Reviews from

A Fly on the Wall

Viewing comments for Chapter 4 "On Not Understanding"
A journal musings and assessments about situations

23 total reviews 
Comment from Coco Jane
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Fun story! I can relate definitely.

" . . . than Darth Vader's, she exclaimed, . . ." Consider adding (he-?) to show your confusion. Just a thought.

"well-satisfied B-cup bra"--delicious!

 Comment Written 01-May-2019


reply by the author on 01-May-2019
    Hahaha. Good thought. Thanks, Coco Jane. xo
Comment from TheStoryMan
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I think every generation goes through this. We see things change and we just don't understand it. Future generations will also experience this phenomenon.

 Comment Written 30-Apr-2019


reply by the author on 30-Apr-2019
    Absolutely! I completely agree, StoryMan. xo
Comment from A. Willow Bends
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This is very well written. Sadly, this is one I DO get. I have a stepson who has decided he wants to be a stepdaughter. It is very difficult. But love overcomes. There COULD be so many worse things. TRULY. It would be even more difficult to bear if it were my actual son, so it is easier for me to deal with, but I have helped my wonderful husband deal with this and he is doing well with it, as much as can be expected. It is extremely difficult for MOST to understand and while I have always thought it was a "trend", after talking with him/her, he has wanted to be a woman, he claims all his life and they had NO clue. This is a manly looking guy-guy. NOT what one would even have doubts about! Anyway, I can relate to this piece, but I am now living the other side of it.
Wendy

 Comment Written 30-Apr-2019


reply by the author on 30-Apr-2019
    Very, very interesting view from 'the other side,' Wendy. I really appreciate this feedback. xo
reply by A. Willow Bends on 01-May-2019
    I thought you might. While I do believe this generation is "over" experimenting, I have come to learn there are some trapped in the wrong gender body. It has to do with the size of the pituitary (sp?) gland or something. Do not quote me on that, but I know I had students, one in sixth grade, who claimed he would one day be a woman. He was born with both sets of genitalia (never knew that could occur) He is a senior this year and wants to do costumes and makeup professionally. He is beautiful as a woman and plans to become one, surgically etc. as he is financially able. He has been through hell with bullying in our small town and survived it.
reply by the author on 01-May-2019
    Amazing the grit some people are born with, isn't it? Good for him. And good for you for being so supportive. Thank you for helping to educate me. xo
Comment from royowen
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I honestly believe that it's true, that we don't understand. There's a lot of professional sportsmen and women who are sporting body tattoos, all over, arms legs, compared to older groups having relatively conservative"Tatts" to my eye they look like they have dirty arms and legs, perhaps my eye is stuck in time, I find myself also saying..."why?" Well done Rachelle, blessings, Roy

 Comment Written 30-Apr-2019


reply by the author on 30-Apr-2019
    Oh, I COMPLETELY agree with the full-arm tats. UGH!! (We attended a wedding last weekend, and the bride had tats all over her back and arms...and a strapless wedding gown. I did a lot of cookie-dunking over THAT when I got home; believe me!!

    Thanks for the terrific review. Roy. xo
reply by royowen on 01-May-2019
    I like that cookie dunking, heh heh
reply by the author on 01-May-2019
    With enough cookies, Roy, you can pretty much solve all the world's problems.
reply by royowen on 01-May-2019
    I think I'll go out and buy a heap, give the idea to the government, they'll solve all the country's problems, heh heh.
reply by the author on 01-May-2019
    You're a genius, Roy!! Great thinking!!
reply by royowen on 01-May-2019
    The young ones wouldn't agree. Hah hah
reply by the author on 01-May-2019
    Not our problem, Roy. hahaha
reply by royowen on 01-May-2019
    True
Comment from humpwhistle
Exceptional
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Oh, none of us get it, Rachelle. And none of those who came before us got it. It's the cycle of coolness. We've passed it. Like a turnstile. We were in, now we're out. The way my Dad didn't understand the Stones, I don't understand Jay-Z.

But I don't mind being obsolete. Ain't no young rip-rapper can touch me when it comes to delta blues.

Nice piece, Rachelle.

Peace, Lee Allen

 Comment Written 30-Apr-2019


reply by the author on 30-Apr-2019
    There you go, Lee!!! Sing it, Baby!! xo
Comment from Sally Law
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

I loved this and I am right there with you. Sometimes, I have flashbacks, realizing I was not remotely strange at all, just a girly 60's fashionista. My single mother threw out my "holy" jeans. She had put her foot down.
All my best,
Sally :+)

 Comment Written 30-Apr-2019


reply by the author on 30-Apr-2019
    And if she'd just let you hang onto those, Sally, they'd be haute couture right now!!! Mothers!!

    Thanks for the terrific review. I loved it! xo
Comment from susand3022
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Okay, Rachelle... Here's one from the 70's for you... Back in the day, we had a dog. My dad would walk her (they were always her) down the seawall, to the local grocery store, get a chocolate bar he could eat on the way home, and walk her back. (she would be petted to death outside the store of course while she waited for him to come out... those were the days when you could tie the dog to the post outside the store while you went inside.) So he's in there one evening, get's in line, says, "Excuse me, Ma'm." to the long-haired woman in front of him so he can reach past for his Hershey bar. "Ma'm" turned around and had a mustache and a beard! LOL, My dad was so embarrassed he came home and told us all about it! Hahahahaha!

 Comment Written 30-Apr-2019


reply by the author on 30-Apr-2019
    HAHAHAHA!! That IS a good one! Thanks for the laugh, Susan! xo
Comment from Y. M. Roger
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You know, I always go back to John Belushi on Saturday Night Live back when we were young.... do you remember the skits he's do as "PAT".... an androgynous guy/girl that you never knew what he/she was and, of course, that was the whole point of the skit.?? Anyway, I use the term 'Pat' to refer to folks such as this... and my husband knows just what I mean! :) ;) You know, the "I don't get it" is enhanced all the more when you introduce jewelry into the the 'stew'.... just baffling and hilarious.... until you think: they're the up and coming adults of tomorrow... SIGH. :) ;) Thanx for sharing, Beautiful Lady! :) ;) Yvette

 Comment Written 29-Apr-2019


reply by the author on 29-Apr-2019
    Oh, gawd!!! YESS!! I remember "PAT." Back then, though, we were allowed to find that amusing. Now? No way! It's insensitive. And you are SO right as far as the jewelry. I REEEEEALLY, REALLY don't get that. (I'm still trying to come to grips with your piece the other day about the hovercraft parents carrying their Millennials' backpacks.

    Thank you for the delightful review, Sweet Yvette. xo
Comment from Michele Harber
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First let me reaffirm, as I've said before, that you and I were separated at birth. I, too, insert side comments between dashes, and regularly use the parenthetical "gasp." If you threw in the occasional "dare I say," I'd swear we were twins.

I really enjoyed this story, and it hits home even more while my mother is still living with us, as I see her "old-fashioned" reactions to things that are commonplace to me. Obviously your story is relatable, and it's written with that sense of humor of yours that I enjoy so much, i.e., "shoot me now for even uttering that phrase." My only suggested change (Oy, is she here again??) is where you say, "when I would dismiss their inability to recognize commonplace things." You obviously didn't "dismiss" it, since you wrote a whole story about it. What you did do is "question" it or "challenge" it. Outside of that, just keep up the good work, and I'm looking forward to the next chapter.

 Comment Written 29-Apr-2019


reply by the author on 29-Apr-2019
    Terrific review, as always. And thanks for the tweak. I'll get right to it! xo
reply by Michele Harber on 29-Apr-2019
    My pleasure, as always. The best part about reviewing your work is that I genuinely enjoy your writing.
reply by the author on 29-Apr-2019
    That is a REALLY nice thing to have said. Thank you. xo
reply by Michele Harber on 29-Apr-2019
    I'm so glad we'd established that honesty thing previously. I'm very happy that you appreciated my comments, but I only said them because I truly meant them. xoxo
Comment from JudyE
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Isn't such a situation just mind-blowingly surreal? And don't get me started on tattoos. I saw one yesterday on a woman. Her whole back was taken up with a skull with a cracked eye-bone, wearing a gas-mask. It was hideous. No wonder she had it on her back where she didn't have to look at it!

 Comment Written 29-Apr-2019


reply by the author on 29-Apr-2019
    Oh my gawd!! I despise tattoos also, which I know makes me horribly uncool and antiquated. (Now ask me if I care...) We attended a wedding Saturday night, and the bride was COVERED in tattoos, and she was so proud of them, she wore a strapless gown. Oy.

    Anyway, thank you for the validating review!!