birthday. [In the previous chapter, you mentioned in the introduction that Connie was celebrating her sixth birthday... did you celebrate it twice?]
I didn't want to go through the embarrassment of having no one show up like the her last birthday.
-->
I didn't want to go through the embarrassment of having no one show up, like at her last birthday.
She had gotten behind because she'd had to learn English...
-->
She had fallen behind because she'd had to learn English...
after she got out of College,
-->
after she got out of college,
The temperature was a 104° F.,
-->
The temperature was 104° F,
A recruter for a Christian Academy...
-->
A recruiter for a Christian Academy...
He told Don that for his school job, he would be paid for making macrame hanging...
-->
He told Don that for his school job, he would be paid for making macrame hangings...
...because the school was only about an hour's drive from Metairie
-->
...because the school was only about an hour's drive from Metairie. [also remove line break after "Metairie."] [Is it "Metaire" or "Metairie"? In paragraph 12 (not including the Background) and elsewhere in your manuscript (earlier chapters), it's often "Metaire."]
and check on out country place,
-->
and check on our country place,
Christi would be rooming with a Freshman.
-->
Christi would be rooming with a freshman.
...the same school where she had attented kindergarden.
-->
...the same school where she had attended kindergarten.
Connie was like an only child now with her siblings all away at school.
-->
Connie was like an only child now, with her siblings all away at school.
***
I noticed in your "Background" that you referred to your husband, Evan, by name, possibly for the first time in this book! It's a nice, personal touch, and I like it very much.
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2020
|
You have an almost empty-nest situation here, except for Connie! That was some kind of a spiritual fervor that seized your daughter Carol, when she destroyed so many of your records. I went through something similar, early in my born-again life, and I destroyed or got rid of some things that I now wish I hadn't -- some diaries, and in particular, there was one alluring photo of me as a teenager. When my friend Jorge saw it (he's now my husband), I ripped it up because I thought it was too sexy to hold onto. Now in my 60s, with a body that sags in many of the wrong places, we both wish we could admire that photo together! But he still loves me as I am, which is much more important than an old photo. And I'm sure most of those old records could be replaced. It sounds like your daughter Carol's heart was very devoted to God, even though she went through different phases.
Some spags and suggestions:
For new readers, who may not have read my author notes. this is written...
-->
For new readers, who may not have read my author notes, this is written...
Early in 1979, Carol's fascination [delete line break after "1979"]
Don didn't know what do with himself.
-->
Don didn't know what to do with himself.
Christi was hired there as waitress,
-->
Christi was hired there as a waitress, [it might be okay without the article, but I think it might sound better with the "a"]
Soon Mother and I had more macreme baskets...
-->
Soon Mother and I had more macrame baskets... [I had skimmed this earlier, and I see you fixed all of the other misspellings of "macrame" that were here before!]
In June, Connie had her sixth birthday. [In the previous chapter, you mentioned in the introduction that Connie was celebrating her sixth birthday... did you celebrate it twice?]
I didn't want to go through the embarrassment of having no one show up like the her last birthday.
-->
I didn't want to go through the embarrassment of having no one show up, like at her last birthday.
She had gotten behind because she'd had to learn English...
-->
She had fallen behind because she'd had to learn English...
after she got out of College,
-->
after she got out of college,
The temperature was a 104° F.,
-->
The temperature was 104° F,
A recruter for a Christian Academy...
-->
A recruiter for a Christian Academy...
He told Don that for his school job, he would be paid for making macrame hanging...
-->
He told Don that for his school job, he would be paid for making macrame hangings...
...because the school was only about an hour's drive from Metairie
-->
...because the school was only about an hour's drive from Metairie. [also remove line break after "Metairie."] [Is it "Metaire" or "Metairie"? In paragraph 12 (not including the Background) and elsewhere in your manuscript (earlier chapters), it's often "Metaire."]
and check on out country place,
-->
and check on our country place,
Christi would be rooming with a Freshman.
-->
Christi would be rooming with a freshman.
...the same school where she had attented kindergarden.
-->
...the same school where she had attended kindergarten.
Connie was like an only child now with her siblings all away at school.
-->
Connie was like an only child now, with her siblings all away at school.
***
I noticed in your "Background" that you referred to your husband, Evan, by name, possibly for the first time in this book! It's a nice, personal touch, and I like it very much.
Comment Written 12-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2020
-
Thank you, Mary kay, I'm so glad you helped edit this one. I had no idea there were so many typo and other errors left. Thank for sharing what happened to you when you became a Christian and started destroying things you regretted later. Sometimes we let our emotions at the moment dictate how we act, and later our thinking clears up. i appreciate you so much. I think I've already nominated your for editor this month but I'll check.
Beth
-
You're very welcome, Beth, it's awesome to be appreciated! I'm glad you understand my experiences as a new Christian, how we can get emotional sometimes, too -- as your young daughter evidently did when her faith was growing and she started following the Lord with renewed passion. I don't think destroying other people's property is what we're called to do! But I'm sure she didn't see it that way at the time -- it really is kind of funny, destroying an album by the Singing Nun! (I seem to remember her.) Not exactly Marilyn Manson.
Thank you always for your nominations, whenever you've been able to -- it's so thoughtful.
Blessings! Love, Mary Kay xoxo
Comment from Sankey
This was an excellent chapter. Just sorry no more SIXES atm. Sorry I missed the phoney money for the last chapter. Only one tiny spag in this chapter.be paid for making macr[e](a)me
reply by the author on 11-Nov-2020
|
This was an excellent chapter. Just sorry no more SIXES atm. Sorry I missed the phoney money for the last chapter. Only one tiny spag in this chapter.be paid for making macr[e](a)me
Comment Written 11-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 11-Nov-2020
-
Thank you for the review and comments. I usually post on Sunday and Tuesday. I'm sorry you missed the other one while it was still paying.
Beth
Comment from LJbutterfly
This is a very compelling story. It is the first chapter that I have read. I chose to read it because of your introduction that explained who you were writing to and why. I grew up in a house whole where Mother did not allow secular music of any kind. One day Dad decided enough was enough and brought in records on all sorts of sordid subjects. I'm sure your records weren't that bad. I love your conversational tone, and am looking forward to reading more. This story is very well written. Thanks for sharing.
reply by the author on 11-Nov-2020
|
This is a very compelling story. It is the first chapter that I have read. I chose to read it because of your introduction that explained who you were writing to and why. I grew up in a house whole where Mother did not allow secular music of any kind. One day Dad decided enough was enough and brought in records on all sorts of sordid subjects. I'm sure your records weren't that bad. I love your conversational tone, and am looking forward to reading more. This story is very well written. Thanks for sharing.
Comment Written 11-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 11-Nov-2020
-
Thank you so much for the review. I'm delighted to have another reader. A new reader last week suggested that I add that introduction so new people would understand. I should have done it sooner. I do hope you will read more.
Beth
Comment from barbara.wilkey
Thank you once, again, for sharing your memories with us. In 1979, I had a year old baby and was pregnant with my second one. LOL I remember it will. You are doing a wonderful job with this.
reply by the author on 11-Nov-2020
|
Thank you once, again, for sharing your memories with us. In 1979, I had a year old baby and was pregnant with my second one. LOL I remember it will. You are doing a wonderful job with this.
Comment Written 11-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 11-Nov-2020
-
Thank you so much Barbara. I think it may bring back memories for a lot of people. Some of the earlier writing was before they were born.
Beth
Comment from Ben Colder
I think we as parents at the time frame mentioned with music went through similar problems. We that preached and taught the scriptures as well was learning also. I for one never thought much of a condemning minister. The principal was not the music of the world but the intent behind it. A young Christian, can be confused toward the subject.
I loved John Denver-Dusseldorf. His music I still sing at times. Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy.
Good one Beth.
reply by the author on 11-Nov-2020
|
I think we as parents at the time frame mentioned with music went through similar problems. We that preached and taught the scriptures as well was learning also. I for one never thought much of a condemning minister. The principal was not the music of the world but the intent behind it. A young Christian, can be confused toward the subject.
I loved John Denver-Dusseldorf. His music I still sing at times. Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy.
Good one Beth.
Comment Written 11-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 11-Nov-2020
-
Thank you so much. None of my music was bad. Carol went though many stages and she was finally hurt by judgmental people at church. She eventually left the church. She a sweet person but she needs my prayers. I'm so glad you're still here. I was afraid I said too much.
Beth
-
Don't feel bad toward the churches who point out sin with a conditioning spirit. They are unlearned but will one day come to understand Jesus is not a hard task maker. Sin, error, mistakes, toward living peacefully and matured in Him sooner or later evaporates through forgiveness.
Jesus said we were our worst enemies.
So glad the children are doing well and living for Christ.
My blessings to you, Beth.
-
You are right. People are only human and they sometimes say things believing they are doing God's will, but they don't realize how they can hurt another person with their words.
Thank you for your continuing support. When will we hear from J.B again?
