Keeping Fowl Company (Short Story) - 12/10/2015 1:06:34 AM
I thoroughly enjoyed your hilarious story, so well-written I could bring a handkerchief to my face to block out the "fowl" odors of your commute in the sweltering heat. There's nothing like flying commercial! Hope Bukavu was the Eden you anticipated.
Politically Homeless - a Five-Year Odyssey across Three C ontinents. (Short Story) - 9/15/2015 4:12:01 AM
From your bio, I can see that you have led a well-traveled life. Politically Homeless is sure to be an inspiration for those who seek higher education and have difficulty achieving it and also those with an interest in other cultures and travel.
I spent four interesting days in Cairo in January, 1968. The streets were filled with refugees from the latest war with Israel. When we returned in the afternoon from a tour, a large room in our old French hotel was filled with women sewing.
My partner is a refugee from Vietnam who was cut off from her higher education when the Vietcong arrived in 1975 just as she finished high school. She arrived here in Houston in 1992 and started helping me along with sewing, something she's done since she was six years old. She owns the shop for alterations but wishes she had more education and could do more reading and writing in both Vietnamese and English. I want her to retire from the shop so she can.
My neurosurgeon, Bahij Salibi, was born in Cairo. Got his experience at fixing cracked skulls and broken spines in a MASH unit in Korea.
I arrived in California in 1966. Left California in 1969 working as a quality assurance engineer to return to my alma mater and teach in Wisconsin.
Ron
Politically Homeless - a Five-Year Odyssey across Three C ontinents. (Short Story) - 9/14/2015 1:17:03 PM
Your well-written story weaves a tapestry of history, culture, and your desire and will to become an educated, assertive woman despite going against your father's wishes. Your mother was a wise and forward-thinking woman.
Where Do you Come From? (Short Story) - 3/3/2008 6:45:34 AM
Where do you come from is a real insight to the struggles of life as a immigrant. May the good lord bless them, where ever they may be.
Where Do you Come From? (Short Story) - 12/28/2007 2:14:52 AM
Excellent write, Mary; well penned!
I am Hungarian/Slovenian/Croatian/Russian/Polish/Czechoslovakian by heritage, but am a third generation American. My parents were born here, and my dad's father and mother were (I think; am not so sure), but my mom
's dad came from the old country (Croatia) and I believe her mom was born here, too. Not so sure on that either; will have to do some research on that. *grins* ANYway, I'm an American but of Eastern European lineage.
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tx., Karen Lynn. :D
Where Do you Come From? (Short Story) - 12/27/2007 10:47:51 AM
Very inetrsting, Mary!! And quite complicated as you so rightly said.
In Africa where your parents come from - their nationality - is what make you, the paternal parent, that is. I'm Tanzanian, Chagga by tribe - from the land of Mount Kilimanjaro. Early migration patterns of the Niger-Congo Bantu's led the Chagga to settle in the North Pare Mountains.
Okay, I am now feeling confused. Lol.
God bless, Mary!
Sandie.
The Graveyard Shift (Article) - 4/27/2013 9:24:57 AM
Very funny and creative. You are an excellent writer to be able to write such a wonderful short story based on the misunderstanding of one phrase.
When I was recovering from the surgery that paralyzed my hands and arms, I took long walks in the country and visited a neighbor's farm. Old man Martin had fourteen children, was obese, and bent over from arthritis. All of his children graduated from the eighth grade Catholic school a mile away. As soon as they could, they left home because the old man worked them so hard. Tom, 18, was the head of the family of about eight left, including a girl with down syndrome, the 14th.
Tom was working at the local mobile home factory where I worked before I was paralyzed. That meant 12 hour days during the summer. He also did all of the milking of the cows and the farm work. He would stop work when I came by and we became friends. That summer, the old man had him building an addition to the barn, so he didn't have much time what with working in the factory, on the farm, building the barn extension, and, whenever asked, digging graves for the Catholic Church where he went to school. Still, he found time to take us in his father's 1952 2-door Ford to town or to the drive-in movies during the graveyard shift. I don't think he ever slept.
Three years later, Tom got his GED while in the Navy as the driver for the naval commander of Alameda Air Station in San Francisco. I was a student at Stanford, so we got together a couple of times. He married, had a successful career in auto parts, and had no children.
Ron
Life with fuzz (Poetry) - 1/20/2018 3:00:48 AM
AAH, THIS IS SO ADORABLE. MY DAUGHTER LIVES ALONE AND SHE HAS A 10 YEAR OLD CAT SHE PICKED UP AT THE POUND AS A BABY. IT'S HER DEAREST TREASURE. SO I DON UNDERSTAND. THANKS FOR SHARING SUCH A DELIGHTFUL POEM TODAY, BLESSINGS.
Life with fuzz (Poetry) - 1/14/2018 8:04:39 PM
What's the fuzz about? That ball of fur owns you now! We know we had 2 and now the girl is Alfa cat. Sammy Boy left us empty and void. He was such a playful boy. His kidneys failed and off to cat heaven he sailed. Now that Sara is without competition for attention she demands her perks petting and snack times. If the TV is too loud she will let you know it. Too cold inside? She will howl instead of finding a warm corner to hide. One day she too will pass but we will get some other pet for the silence can't last! Amen
Life with fuzz (Poetry) - 1/14/2018 1:28:10 PM
A wonderful life story. Reminds me of the time a kitten appeared at our country place in my younger twin brothers asked me, "Can we keep him!" A prank from my brother-in-law, knowing that my mother didn't like cats.
I knew Mom hated cats, especially in the house so I told them, "I don't know. Ask Mom."
For reasons I don't know, she took Blackie in and several other cats that followed.
Ron
Life with fuzz (Poetry) - 1/14/2018 7:44:01 AM
Spoken like a true cat person. I just wish my cat wouldn't so much. We have to keep her long hair shaved to avoid that.
Life with fuzz (Poetry) - 1/14/2018 7:30:33 AM
Mine is a dog named Zoe.
Life with fuzz (Poetry) - 1/14/2018 6:40:31 AM
enjoyed this very much, mine is named Doodle
Plea to Santa (Poetry) - 12/15/2016 7:43:09 PM
Well said with humor
Plea to Santa (Poetry) - 12/1/2016 9:53:37 AM
I sure hope that Santa grants you all of those wishes. I think then that your authoring would be perfect.
Ron
Plea to Santa (Poetry) - 12/1/2016 5:40:05 AM
And a million dollars while you're at it.
Michael D.
Bye Lines (Poetry) - 10/21/2013 2:20:58 AM
very well penned
budd
Bye Lines (Poetry) - 10/20/2013 10:03:45 AM
A belated Dear John.... short, but sweet. Too good to pass up.
Ron
Growing Apart (Poetry) - 9/2/2009 8:19:40 PM
Hello Mary, excellent poem, honest and reveals your sadness and pain about wasted marriage. I completly relate to that and feel your pain.
will talk to you soon, take care,
Love Ankin
Fantasy (Poetry) - 9/2/2009 8:13:31 PM
Great poem, flows beautifully, Mary. We are all gone through that kind of illusion or images and that image is so sadly real when you are in love...you get blinded by love. Unfortunately not all of us can find true love and when it comes, sometimes its too late...
Love, Ankin
In the Fall of Love (Poetry) - 9/2/2009 8:00:39 PM
Mary, we all are going to get older, but soul stays young. I love your humor and your wit.
Love, Ankin
Hindsight (Poetry) - 5/20/2009 3:42:21 AM
Very powerful write! Nice flow to it as well.
In Reality (Poetry) - 5/20/2009 3:40:12 AM
Wow! Powerful poem. Break-ups are such traumatic events. You echoed my feelings when I went through a divorce. Indeed "he was never there". Good job Mary.
Hindsight (Poetry) - 2/28/2009 9:18:14 AM
Strong poem, very true
In Reality (Poetry) - 1/12/2009 3:08:40 AM
A well written poem on the harsh reality of a breakup.Stay strong Mary,take care
Edwin
Fantasy (Poetry) - 12/2/2008 6:55:19 AM
fantasy is a creative imagination or an unrestrained fancy;a capricious idea..
well u hav explained d meaning very clearly but since it's a poetry try 2 follow rhyming sequence. The rhyme echoes the almost hypnotic effect...dis will make it better.....
Re-incarnation (Poetry) - 11/20/2008 9:14:12 AM
Hi Mary, I read your poem "Re-incarnation". I found it full of warmth. The imagery presented was also very good. Please feel free to visit my site here in the "Den"
Re-incarnation (Poetry) - 9/30/2008 4:32:10 PM
Every day brings miracles and this piece is just wonderful....
Be always safe,
Karen
Re-incarnation (Poetry) - 9/30/2008 1:09:01 PM
Very beautiful poem. I love the imagery.
Mary
Hindsight (Poetry) - 7/31/2008 2:22:44 PM
Very powerful and moving. This one must have been tough to write.
It took me 20 years to write about my first wife who died of breat cancer. Please feel free to view my website.
GOD bless you!
John Michael
Growing Apart (Poetry) - 9/3/2007 1:15:34 AM
Well written...honest verse...hidden feelings penned.
John
Growing Apart (Poetry) - 9/2/2007 12:50:01 PM
This was an excellent display of expression! Keep poetry alive
Fantasy (Poetry) - 7/19/2007 11:16:08 PM
Love it! I wrote a short review on it for my school english lesson and was very well praised! I know how it feels to create your own vision of another person only to find they are completely different.
Hindsight (Poetry) - 4/29/2007 1:24:30 PM
Hi Mary, Read your poem, "Hindsight". I Liked the humorous ending, almost ironic. Good work. Please feel fre to visit my site at www.freewebs.com/kendoo and here at the "den".
In the Fall of Love (Poetry) - 1/30/2007 1:17:05 PM
A wonderful read. Age does creep up on us all, doesn't it?
Hindsight (Poetry) - 1/4/2007 11:25:34 AM
WOW! Congratulations! I can only imagine the wonder, growth and love of the big 50. You are an inspiration to all. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Fantasy (Poetry) - 1/1/2007 8:05:40 AM
nice work but sorry 2 say smthng is missng thts nt mking it direct 2 heart.May I knw why?
Fantasy (Poetry) - 12/29/2006 5:41:43 AM
I love a good fantasy. I do not like being confused. It's like knowing someone and not knowing them all rolled up into one. You've explained it exactly how we have, at times, felt this way.
In the Fall of Love (Poetry) - 10/15/2006 11:10:37 AM
Did Santa bring it or did you depend on your wit? Hope the latter happened and you find true love.
In the Fall of Love (Poetry) - 7/28/2006 4:27:02 AM
Ouch! That hurts, doesn't it? Hoe you'll feel better soon.
Sandie May Angel a.k.a. Sandie Angel :o)
In the Fall of Love (Poetry) - 7/11/2006 11:25:26 AM
Clever...and time does sneak up on us.
Do you suppose Santa can fix?
Fantasy (Poetry) - 6/19/2006 7:08:52 PM
Sometimes fantasy of another person creates deadly result for oneslf; especially the other person has no idea that he/she had been fantasized.
What you put into your own mind of another has no bearing of what he/she is really like in realities. Some went to extremities when creating fantasies about another person.
Fantasies are just fantasies, they are not realities. People should be able to differentiate the two, and not to do harm to another because of their own fantasies.
Anyway...this gives me a chance to rant...
Sandie May Angel a.k.a. Sandie Angel :o)
