Prospecting for gemstones
I never would have imagined I'd be ...29 total reviews
Comment from Paul McFarland
I am giving you six stars, Wendy, even though there is a glaring error in your piece. You refer to yourself as ordinary. I have known you for awhile now, and you are anything but ordinary. Just taking all the things that you mentioned and grouping them altogether, puts you in the classification of extraordinary. I'm sure you will not make the correction, and that's another reason why you are special.
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2024
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I am giving you six stars, Wendy, even though there is a glaring error in your piece. You refer to yourself as ordinary. I have known you for awhile now, and you are anything but ordinary. Just taking all the things that you mentioned and grouping them altogether, puts you in the classification of extraordinary. I'm sure you will not make the correction, and that's another reason why you are special.
Comment Written 08-Aug-2024
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2024
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My heart sank when I saw the words "glaring error"! I immediately wondered what I'd messed up. Then I continued reading your delightful and VERY encouraging review. You are right. I won't change it, because I do feel very plain and ordinary, just hunting through my life and experiences for those little shining gems which are significant to me. It's something we can all do. What a beautiful review. Many thanks for the words, and also for the six stars. It's an honour to receive them, and I am always appreciative.
Wendy
Comment from F. William Lester
Definitely not ordinary - extraordinary words to live by. I have difficulty being imaginative, coming up with ideas for stories, but after reading this you've given me hope and a new way of looking past my "ordinary" life to find those gems you write about. Well done. Good luck in the contest. Be well.
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2024
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Definitely not ordinary - extraordinary words to live by. I have difficulty being imaginative, coming up with ideas for stories, but after reading this you've given me hope and a new way of looking past my "ordinary" life to find those gems you write about. Well done. Good luck in the contest. Be well.
Comment Written 06-Aug-2024
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2024
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What a wonderful review,and I am so pleased you have connected well with my story. yes, in the end we can only write either about what we can imagine, or whatwe have experienced, and for me too, it's pretty much the latter. May you be inspired to go fossicking for your own precious gemstones from your life experiences. Thank you so much for the generous gift of six stars. I appreciate the honour, and they are a delight.
Wendy
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My pleasure. I learned a new work as well: fossicking. I've never seen that word before. I had to look it up. Now I'm one word smarter. :) Have a great day, Wendy. Frank
Comment from Father Flaps
Hi Wendy,
A nice entry for the "I Never Would Have Imagined" writing prompt. I enjoyed it. And I can relate.
I always thought of doing something special in my life. In High School, I was good at Math and English. I won many awards. But when I graduated, I had no inkling of a profession. So my time in university was dismal, except for playing on the soccer team for 2 years.
I was a real good long distance runner all through school, and dreamed of running a marathon race in the Olympics. Watching the Track & Field events this past week, it all comes back. But I wouldn't excel in the 100m dash. My specialty was 800m - 5000m. Of course, my chances crumbled long ago. I'm an old man now, and can only watch others go for the gold.
I never took any guitar lessons, but I have had a great deal of satisfaction playing in the Worship Team at church... Grand Bay Baptist and now Lancaster Baptist. I think that is where I have given the best of me. And it's all self-taught. Between age 33 and 45, I used to do concerts at various churches. It was stressful, and I'm quite bashful. To get up there on the stage, playing guitar and singing (with Linda Cameron), and witnessing to those in attendance, wasn't easy. I had to push myself, like an athlete (I suppose, when you think about it). After the first 3 songs, I'd settle down and actually start enjoying the last dozen songs. It was fun. And of course, I'd get so many hugs from the women afterwards! Some people would even ask if we had any cassettes for sale.
But I'm carrying on here, aren't I? You can see that your piece struck a chord with me. Your ending says it all...
"No, I never would have imagined how satisfying it is NOT to be a hero, just to be myself ... finding beautiful gems within ordinary life experiences and relationships. I am now spending my life prospecting for such gemstones."
Nicely penned! I wish I had a sixer left. Normally, they last longer into the week. But there's so much talent in Fanstory these days!
Hugs,
Kimbob
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2024
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Hi Wendy,
A nice entry for the "I Never Would Have Imagined" writing prompt. I enjoyed it. And I can relate.
I always thought of doing something special in my life. In High School, I was good at Math and English. I won many awards. But when I graduated, I had no inkling of a profession. So my time in university was dismal, except for playing on the soccer team for 2 years.
I was a real good long distance runner all through school, and dreamed of running a marathon race in the Olympics. Watching the Track & Field events this past week, it all comes back. But I wouldn't excel in the 100m dash. My specialty was 800m - 5000m. Of course, my chances crumbled long ago. I'm an old man now, and can only watch others go for the gold.
I never took any guitar lessons, but I have had a great deal of satisfaction playing in the Worship Team at church... Grand Bay Baptist and now Lancaster Baptist. I think that is where I have given the best of me. And it's all self-taught. Between age 33 and 45, I used to do concerts at various churches. It was stressful, and I'm quite bashful. To get up there on the stage, playing guitar and singing (with Linda Cameron), and witnessing to those in attendance, wasn't easy. I had to push myself, like an athlete (I suppose, when you think about it). After the first 3 songs, I'd settle down and actually start enjoying the last dozen songs. It was fun. And of course, I'd get so many hugs from the women afterwards! Some people would even ask if we had any cassettes for sale.
But I'm carrying on here, aren't I? You can see that your piece struck a chord with me. Your ending says it all...
"No, I never would have imagined how satisfying it is NOT to be a hero, just to be myself ... finding beautiful gems within ordinary life experiences and relationships. I am now spending my life prospecting for such gemstones."
Nicely penned! I wish I had a sixer left. Normally, they last longer into the week. But there's so much talent in Fanstory these days!
Hugs,
Kimbob
Comment Written 06-Aug-2024
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2024
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Thank you so much, Kimbob for this lovely review. You sound a bit like me. I am so pleased that this writing struck a chord with you, and you could relate to it. I think in the end it's best to use the gifts He has given as wisely as possible, shine His light, and pray that there will be a ripple effect. Keep prospecting for your own real-life gemstones! Thank you again.
Wendy
Comment from zanya
The final paragraph and especially the final sentence are little gems -and the title -who would have guessed this is where it was going to lead ultimately ?
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2024
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The final paragraph and especially the final sentence are little gems -and the title -who would have guessed this is where it was going to lead ultimately ?
Comment Written 06-Aug-2024
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2024
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Thank you very much Zanya. I am so pleased you enjoyed this one.
Wendy
Comment from BOO ghost
I acknowledge the writing prompt, No, I never would have imagined how satisfying it is NOT to be a hero, just to be myself ... finding beautiful gems within ordinary life experiences and relationships. I am now spending my life prospecting for such gemstones.
I like the climax of this story. An ordinary clump of coal and be transformed into a diamond by some sort of metamorphosis. Bravo!
BOO!
reply by the author on 06-Aug-2024
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I acknowledge the writing prompt, No, I never would have imagined how satisfying it is NOT to be a hero, just to be myself ... finding beautiful gems within ordinary life experiences and relationships. I am now spending my life prospecting for such gemstones.
I like the climax of this story. An ordinary clump of coal and be transformed into a diamond by some sort of metamorphosis. Bravo!
BOO!
Comment Written 05-Aug-2024
reply by the author on 06-Aug-2024
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Thanks so much for a great review. Lol. Yes, it's fine and fun to be quite ordinary.
Wendy
Comment from w.j.debi
A heart-tugging memoir. This is one of those stories that defines the phrase, "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts." What an incredible life. Maybe it wasn't flashy rescues, but it was meaningful moments.
Best of luck in the contest.
reply by the author on 05-Aug-2024
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A heart-tugging memoir. This is one of those stories that defines the phrase, "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts." What an incredible life. Maybe it wasn't flashy rescues, but it was meaningful moments.
Best of luck in the contest.
Comment Written 05-Aug-2024
reply by the author on 05-Aug-2024
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Thank you, yes exactly right. In the end, meaningful moments probably are both more personally rewarding, and also have a wider ripple effect. Many thanks for your lovely review, and for the support and encouragement of six stars. Always appreciated.
Wendy
Comment from Jim Wile
Ah, Wendy. What a gem of a piece you've penned here. I feel so lucky to have met you and a number of others here who I can share my own gems with and get to be privy to these gems from others.
The following passage from your piece, to me, is what I love about our community here at FanStory:
"I never would have imagined that there is such a strong sense of connectedness which overrides religion or politics or nationality or any other such divide, and that it could be discovered simply by writing ordinary stories about a mostly ordinary life.
And I certainly would never have imagined that I would now be publishing books with frantic haste, not knowing how far ahead the deadline is (apologies for that terrible attempt at humour). Not best-sellers; just ordinary books about life, with my thoughts, experiences, and relationships. My personal little treasures, perhaps our universal treasures."
This is so much of what I feel here as well. Whether or not I ever write something a publisher would actually want to publish isn't very important to me any longer. It would be nice, but if it never happens, that's okay because I've found a group here who I love to share my writing with and read theirs too and feel a real connection with. You are certainly high on that list.
There are only a few people who ever do something really noteworthy in life, but there are many others by contrast who, like you and me and most of us here in this community, can still prospect each others' little gemstones and find enjoyment and meaning in them. And that's enough for me too.
reply by the author on 05-Aug-2024
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Ah, Wendy. What a gem of a piece you've penned here. I feel so lucky to have met you and a number of others here who I can share my own gems with and get to be privy to these gems from others.
The following passage from your piece, to me, is what I love about our community here at FanStory:
"I never would have imagined that there is such a strong sense of connectedness which overrides religion or politics or nationality or any other such divide, and that it could be discovered simply by writing ordinary stories about a mostly ordinary life.
And I certainly would never have imagined that I would now be publishing books with frantic haste, not knowing how far ahead the deadline is (apologies for that terrible attempt at humour). Not best-sellers; just ordinary books about life, with my thoughts, experiences, and relationships. My personal little treasures, perhaps our universal treasures."
This is so much of what I feel here as well. Whether or not I ever write something a publisher would actually want to publish isn't very important to me any longer. It would be nice, but if it never happens, that's okay because I've found a group here who I love to share my writing with and read theirs too and feel a real connection with. You are certainly high on that list.
There are only a few people who ever do something really noteworthy in life, but there are many others by contrast who, like you and me and most of us here in this community, can still prospect each others' little gemstones and find enjoyment and meaning in them. And that's enough for me too.
Comment Written 05-Aug-2024
reply by the author on 05-Aug-2024
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Thank you very much Jim. Such a thoughtful and encouraging review! And six stars as well. Many thanks for this generous gift. Yes, doing a single heroic act or being a celebrity in the eyes of this world, does not mean anything now. I think one can be make more of a difference simply within one's own circle, and it is more fulfilling to simply try to do well what one loves doing. Thank you again.
Wendy
Comment from T B Botts
Hello Wendy,
I don't think there is really an ordinary person in the world. Everyone is unique, and we've all had personal experiences that have helped to shape who we are. I always like to read about other people's lives. When we're young, we assume everyone is like us. Its not until we get older that we realize how diverse we really are. People go on cruises or to amusement parks to experience something exciting or different in life, but just picking up a book and especially a memoir can be equally entertaining. Well done gal. I'm glad you accepted the challenge of writing. It's been fun getting to know you.
Have a blessed day.
Tom
reply by the author on 04-Aug-2024
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Hello Wendy,
I don't think there is really an ordinary person in the world. Everyone is unique, and we've all had personal experiences that have helped to shape who we are. I always like to read about other people's lives. When we're young, we assume everyone is like us. Its not until we get older that we realize how diverse we really are. People go on cruises or to amusement parks to experience something exciting or different in life, but just picking up a book and especially a memoir can be equally entertaining. Well done gal. I'm glad you accepted the challenge of writing. It's been fun getting to know you.
Have a blessed day.
Tom
Comment Written 04-Aug-2024
reply by the author on 04-Aug-2024
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Thanks so much, Tom, for your positive and thoughtful review. Yes, we are all unique. I think I was just contrasting "ordinary" with my youthful aspirations to acclaim for something heroic! Lol.
Wendy
Comment from lyenochka
Keep prospecting for those gemstones, Wendy! And you've been doing marvelous works lately - congratulations on your wins!
And as you say, most of us live ordinary lives but it's the Lord that sees the gemstones that give Him glory. You have shared about some of those gems in your teaching and in your loving mothering of Jonathon and the lovely teachable moments with your grandchildren!
Best wishes in the contest!
reply by the author on 04-Aug-2024
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Keep prospecting for those gemstones, Wendy! And you've been doing marvelous works lately - congratulations on your wins!
And as you say, most of us live ordinary lives but it's the Lord that sees the gemstones that give Him glory. You have shared about some of those gems in your teaching and in your loving mothering of Jonathon and the lovely teachable moments with your grandchildren!
Best wishes in the contest!
Comment Written 04-Aug-2024
reply by the author on 04-Aug-2024
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Thank you for such a lovely review, and for the congratulations. (Both wins were a surprise to me, and a delight.) Thanks too for the good wishes.
Wendy
Comment from Bill Schott
This story, Prospecting for Gemstones, brings the facts of our "ordinary" lives to the forefront as we discover, as you did, that we are different and similar to readers. I'm sure parts of Australia seem normal but are unusual and widely interesting to the rest of us. Our thoughts and ideas seem dull or restricted to ourselves, but are actually widespread and important to share, even if only in commiseration.
reply by the author on 04-Aug-2024
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This story, Prospecting for Gemstones, brings the facts of our "ordinary" lives to the forefront as we discover, as you did, that we are different and similar to readers. I'm sure parts of Australia seem normal but are unusual and widely interesting to the rest of us. Our thoughts and ideas seem dull or restricted to ourselves, but are actually widespread and important to share, even if only in commiseration.
Comment Written 04-Aug-2024
reply by the author on 04-Aug-2024
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Thank you Bill for reviewing. I appreciate it.
Wendy