Preserving Connections
One man's gift for memories48 total reviews
Comment from Ric Myworld
Sometimes the little things mean the most, which rings so true around the holiday season when we tend to forget a kind word or pat on the back for those outside our immediate circle. Thanks for sharing your wonderful story that won't soon be forgotten!
reply by the author on 11-Jul-2022
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Sometimes the little things mean the most, which rings so true around the holiday season when we tend to forget a kind word or pat on the back for those outside our immediate circle. Thanks for sharing your wonderful story that won't soon be forgotten!
Comment Written 27-Dec-2020
reply by the author on 11-Jul-2022
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So, after a three-year hiatus, I am back to respond to this lovely review ! Thank you for "getting" what I was saying...for "picking up what I was putting down" as the saying used to go! Very much appreciated...even three years later.
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Welcome back! This is proof that we never know what tomorrow might bring. Thanks for taking time to reply.
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You are right! That's why it's important to stay tuned, I guess!! Take care.
Comment from Liz O'Neill
This is a poignant account of the class reunion. One might chant, "O happy fault" If the " Mr. Pizzazz and Charisma class clown guy" hadn't messed up, the tone of this event would, I suspect, would be much more mundane. This is a strong tribute to all teachers. As I look at some of my students I've reconnected with on fb from the 70's I picture their young faces and remember many delightful and sometimes trying times with them. Thank you.
reply by the author on 11-Jul-2022
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This is a poignant account of the class reunion. One might chant, "O happy fault" If the " Mr. Pizzazz and Charisma class clown guy" hadn't messed up, the tone of this event would, I suspect, would be much more mundane. This is a strong tribute to all teachers. As I look at some of my students I've reconnected with on fb from the 70's I picture their young faces and remember many delightful and sometimes trying times with them. Thank you.
Comment Written 24-Sep-2019
reply by the author on 11-Jul-2022
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Hi!
I took a three-year hiatus, so that's why I never got to see this and respond. This was a lovely review. It meant a lot to me as I read it. Thank you very much, Liz.
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***smile***
Comment from Michele Harber
I want to know why it is that, living in a mile square town, you have so many more interesting stories to tell than I do living in a borough of New York City. This is a delightful story with charming and fun characters, from the would-be Master of Ceremonies with the wrong date in his calendar, to the teacher with the incredible memory for local history, to the local residents who were too kind to disturb the former in "his family's perceived grief."
You've created a true Norman Rockwell portrayal of this town that, if you'd mentioned lights in the windows, could also easily be a Thomas Kinkade painting. You gave just the right amount of background information, which segued well into the actual story of the reunion. Tying the last paragraph back to the background information by saying "like the railroad that formed this town's foundation" really gives your story closure.
Overall, it was a charming and very pleasing story to read, but I wouldn't be your FSBFF if I didn't point out a few proofing points to make the story that much better:
- In the paragraph starting, "As you can imagine with a place so compact," you reference twice many of the townspeople being related to one another.
- In the same paragraph, you need a comma between "is that" and "to this day," making "to this day, over a century later," a parenthetical phrase that you can lift out and still leave a full, correct sentence. (See, I didn't put myself out of business - yet - with those comments I gave you last time.)
- In the paragraph starting, "And this brings us back," you refer to "the catalyst for one of the best perfect moments of my life." I assume you mean either "best moments" or "most perfect moments," not an amalgam of the two.
- In the paragraph starting, "The get-together was held," you don't need to capitalize "Reunion," as you appear to be using it as a noun to say what the event was, and not as part of the title of the event.
- In the next paragraph, you need commas before and after "in such a close-knit community," as that's another parenthetical phrase.
- In the following paragraph, you don't need to capitalize "reunion" for the reason previously stated.
- Two paragraphs later, "History" doesn't need to be capitalized, as you're using it as the subject of the class, not it's title. You'll notice I didn't correct "Town Historian," as you do appear to be using that as a title.
- In the last line of that paragraph, you need to take the question mark out of the parentheses and put it between the closing parenthesis and the final quotation mark.
- In the paragraph that starts, "I was so glad," you need a comma after "because" so that, with the closing comma you've already given it, "before our Merlin of Memories completed his spell on the last alumnus in the room" becomes another parenthetical phrase.
- In the last paragraph, you again don't need to capitalize "Reunion" for the same reason I've previously given.
Good luck in the contest. I'd be very surprised if you didn't take one of the winning spots, and it wouldn't surprise me at all to see you take first place.
reply by the author on 11-Jul-2022
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I want to know why it is that, living in a mile square town, you have so many more interesting stories to tell than I do living in a borough of New York City. This is a delightful story with charming and fun characters, from the would-be Master of Ceremonies with the wrong date in his calendar, to the teacher with the incredible memory for local history, to the local residents who were too kind to disturb the former in "his family's perceived grief."
You've created a true Norman Rockwell portrayal of this town that, if you'd mentioned lights in the windows, could also easily be a Thomas Kinkade painting. You gave just the right amount of background information, which segued well into the actual story of the reunion. Tying the last paragraph back to the background information by saying "like the railroad that formed this town's foundation" really gives your story closure.
Overall, it was a charming and very pleasing story to read, but I wouldn't be your FSBFF if I didn't point out a few proofing points to make the story that much better:
- In the paragraph starting, "As you can imagine with a place so compact," you reference twice many of the townspeople being related to one another.
- In the same paragraph, you need a comma between "is that" and "to this day," making "to this day, over a century later," a parenthetical phrase that you can lift out and still leave a full, correct sentence. (See, I didn't put myself out of business - yet - with those comments I gave you last time.)
- In the paragraph starting, "And this brings us back," you refer to "the catalyst for one of the best perfect moments of my life." I assume you mean either "best moments" or "most perfect moments," not an amalgam of the two.
- In the paragraph starting, "The get-together was held," you don't need to capitalize "Reunion," as you appear to be using it as a noun to say what the event was, and not as part of the title of the event.
- In the next paragraph, you need commas before and after "in such a close-knit community," as that's another parenthetical phrase.
- In the following paragraph, you don't need to capitalize "reunion" for the reason previously stated.
- Two paragraphs later, "History" doesn't need to be capitalized, as you're using it as the subject of the class, not it's title. You'll notice I didn't correct "Town Historian," as you do appear to be using that as a title.
- In the last line of that paragraph, you need to take the question mark out of the parentheses and put it between the closing parenthesis and the final quotation mark.
- In the paragraph that starts, "I was so glad," you need a comma after "because" so that, with the closing comma you've already given it, "before our Merlin of Memories completed his spell on the last alumnus in the room" becomes another parenthetical phrase.
- In the last paragraph, you again don't need to capitalize "Reunion" for the same reason I've previously given.
Good luck in the contest. I'd be very surprised if you didn't take one of the winning spots, and it wouldn't surprise me at all to see you take first place.
Comment Written 22-Jul-2019
reply by the author on 11-Jul-2022
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I'm cleaning and organizing all the unanswered reviews in my Inbox and found this. Thank you for all the editing you did with this piece. I have printed it out and will use it to clean this piece up and send it out to various contest sites. Even though I know you did this vast amount of work as an act of generosity and friendship, I'm going to pump up a new posting of yours because I like to treat professionals LIKE professionals. Otherwise, it's like I scored having Secretariat give pony rides at my kid's six-year-old birthday party.
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Wow! Keep going through your inbox. I could make a fortune!!
Seriously, thank you. That's very kind, and definitely appreciated.
That aside, I rather liked letting six-year-olds ride on my back. It was much less stressful than running a race and, when they offered me cake, I didn't have to say "Neigh."
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Hay now; stop that.
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Since I'm not a professional comic, I'm glad you understood the bit.
Comment from Carla Trinklein
I wish I had this teacher's gift. I have taught kindergarten for many years and I'm terrible about being able to remember names and details. It doesn't help that my students change in appearance so much within a few years of leaving my classroom. Last year I was contacted by a former student to attend her graduation. She left a phone message with her name by way of inviting me, and I had no idea who it was until I checked old class pictures. I went to her graduation and had a lovely time catching up with her, but I felt terrible that I forgot so much about this lovely person who seemed to remember me so well.
reply by the author on 11-Jul-2022
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I wish I had this teacher's gift. I have taught kindergarten for many years and I'm terrible about being able to remember names and details. It doesn't help that my students change in appearance so much within a few years of leaving my classroom. Last year I was contacted by a former student to attend her graduation. She left a phone message with her name by way of inviting me, and I had no idea who it was until I checked old class pictures. I went to her graduation and had a lovely time catching up with her, but I felt terrible that I forgot so much about this lovely person who seemed to remember me so well.
Comment Written 21-Jul-2019
reply by the author on 11-Jul-2022
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Carla!!!!
After a three-year hiatus, I have returned to FS and am in the process of responding to the unanswered reviews in my inbox! Thank you so very much for this one of yours. You were always so full of warmth and encouragement and interesting vignettes. I hope you're still a member so that I can read more of your work. xo
Comment from juliaSjames
Such a touching story. Vividly written and eloquently expressed. I enjoyed the skilful interweaving of the vignette of the eccentric entertainer who never showed with the story of a true educator.
Best wishes for the contest.
Blessings Julia
reply by the author on 11-Jul-2022
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Such a touching story. Vividly written and eloquently expressed. I enjoyed the skilful interweaving of the vignette of the eccentric entertainer who never showed with the story of a true educator.
Best wishes for the contest.
Blessings Julia
Comment Written 20-Jul-2019
reply by the author on 11-Jul-2022
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Hi, Julia!
I took a three-year hiatus, so, as I'm clearing out my Reviews Inbox, that's why I'm just now finally responding to this lovely one of yours.
I hope you've been well and that you're still on the site.
Comment from shaffer40
I was unable to give this tremendous essay six stars, so I'm doing the next best thing. Perfectly written and endearingly entertaining. I know you'll do well in the contest.
reply by the author on 11-Jul-2022
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I was unable to give this tremendous essay six stars, so I'm doing the next best thing. Perfectly written and endearingly entertaining. I know you'll do well in the contest.
Comment Written 20-Jul-2019
reply by the author on 11-Jul-2022
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Hi, Shaffer40~
I've been on a three-year hiatus and am now in the process of clearing out my Reviews index. Thank you for this extremely lovely one of yours. It made me feel so encouraged.
I hope you're still on the site!
Comment from Sylvia Page
Hello Rachel
I enjoyed reading this poignant reminiscing of days gone by. This teacher did keep up to date and was able to make you all relive the past.
Well written and best wishes in the contest.
Many of the residents, in fact, were related to each other. And what charms and fascinates me the most about this town where I've now taken up residence myself is that to this day, over a century later, it's still quite a tightly woven community. Many of the residents are related to each other, and a good percentage are even descendants of the town's founders.
---There is repetition in this para. Also, it would do better if you can rephrase.
Sylvia
reply by the author on 11-Jul-2022
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Hello Rachel
I enjoyed reading this poignant reminiscing of days gone by. This teacher did keep up to date and was able to make you all relive the past.
Well written and best wishes in the contest.
Many of the residents, in fact, were related to each other. And what charms and fascinates me the most about this town where I've now taken up residence myself is that to this day, over a century later, it's still quite a tightly woven community. Many of the residents are related to each other, and a good percentage are even descendants of the town's founders.
---There is repetition in this para. Also, it would do better if you can rephrase.
Sylvia
Comment Written 20-Jul-2019
reply by the author on 11-Jul-2022
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Hi, Sylvia!
I've been on a three-year hiatus and am now in the process of clearing out my Reviews inbox. Thank you for the extremely lovely one of yours.
I hope you've been well and that you're still on the site.
Comment from Darlene Franklin
What a beautiful, poignant tale, a town full of George Baileys remembered and recognized by an extraordinary teacher, a community that appreciates what they have. Have you had a sudden influx of new residents since writing this brilliant piece?
reply by the author on 11-Jul-2022
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What a beautiful, poignant tale, a town full of George Baileys remembered and recognized by an extraordinary teacher, a community that appreciates what they have. Have you had a sudden influx of new residents since writing this brilliant piece?
Comment Written 20-Jul-2019
reply by the author on 11-Jul-2022
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Hi, Darlene!
I've been on a three-year hiatus so am now in the process of clearing out my Reviews inbox. Thank you for this absolutely beautiful one of yours.
I hope you've been well and that you're still on the site!
Comment from WryWriter
What a delightful story! Not many small towns anymore. A simpler time when neighbors were really neighbors and everyone seemed like family. Very well-done tale. Good luck in the contest!
reply by the author on 11-Jul-2022
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What a delightful story! Not many small towns anymore. A simpler time when neighbors were really neighbors and everyone seemed like family. Very well-done tale. Good luck in the contest!
Comment Written 19-Jul-2019
reply by the author on 11-Jul-2022
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Hi, WryWriter!
I've been on a three-year hiatus and am now clearing out my Reviews inbox. Thank you for this really nice one of yours.
How are you doing? Are you still a FS member?
Comment from brenda faye curtis
This is a beautiful story, Rachelle. So many times in life I was in a situation where I felt like I didn't matter to anyone, and needed such a gift as the one this teacher bestowed on all his former students. Such kindness is all too rare, I think.
reply by the author on 11-Jul-2022
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This is a beautiful story, Rachelle. So many times in life I was in a situation where I felt like I didn't matter to anyone, and needed such a gift as the one this teacher bestowed on all his former students. Such kindness is all too rare, I think.
Comment Written 19-Jul-2019
reply by the author on 11-Jul-2022
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Brenda!!!
I've been on a three-year hiatus from FS and am now in the process of clearing out my Reviews inbox. Thank you for this extremely sweet one of yours. It was wonderful to read.
How have you been? Are you still on this site?
