Patchwork (Book) - 7/31/2020 9:34:36 AM
Great idea. Oral histories are best preserved in publication before they are lost forever. You do a great service to the families represented in the book.
Ron
Fan Loyalty: A Tribute to the late Brook Benton (Book) - 9/11/2019 7:14:30 PM
In Fan Loyalty, Brook Benton becomes the wind beneath and/or under the wings of a young girl from the south. With this unbeknownst spirit from this singer to her, she travels to a city to build a career. The longing interest to find and build a connection with Brook Benton will eventually allow her to build her own career. The emphasis on the spiritual (biblical) aspects of how words from the mouth (tongue) can build or break the heart's spirit. This book can surely be characterized as an self-help and motivational guide through the great maze that we call finding your own dreams and passions in this world. Finding and building a personal relationship with Brook Benton and his family had become a beacon for this little southern girl who became a women in the Big Apple.
The Life Force (Short Story) - 9/12/2019 9:07:07 AM
You have written with great compassion and in detail your experience of losing your Aunt Liz at a young age and of her glorious Home Going celebration. I hope it helps your thoughts on the matter to write them out. You still have some grieving to do, and I understand that takes time.
I have attended several Home Going celebrations for colleagues at my university over the years, some of them untimely and at a young age. Reading about your Aunt Liz reminds me of Joan Rivers, who died while having an esophageal surgery. I recently went to a doctor about my swallowing problems, and may have to have a similar procedure in the future.
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts.
Ron
The Class Reunion (Short Story) - 8/13/2019 11:20:48 AM
lovely read
never stop writing
m
The Class Reunion (Short Story) - 8/6/2019 9:43:24 AM
A very encouraging story. I admire people that reach that age. When my uncle turned 100 in April he put on his major's uniform and it fit him like it did when he retired from the Air Force. McDivitt sure knew his wife's preference for his clothes. And, my mother, recovering from pneumonia, was given an electric wheelchair this spring. She still prefers to use her walker to go to the dining room to eat at 94.
I bought my first wheelchair, a portable one that I still have, in 1989 so that others could push me, like my girlfriend did, very dangerously, when we went to the Bahamas. I got my first electric wheelchair in 1992, but didn't get in it until 1993 on my doctor's advice… She said, "For your own protection." After many trips and falls involving multiple stitches and broken plastic lens glasses cutting my face. Elderly people break their hips and falls. Recovery is not fun. My mother has had multiple hip replacements.
Two little things: Most long-term care facilities can't afford nurses to take care of their clients. They generally use CNAs (certified nursing assistants) and may have other professionals like nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, counselors and others, even uncertified attendants.
I don't think you meant, "football feel." ;-)
Ron
Eat Your Meals (Short Story) - 7/10/2018 7:28:32 AM
Holds reader interest, well done
NEVER stop writing!
m
Eat Your Meals (Short Story) - 7/4/2018 7:58:21 AM
A cute story about how the distractions of a hectic life can upset our need to stop and take nourishment. You made me remember the boss I had long ago that chided me with his wisdom. "Stop and eat lunch every day." Unfortunately, he died rather young in his 70s. Throughout my college and later career, I rarely ate lunch unless I was with others who did so. I found it very efficient and rewarding to have a good breakfast, complete my schooling/work early and then, make myself play good home cooked dinner while I cooled down from my hectic days. It worked for me and I'm still healthy in my mid-70s. It is interesting that BlackBerrys are already a dead technology and that cell phones have made our lives even more distracting and hectic.
Unfortunately, I read the unformatted version of your story at the top of the page first. Please contact support at AD to get this corrected. You don't need to write, "she continued." All you need to do is open another quote in the same paragraph after interrupting the first quote. For example, "Hi," she said. "Did you eat your lunch."
Also, I noticed that you often did not provide a closing quote mark. The latest form of spelling grammar checking on MS Word will help you find those very easily.
Ron
NO MORE PEPCID PLEASE (Article) - 9/13/2019 8:45:14 AM
An interesting article for a very common problem. I have had what you call GERD for over 30 years. It is worse at night and I can no longer sleep on my back. I can stop it from happening by sleeping on my side. Initially, I took prescription Zantac. But I stopped that after only a year or so of use. I don't know about the other antacids that you are talking about, having taken them. But I am currently on a drug that is supposed to assist the small intestine valve to the stomach where most of my problems seem to emanate.
I am on a relatively fat-free diet with leafy vegetables and great variety, some very organic. Unfortunately, I've started to have swallowing problems, so we'll see a gastrointestinal doctor very soon about that again. If there's anything that I can do to stop the progression of this, I will. I blame all of my gastrointestinal problems to my paralysis, starting with the neurogenic bowel and bladder after I was 20. But I don't like how these problems are increasing as I age.
Ron
Words, Words, Words! (Article) - 4/28/2018 11:58:57 AM
With you, the word has got religion. I love to play with words and am always a bit dismayed when I find people say that they have to use a dictionary to read some of my stuff. Oh, and I don't generally speak bad words when I'm talking to people, like you do. Conversation becomes confrontational when you use words that other people find offensive, even if you think that you have a right to say these words because you are you. A bit conceited, don't you think?
As an author I'm a bit concerned about censorship of certain words that I need to use to show the character of my characters and to show the meaning I'm trying to convey with my poetry. I don't think any words should be censored or out of bounds. But my voice dictation system would not allow me to say the common term for feces (stilted and medical) as, "shit." Likewise, the spellchecker in MS Word doesn't seem to recognize a lot of these words either.
Finally, thank you for praising Author's Den. I've been hanging around here for 17 years and find that collaborating with other authors has greatly enhanced my ability to write.
Ron
Rule of Holes (Poetry) - 8/24/2019 9:51:41 PM
ahahahahah that was funny, lighthearted poetry. needless to say, i enjoyed it. it kept me smiling.thank you
Rule of Holes (Poetry) - 8/23/2019 11:45:25 AM
Now that was funny. And certainly a good lesson for those that love to stick their foot in their mouth every time they open their yap.
Ron
Blackbird (Poetry) - 8/13/2019 7:14:15 AM
i love it. blackbirds are very symbolic for me. thank you so much for writing this. lovely poetry and a great reminder as well.
Blackbird (Poetry) - 7/23/2019 9:21:09 PM
My what a beautiful poem xo
Blackbird (Poetry) - 6/20/2019 5:16:51 PM
Birds of all feathers flock together,
When they visit my feeder to eat.
Blackbirds, redbirds, blue jays, yellow finches,
Everyone's welcome to have a seat.
Blackbird (Poetry) - 6/20/2019 8:06:55 AM
If only we could all be as free as the blackbird! A beautiful analogy so pleasant to read.
Ron
Blackbird (Poetry) - 6/20/2019 6:21:47 AM
A proud bird indeed!
Sandie
Blackbird (Poetry) - 6/19/2019 9:47:23 AM
Love this poetry, Carol, all the while I suspect you wasn't actually writing about blackbirds.
