Chasing the Elusive Dream
Viewing comments for Chapter 39 "Safe Keeping"A southern couple's journey in the 60's,70's & 80'
33 total reviews
Comment from Terry Broxson
Beth, what a great story. I have enjoyed your poetry, but I think your prose is better. Please don't take that as a complaint about the poetry but rather a compliment as to how good the prose is. Outstanding writing and storytelling. Sorry, my quiver of sixes is empty. Terry.
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2023
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Beth, what a great story. I have enjoyed your poetry, but I think your prose is better. Please don't take that as a complaint about the poetry but rather a compliment as to how good the prose is. Outstanding writing and storytelling. Sorry, my quiver of sixes is empty. Terry.
Comment Written 01-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2023
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Thank you, Terry. I appreciate the review and the nice comments. I'm so glad you enjoyed my story.
Beth
Comment from Mary Vigasin
I found this to be fascinating as I am a little skeptical about the dreams; however, you tell this in the first person, so it is not just hearsay so it has some truth to it even if it defies logic.
As to getting to know the author and removing any inbred prejudice, I have to say, white or black, we all carry some inbred prejudice, however, as you show, the best "cure" is to get to know someone and see beyond the color of their skin. I bowled for about 10 years as the only white member of a bowling league, something my earlier self having been bullied by several black girls in high school would have never done. Being with this league was the best thing I have ever done and I respected and enjoyed being with each member.
Mary
reply by the author on 31-May-2023
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I found this to be fascinating as I am a little skeptical about the dreams; however, you tell this in the first person, so it is not just hearsay so it has some truth to it even if it defies logic.
As to getting to know the author and removing any inbred prejudice, I have to say, white or black, we all carry some inbred prejudice, however, as you show, the best "cure" is to get to know someone and see beyond the color of their skin. I bowled for about 10 years as the only white member of a bowling league, something my earlier self having been bullied by several black girls in high school would have never done. Being with this league was the best thing I have ever done and I respected and enjoyed being with each member.
Mary
Comment Written 31-May-2023
reply by the author on 31-May-2023
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I don't pretend to understand dreams that reveal something that actually happens. I'm skeptical about most everything, but I've had more than one than one that turns out to be prophetic. I just have to say okay, I don't unterstand how that is possible, but I'll try not worry about it. I really apprecaite your review and comments.
Beth
Comment from Faith Williams
Your opening sentence intrigued me and drew me into the story right away. And I wasn't disappointed. It does sound a bit far-fetched from the dreams to the uncooperative safe. It's almost as if the safe had a mind of its own. Even the fact that you weren't thrown out of the restaurant seems unreal. A well written piece, Beth. Thanks so much for sharing.
reply by the author on 31-May-2023
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Your opening sentence intrigued me and drew me into the story right away. And I wasn't disappointed. It does sound a bit far-fetched from the dreams to the uncooperative safe. It's almost as if the safe had a mind of its own. Even the fact that you weren't thrown out of the restaurant seems unreal. A well written piece, Beth. Thanks so much for sharing.
Comment Written 30-May-2023
reply by the author on 31-May-2023
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Thank you so much Faith. I'm glad you were drawn in by my story. There was some unusual things a play here.
Beth
Comment from nomi338
It is easy to hate someone you do not know. Refusal to make the effort will only prolong and make it even harder to overcome the bias. The Bible tells us to have and show love to our neighbor. Unscrupulous realtors use fear of declining property values to fool white homeowners into moving to ever higher priced real estate in fear of someone black becoming their neighbor. Naturally the person who gives up a neighborhood he loves and having to pay more, travelling a greater distance to his job serves to make this person angry at the one person who has done nothing to him.
reply by the author on 30-May-2023
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It is easy to hate someone you do not know. Refusal to make the effort will only prolong and make it even harder to overcome the bias. The Bible tells us to have and show love to our neighbor. Unscrupulous realtors use fear of declining property values to fool white homeowners into moving to ever higher priced real estate in fear of someone black becoming their neighbor. Naturally the person who gives up a neighborhood he loves and having to pay more, travelling a greater distance to his job serves to make this person angry at the one person who has done nothing to him.
Comment Written 29-May-2023
reply by the author on 30-May-2023
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Thank you for a nice review. Children aren't born with predjuice. It has to be taught. Being born in Mississippi, I didn't understand it, but children have to accept the way thing are. I think, more than the people, some seem to fear the poverty would rub off. Yet low salaries and lack of education was the cause of poverty among so many of the negro race in Mississippi in the 60s. Hopefully, people no longer move out when a black family moves into to the neightborhood. I had a nephew who was thrilled to be able to move in to the neightborhood of a rich black black ballplayer and become a his friend.
Comment from Anne Johnston
Thank you for sharing this interesting story. So nice that you were able to spend time with this author and help her with her book. So glad that you did not let any prejudice affect you.
reply by the author on 30-May-2023
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Thank you for sharing this interesting story. So nice that you were able to spend time with this author and help her with her book. So glad that you did not let any prejudice affect you.
Comment Written 29-May-2023
reply by the author on 30-May-2023
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Thank you, Anne. She was a neat lady and I was privileged to get to know her.
Beth
Comment from Jannypan (Jan)
You did a great job, Beth, with this interesting story.
It was posted before I joined FS, so thanks for reposting
it. Your words were descriptive and flowed smoothly.
I could see everything as I read. What a loss to the company
of Billy. The lines about dreams were interesting. It was
amazing how that one about the safe turned out. You did a
great job detailing how society at the time viewed minorities.
What a great and memorable experience you had with the
'classy lady.'
Thanks for sharing, Jan
reply by the author on 30-May-2023
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You did a great job, Beth, with this interesting story.
It was posted before I joined FS, so thanks for reposting
it. Your words were descriptive and flowed smoothly.
I could see everything as I read. What a loss to the company
of Billy. The lines about dreams were interesting. It was
amazing how that one about the safe turned out. You did a
great job detailing how society at the time viewed minorities.
What a great and memorable experience you had with the
'classy lady.'
Thanks for sharing, Jan
Comment Written 29-May-2023
reply by the author on 30-May-2023
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Thank you so much Jan. I appreciate all your thoughtful comment. It is a really nice review.
Beth
Comment from LJbutterfly
This story was so well written and fascinating, it didn't seem like two-thousand words. You are right. There are times when mysterious things happen that defies all logic. Learning from experiences with another culture always broadens ones horizons. You learned from Miss Michaels, and she probably learned from you. Best wishes in the contest.
reply by the author on 29-May-2023
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This story was so well written and fascinating, it didn't seem like two-thousand words. You are right. There are times when mysterious things happen that defies all logic. Learning from experiences with another culture always broadens ones horizons. You learned from Miss Michaels, and she probably learned from you. Best wishes in the contest.
Comment Written 29-May-2023
reply by the author on 29-May-2023
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Thank you for the review and comments. Actually this was a repost the contest was over in 2009, There was no minimum word count the maxumum was 2000. This had less that 900.
Beth
Comment from Monica Chaddick
This is an amazing story, and would have earned six stars if I had them to give. Prejudice is an ugly thing. My grandson (mixed) and I (white) had a talk not long ago about how his and my differences mean absolutely nothing. Some idiot told him that I didn't love him and his sister as much as my other two grandkids because they are "black" (mixed - whatever) and the others are "white". I told him I don't love him for his skin tone, I love him for his heart and soul. I pointed out all the differences between our five appearances, and he seemed to get that he is no different in my eyes than the other two. In fact, he looks more like me than the other two, and his baby sister is my absolute twin. Great story!!!
reply by the author on 29-May-2023
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This is an amazing story, and would have earned six stars if I had them to give. Prejudice is an ugly thing. My grandson (mixed) and I (white) had a talk not long ago about how his and my differences mean absolutely nothing. Some idiot told him that I didn't love him and his sister as much as my other two grandkids because they are "black" (mixed - whatever) and the others are "white". I told him I don't love him for his skin tone, I love him for his heart and soul. I pointed out all the differences between our five appearances, and he seemed to get that he is no different in my eyes than the other two. In fact, he looks more like me than the other two, and his baby sister is my absolute twin. Great story!!!
Comment Written 29-May-2023
reply by the author on 29-May-2023
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Thank you for the excellent review and for sharing your story. I'm glad things have changed but not so much that people of other races still have to suffer from other's ignorance.
Beth
Comment from Spitfire
An engrossing read. Seems you have psychic vision too. As for finally opening the safe, who can explain that? Maybe not the Twilight Zone, but could be One Step Beyond.
A smooth transition into how it changed your life.
reply by the author on 29-May-2023
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An engrossing read. Seems you have psychic vision too. As for finally opening the safe, who can explain that? Maybe not the Twilight Zone, but could be One Step Beyond.
A smooth transition into how it changed your life.
Comment Written 29-May-2023
reply by the author on 29-May-2023
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Thank you for an excellent review. I appreciate the comments. Some thing have no apparent answers.
Beth
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
What a lovely story, Beth! It's strange what spending time with someone you wouldn't previously thought of doing, changed and enriched your life for the better. I'm so pleased that happened to you, and I'm sure she felt the same about you. I really enjoyed your story, my friend, well done and good luck in the contest. :)) Sandra xxx
reply by the author on 29-May-2023
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What a lovely story, Beth! It's strange what spending time with someone you wouldn't previously thought of doing, changed and enriched your life for the better. I'm so pleased that happened to you, and I'm sure she felt the same about you. I really enjoyed your story, my friend, well done and good luck in the contest. :)) Sandra xxx
Comment Written 29-May-2023
reply by the author on 29-May-2023
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Thank you so much for the lovely review. She was a neat lady and we enjoyed each others company. I didn't have a problem being with her, but I was afraid they might embarrass her by telling her she couldn't eat there.
