Reviews from

The Gift

Man frets over a gift.

44 total reviews 
Comment from Tpa
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Beautiful story. A gift of memories to the woman he loved. Other were also given to share in the gift for many generations because of his generousity.

 Comment Written 05-Sep-2022


reply by the author on 06-Sep-2022
    Thank you for reading and the nice review. Terry.
Comment from Sarah Robin
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

I really liked this story. What a perfect gift! The butterfly garden will be there year after year and is a perfect tribute to his wife. This was very well done. And your writing is very descriptive. Sarah

 Comment Written 05-Sep-2022


reply by the author on 05-Sep-2022
    Sarah, thank you for the wonderful review and the six stars! Terry
Comment from Carol Hillebrenner
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

What a beautiful story; it brought tears to my eyes. Is it perhaps real and something you bought for your wife, or only a dream over what you could have done for her because of the depths of your love? I know it reads fiction, but it sounds very real.

 Comment Written 05-Sep-2022


reply by the author on 06-Sep-2022
    Carol, thank you for reading, it is listed as fiction, but there is a lot of fact in the story. Terry.
Comment from Liz Westfall
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

This piece is so beautifully done, Terry. That last line is a tear-jerker!! Great picture choice. I loved the perspective switch. The first part was very personal and sweet.

 Comment Written 05-Sep-2022


reply by the author on 05-Sep-2022
    Liz, thank you for reading there is a lot of fact in that fiction. Terry.
Comment from Shirley McLain
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

What a power little love story and I loved reading it. You did an excellent job. I like the ending, realizing the gardener was the one who created it. Have a wonderful evening. Shirley

 Comment Written 05-Sep-2022


reply by the author on 05-Sep-2022
    Shirley, thank you for the six stars! Your kind review is appreciated. Terry.
Comment from Katherine M. (k-11)
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Sigh (of satisfaction). This is such a beautiful piece of writing. I loved every word of it, and wished it could go on for ever, or that I was near enough to Texas to go and sit in your garden. Kate xx

 Comment Written 05-Sep-2022


reply by the author on 05-Sep-2022
    Kate, thank you for the six stars. The story is fiction, with a lot of facts. Someday maybe I will tell the whole story. Terry.
reply by Katherine M. (k-11) on 05-Sep-2022
    I call that creative fact (personal definition). I discovered also a good definition recently: This story/play etc. is based on truth. Certain scenes are fiction for dramatic effect (or somesuch. No time to go through notes right now).
    As we grow braver, we brave the truth (personal quote) K
Comment from jessizero
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Your nonfiction stands out, but your fiction is just as good! You never fail to impress me. Thank you so much for continuing to share, and best wishes to you.

 Comment Written 05-Sep-2022


reply by the author on 05-Sep-2022
    Jessi, your review is very kind, there is a lot of nonfiction in the story, thank you for reading. Terry.
Comment from Debi Pick Marquette
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Terry, I know sometimes I get a little confused with what is fictional and what is real with your stories, so now I always look before I start reading. However, even if fictional, I see a little bit of the love story of Terry and Zoey shine through. Before I felt that, I instantly got chills up and down, when I first got that the gift would have been for his wife who died before he could give her this gift. I also love the little personal touch that you so often put in your stories. This was touching and even more chilling, while I sit here writing this on a warm 80 degree beautiful Minnesota Labor Day. Thank you for this very lovely story my dear friend!

 Comment Written 05-Sep-2022


reply by the author on 05-Sep-2022
    Debi, thank you for the six stars and your very kind review! I posted this story as fiction because some of it is fiction. Some of it is not fiction. There is a beautiful garden with a little cat statue reaching for a butterfly. There is a little plaque that reads, Zoe's Butterfly Garden. I do know that guy who funded the garden and hauled compost and horse manure to help it grow. People do enjoy the garden. Terry.
reply by Debi Pick Marquette on 05-Sep-2022
    Well you bugger you! I was so sure that it was you, but didn't want to make a fool of myself. Those chills I felt were so deep, knowing you so well. In fact, have you ever written or hinted about this before? It sounded so familiar. Your story was so touching and now that I was right all along, I am wishing I could have given it a 10.
Comment from lyenochka
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I remember a news story about a husband planting a field of daffodils for his wife. It now has 40,000 daffodils!
https://news.yahoo.com/husbands-love-wife-lives-field-232802847.html

But most of all, your story reminds me of you and your dear Zoe. I can imagine you going through all those thought processes trying to come up with the perfect gift and buying the field for his "Butterfly" who was a master gardener! Enjoyed your story!

 Comment Written 05-Sep-2022


reply by the author on 05-Sep-2022
    Thank you, I am aware of the story. There are thousands on our former property. Not because of the story but because she loved them as the first signs of Spring. I also planted hundreds of tulips, but in Texas, they are annuals. Those hardy daffodils come back and multiply. Terry.
Comment from Susan Newell
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Terry,

What a sweet, sweet story. I am sure your wife would have loved the story and the gift. I noticed one small thing noted below.

Sue

Do you know why it is called my butterfly's garden? -- cap the name as above?

 Comment Written 05-Sep-2022


reply by the author on 05-Sep-2022
    Sue, thank you for reading and reviewing. My thinking on the caps was that it is capitalized on the sign, but I didn't think a speaker would cap it, but heck if I know, one of my many short comings. Terry.
reply by Susan Newell on 05-Sep-2022
    My take would be that it's a proper noun and she's repeating what's in writing. We cap proper nouns in dialogue all the time.
reply by the author on 05-Sep-2022
    got it, thank you!
reply by Susan Newell on 05-Sep-2022
    :-)