Phone Calls from Caroline
Viewing comments for Chapter 6 "The Death Contraption"A cousin calls her younger cousin to rant.
30 total reviews
Comment from Tom Horonzy
Was the cousin in the story the 70 year old or her mama. Thanksgiving today is not what it used to be, sharing gratefulness for all God's gifts. Now, it's about grub and gossip. Still, we are having it.
reply by the author on 08-Nov-2023
Was the cousin in the story the 70 year old or her mama. Thanksgiving today is not what it used to be, sharing gratefulness for all God's gifts. Now, it's about grub and gossip. Still, we are having it.
Comment Written 08-Nov-2023
reply by the author on 08-Nov-2023
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She is actually 94. Her age changes everytime she calls. Her daughter is in her seventies but she she calls her daughter her mama. No, Thanksgiving has definitely changed from the past. However until I got about ten, my folks didn't celebrate it. It was a day to kill hogs and work. We cut out turkeys and pilgrims at school. Our first Thanksgiving was when my uncle went to a turkey shoot and won one. After that we started celebrating it.
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Wow, Thinking back to my parochial grammar school days, we had those turkeys and pilgrim hats above the slate, and a calendar for lil nigro babies that could be posted when sufficient donations were received for the children in Africa.
Comment from lyenochka
You need to write a book about Conversations with Caroline. She's such a hoot! And you make it sound so real wit her attitude. I hope you got to eat your lunch! Thanks for sharing the fun!
reply by the author on 08-Nov-2023
You need to write a book about Conversations with Caroline. She's such a hoot! And you make it sound so real wit her attitude. I hope you got to eat your lunch! Thanks for sharing the fun!
Comment Written 08-Nov-2023
reply by the author on 08-Nov-2023
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Thank you for the review. I have about six chapters. I'll keep writing and mayby I'll eventually have enough for a book. Thanks for the review.
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Comment from Pam Lonsdale
LOL, Beth, she sounds like the stereotypical old and cranky 95-year-old! I think they become so confused that nothing makes sense to them anymore.
Well, it was entertaining, and reminded me of my Mom when she couldn't understand "what the world is coming to" anymore.
Thanks for sharing.
xo
Pam
reply by the author on 08-Nov-2023
LOL, Beth, she sounds like the stereotypical old and cranky 95-year-old! I think they become so confused that nothing makes sense to them anymore.
Well, it was entertaining, and reminded me of my Mom when she couldn't understand "what the world is coming to" anymore.
Thanks for sharing.
xo
Pam
Comment Written 08-Nov-2023
reply by the author on 08-Nov-2023
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Thank you Pam. I appreiate the review and comments. She is a bit confused, but I think she isn't quite as confused as you like people to think she is. She enjoys being cranky. I'm not making fun of older people because I'm pretty old myself.
Comment from Debbie D'Arcy
Oh Goodness, it would be funny if not so worrying for the recipient. This is now the way of the world now isn't it? Elderly people feeling lost and disorientated like this, so sad. The "bucket" made me laugh though as did some of the excellent dialogue. It does however need a bit of a proof read, Beth. "She('s) up in her seventies" "Why do you think she(')s mad with you" "she needs to figure out.." I love that last piece of dialogue - so resonantly accurate when people are confused like this. Excellent! Debbie
reply by the author on 08-Nov-2023
Oh Goodness, it would be funny if not so worrying for the recipient. This is now the way of the world now isn't it? Elderly people feeling lost and disorientated like this, so sad. The "bucket" made me laugh though as did some of the excellent dialogue. It does however need a bit of a proof read, Beth. "She('s) up in her seventies" "Why do you think she(')s mad with you" "she needs to figure out.." I love that last piece of dialogue - so resonantly accurate when people are confused like this. Excellent! Debbie
Comment Written 08-Nov-2023
reply by the author on 08-Nov-2023
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Thank you Debbie. I know her well enough to know she enjoys being cranky, although she is more confused at times than other times. I think she likes calling her daughter her mother. I always give her all the time she needs to talk. I did reread this and fixed all you mentioned and few more. Thanks so much for your review.
Beth
Comment from Ben Colder
So typical for most of us. I had some problems the other day and my daughter and son has been looking in on me. My son took me to a clinic here and they changed my med. I am 10 years behind your character. I hate being a burden but sometimes a person needs a little help. Good one Beth.
reply by the author on 08-Nov-2023
So typical for most of us. I had some problems the other day and my daughter and son has been looking in on me. My son took me to a clinic here and they changed my med. I am 10 years behind your character. I hate being a burden but sometimes a person needs a little help. Good one Beth.
Comment Written 08-Nov-2023
reply by the author on 08-Nov-2023
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Thank you for the review. I'm only nine year younger than her, but she has been a lot like this most of her life. She enjoys giving people a hard time and having them feel sorry for her. I've known her all my life. I really appreciate the six stars.
Beth
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
This is hilarious Beth, I remember conversations with my Grandma like that. She smoked like a chimney and when she came to my house I had this electric smoke extractor that I put on whenever she smoked. She used to say: "I know you have that electric thing because I smoke". We just laughed but we never turned it off! A fun post Beth and I was entertained, love Dolly x
reply by the author on 08-Nov-2023
This is hilarious Beth, I remember conversations with my Grandma like that. She smoked like a chimney and when she came to my house I had this electric smoke extractor that I put on whenever she smoked. She used to say: "I know you have that electric thing because I smoke". We just laughed but we never turned it off! A fun post Beth and I was entertained, love Dolly x
Comment Written 08-Nov-2023
reply by the author on 08-Nov-2023
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Thank you Dolly. I really glad you found the humor here. I not tring to make fun of ageing except to realize we all getting there. I'm not that much younger.
Comment from Jim Wile
Oh, my, Beth. Caroline is quite a trip! Was she this cantankerous and self-centered when she was younger, or did this come with senility? If this conversation wasn't so humorous, it would be sad. Amazing how when they get an idea in their head, they can't let go of it, like the chair lift being a death trap. I wish her daughter good luck with her at Thanksgiving!
reply by the author on 08-Nov-2023
Oh, my, Beth. Caroline is quite a trip! Was she this cantankerous and self-centered when she was younger, or did this come with senility? If this conversation wasn't so humorous, it would be sad. Amazing how when they get an idea in their head, they can't let go of it, like the chair lift being a death trap. I wish her daughter good luck with her at Thanksgiving!
Comment Written 08-Nov-2023
reply by the author on 08-Nov-2023
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Thank you Jim, Caroline has always been a trip. I've known her all my life and she was always humor material when you didn't feel like hitting her with something. She isn't nearly as confused as she pretends to be. Cantankerous is a good word.
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
Oh dear, that's what happens when we get old, we get confused, and argue about everything. It's funny, but so very sad. We were the ones who were looked up to, who know the answers. (sometimes) They were the ones who came to us to have their scraped knee's wiped and put a plaster on. And we are the ones that will end up trying to make sense of it all, and wonder when did our roles were reversed? I enjoyed reading this, my friend. Warmest hugs, Sandra xx
reply by the author on 08-Nov-2023
Oh dear, that's what happens when we get old, we get confused, and argue about everything. It's funny, but so very sad. We were the ones who were looked up to, who know the answers. (sometimes) They were the ones who came to us to have their scraped knee's wiped and put a plaster on. And we are the ones that will end up trying to make sense of it all, and wonder when did our roles were reversed? I enjoyed reading this, my friend. Warmest hugs, Sandra xx
Comment Written 08-Nov-2023
reply by the author on 08-Nov-2023
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Thank you Sandra. I'm not making fun of old people because I'm 86 myself, so I'm likely closer than most. This was based on a phone call I got this morning. I love her, but she makes me laugh. I don't think she really as confused as she'd likes others to believe. She enjoys having people feel sorry for her.
Comment from jmdg1954
Beth.
Good story. I was laughing because I could envision my mother-in-law being in on that conversation, easily.
She was a heavy woman who lived with us for thirteen years after her husband passed. Each year got progressively worse.
Good story. Thanks for sharing.
John
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reply by the author on 08-Nov-2023
Beth.
Good story. I was laughing because I could envision my mother-in-law being in on that conversation, easily.
She was a heavy woman who lived with us for thirteen years after her husband passed. Each year got progressively worse.
Good story. Thanks for sharing.
John
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The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 08-Nov-2023
reply by the author on 08-Nov-2023
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I'm old enough myself that no one should acuse me of making fun of the elderly. My cousin has always been a bit like she is now. Ageing hasn't changed her that much.
Comment from jim vecchio
When I was in the hospital, still unable to walk, they hooked me up to a chair with a kind of lift to move to another chair, or the bathroom. I hated it and called it "a medieval torture trap" so I know how that character feels. By the way, I hope your Thanksgiving is a happy and healthy one!
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reply by the author on 08-Nov-2023
When I was in the hospital, still unable to walk, they hooked me up to a chair with a kind of lift to move to another chair, or the bathroom. I hated it and called it "a medieval torture trap" so I know how that character feels. By the way, I hope your Thanksgiving is a happy and healthy one!
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The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 08-Nov-2023
reply by the author on 08-Nov-2023
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I'm sure any movement if your body is in pain would feel like a torture trap. My cousin makes me laugh but I'm old enough myself that I shouldn't be acused of making fun of her.
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I'm sure many hospital personnel got akick out of my protests.