Reviews from

Front Porch Education

Childhood memories from our Front Portch

34 total reviews 
Comment from Susan Newell
Excellent
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Ann,

Your point is well taken, and if I'm not mistaken it echoes Bible admonitions to just stop and be "quiet." I think family time on the porch qualifies. We have gained much with technology, but I wonder if we have lost more than twice as much in the process. Our lives of comfort, ease and instant gratification may not be the proper course for mankind. There is a difference between racing to chase game down for supper and the kind of racing around we do today to meet the immediate all-encompassing crisis that is forgotten as soon as it's taken care of.

I wondered why you capped some of the bird names. I believe the current style is to lower case them, as you did with some.

A very enjoyable read that made me reminisce about summer evenings on the porch at my grandmother's farm when my cousins "came east" on vacation.

Sue

 Comment Written 07-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 08-Jul-2022
    I have capped some bird names because I apparently didn't know any better!!! lol. You are correct that all should be lower cased, but sometimes it doesn't feel right. I'm going to correct that.

    I appreciate your thoughtful review. You perfectly describe a problem our world faces today: racing around to meet the immediate all-encompassing crisis that is forgotten as soon as it's taken care of. I might disagree a little in that I'm not sure that crisis -whatever it is- is ever really taken care of. Too often, it bandaged and we move on to the next crisis. Today's world is too fast for me to stay grounded unless I carve out some time to think and to ponder what my true objectives are.

    Susan, thanks so much for reading and for adding your thoughts. I always learn from you. ann
reply by Susan Newell on 08-Jul-2022
    You are very welcome, Ann. I think the real problem is that we can let others define the crisis. I remember when I was working, when a delivery was going to be missed for a critical project just how it overshadowed everything else until it was delivered on time through extreme interventions. Now none of them matter an iota. The same thing goes for fallen souffles and burned toast. :-)
reply by the author on 08-Jul-2022
    So true! Too many crises and too many crises managers. You will likely think I'm a little 'out-there' when I share some thing I oftentimes do... but, anyway, here goes: Typically, when things are chaotic and everyone is in a tizzy and I'm ready to scream, I take a mental break and walk away in my mind. I simply imagine myself as an observer of the chaos and see my physical self as a character in the play. Almost every time -- in fact, even in the worst times- I feel an immediate peace because I realize my control of the situation is minimal at best, but is 100% mine when it comes to my actions and my thoughts.

    So now you know you have a nut-fanstory friend! Thanks for the conversation. ann
reply by Susan Newell on 08-Jul-2022
    Ann,

    I don't think that's nuts at all. I think it's brilliant.

    Sue
Comment from Fleedleflump
Excellent
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I often think we're losing our ability to just sit and relax these days. When I was young, Sunday afternoons were usually spent quietly, my Dad reading the newspaper, my Mum reading a novel, and me either reading or just sitting quietly and thinking. To this day, I enjoy just sitting in silence at times. Conversely, my wife (who's only 6 years younger, so hardly a different generation) cannot sit in a room without something making sound.

I very much enjoyed your recounting and the lessons held within.

Mike

 Comment Written 07-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 08-Jul-2022
    Thanks for reading and for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate them, as well as your time. ann
Comment from the13thpoet
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Hello Annmuma a good day to you. I hope this finds you well. I enjoyed your story. As good and helpful as technology is, I wish we could go back to the simpler times. An old school front porch education is what a lot of these young folks need these days instead of this cellphone social media education their getting. Thanks for sharing your story.

 Comment Written 07-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 08-Jul-2022
    I appreciate your time and your thoughts shared with me. Thanks for the encouraging review. ann
Comment from Alcreator Litt Dear
Excellent
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You educate yourself, sitting, waiting, talking, passing time with friends, and you really enjoy life, as you shared your feeling, you sometime share your phone conversation with a good friend, and sometime, you sit and wait, watch nature, wind and feel peace of mind, watching hummingbirds, with a cup of coffee or wine, you never feel bad or bored, friend is there to share your words, you enjoy life with laughter, joy and peace of mind; well said, well done, post god speed more, share post not 4 self-joy-pride but 4 God and readers worldwide Alcreator Litt Dear (DR)

 Comment Written 07-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 08-Jul-2022
    Most everything you have said in your review is true with one exception: I do sometimes feel bad or bored. I think that is part of life, is it not? It is at those times we are most in need of spending time with ourselves to find that peace that only comes from inside. Thanks for reading and commenting. I appreciate the encouraging review. ann
Comment from Jannypan (Jan)
Excellent
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You did a great job, Ann. I enjoyed reading and learning more
about your childhood and family. I could see everything as I
read. I liked the approach of how it was then, and the fact you
still enjoy your front porch views. You have some great mem'ries
that you shared that grounded you and made you into the lady you
are today.
Thanks for sharing, Jan

 Comment Written 06-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 06-Jul-2022
    Thanks so much for a wonderful review. ann
Comment from royowen
Excellent
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Thank you for sharing your life with us, or rather the happenings in your life, the sources of your wisdom, the sayings and the myths that somehow become part of our folklore, one wonders where or who first thought of them. Public opinion is certainly not necessarily the truth, beautifully written, blessings Roy

 Comment Written 06-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 06-Jul-2022
    Thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts with me ann
reply by royowen on 07-Jul-2022
    Most welcome
Comment from Lilly Flowers
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Your slice-of-life story is so heartwarming and yet gives me a feeling of melancholy at how life has changed.

These days the younger generations are pre-occupied with themselves on social media. I wonder how many actually feel they can gain something from their parents and grandparents. Very nicely written. Regards, Lilly

 Comment Written 06-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 06-Jul-2022
    Sometimes it is a real pleasure to take a trip down memory lane and that trip is even more enjoyable when there are 6 stars at the end of it. Thank you. thanks also for sharing your own thoughts. I appreciate you. ann
Comment from Wayne Fowler
Excellent
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Very well written. Good work.
Blame television - and GameBoy (my euphemism for all electronic wizardry that controls modern youth). 24 hour news with commentary confused for truth. Daddy's reflections don't stand a chance.
Best wishes.

 Comment Written 06-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 06-Jul-2022
    Thanks so much for your positive review and for sharing your own thoughts. ann
Comment from mermaids
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My family also instilled a love of birding as we often talked about the various birds in our yard. My father was from Kentucky and I remember during visits there, sitting on the porch and just talking like you describe. We need to return to simplier times when families did just sit and talk. My father was also raised with three cooked meals every day. I enjoyed reading your memoir which makes the reader feel good.

 Comment Written 06-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 06-Jul-2022
    Thanks for reading my post, for your positive review and for sharing your own thoughts. I enjoyed our 'conversation'. ann
Comment from Mary Vigasin
Excellent
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What a great story. You have your reader relaxed and sitting on the porch with you. It is also a reminder that we move too fast with technology today. Sometimes it is just nice to shut things down and enjoy and engage friends and family in conversation or read a book.
Best wishes
Mary

 Comment Written 06-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 06-Jul-2022
    Thanks for reading and for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate the encouraging review. ann