Michael Patrick Cahill, Patriarch
Auto-Biographic Essay39 total reviews
Comment from Joe_P
What a wonderful biographical story, I enjoyed it. At the end, there is sadness and regret, but there is also joy and accepting what is and making the most of it. Thank you for sharing. Oh, I love your writing style. Yes, you are a writer. Your story is clear, and it progresses in a logical manner. Your writing deftly expresses your story in a manner that allows the reader to glimpse your thoughts and feelings. Very nice indeed. Keep writing. You have a gift.
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What a wonderful biographical story, I enjoyed it. At the end, there is sadness and regret, but there is also joy and accepting what is and making the most of it. Thank you for sharing. Oh, I love your writing style. Yes, you are a writer. Your story is clear, and it progresses in a logical manner. Your writing deftly expresses your story in a manner that allows the reader to glimpse your thoughts and feelings. Very nice indeed. Keep writing. You have a gift.
Comment Written 23-Oct-2014
Comment from Phyllis Stewart
Fascinating read, Mikey. Too bad it took so long for you to find the other side of your family, but at least you did. Some never do. Mikey in charge? I don't see why not. You can do anything you really WANT to do, and I see you as a doer, not a "victim" like so many others, using their sad childhood as an excuse to fail. :)
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Fascinating read, Mikey. Too bad it took so long for you to find the other side of your family, but at least you did. Some never do. Mikey in charge? I don't see why not. You can do anything you really WANT to do, and I see you as a doer, not a "victim" like so many others, using their sad childhood as an excuse to fail. :)
Comment Written 23-Oct-2014
Comment from drivenbackward
Fascinating. That's all I can really say. Do you have any children?
My mother carried a diagnosis of manic depression -- Same here. She attempted suicide when I was three. However, I was adopted at birth and I'm not prone to the disease. My biological family found my three years ago, but my real family (adoptive) doesn't know they found me.
I discovered that my father had died the year before -- Ugh! Not good timing. Sorry.
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Fascinating. That's all I can really say. Do you have any children?
My mother carried a diagnosis of manic depression -- Same here. She attempted suicide when I was three. However, I was adopted at birth and I'm not prone to the disease. My biological family found my three years ago, but my real family (adoptive) doesn't know they found me.
I discovered that my father had died the year before -- Ugh! Not good timing. Sorry.
Comment Written 23-Oct-2014
Comment from Samuel Dickens
I really enjoyed reading this skillfully written account of your family history. There are several similarities in our life stories--the guitars, the long memory, the missing, formerly unknown relatives, and the fact that you survived the storm and came out more than okay.
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I really enjoyed reading this skillfully written account of your family history. There are several similarities in our life stories--the guitars, the long memory, the missing, formerly unknown relatives, and the fact that you survived the storm and came out more than okay.
Comment Written 23-Oct-2014
Comment from CR Delport
Mikey and Paul Simon huh? I can totally see that. I used to keep in touch with my dad's side of the family through him. Since he passed, I lost all contact. This is very well written, Mikey. Good luck.
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Mikey and Paul Simon huh? I can totally see that. I used to keep in touch with my dad's side of the family through him. Since he passed, I lost all contact. This is very well written, Mikey. Good luck.
Comment Written 23-Oct-2014
Comment from adewpearl
What a moving lesson to take from this terrible situation, Mikey - I agree with you that those first couple of formative years mean so so much to the development of a child. Enough love to last a lifetime - so very true. I'm so sad you grew up without your loving, caring family but glad that things have turned out so well. Brooke
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2014
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What a moving lesson to take from this terrible situation, Mikey - I agree with you that those first couple of formative years mean so so much to the development of a child. Enough love to last a lifetime - so very true. I'm so sad you grew up without your loving, caring family but glad that things have turned out so well. Brooke
Comment Written 23-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2014
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Even the crazy people loved me. So, that makes up for most things. They gave me a lot to write about, so that's a big plus!! Thank you so much. mikey
Comment from jpduck
What a compelling account! It grabbed me. Thank you.
I have a few suggestions:
Para 5 - I think it would read better if you begin a new paragraph at 'None of them had the slightest ...'
Para 15, Line 2 - I suggest changing 'to never' to 'never to'. This is not just because of the split infinitive (I know we're not supposed to worry about those any more!) but because I think it flows better.
Para 16, Line 3 - When I reached the first sentence about the Ferris wheel, I was stopped in my tracks and had to puzzle it out. I think it would help if you insert 'toy' before 'Ferris wheel'.
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2014
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What a compelling account! It grabbed me. Thank you.
I have a few suggestions:
Para 5 - I think it would read better if you begin a new paragraph at 'None of them had the slightest ...'
Para 15, Line 2 - I suggest changing 'to never' to 'never to'. This is not just because of the split infinitive (I know we're not supposed to worry about those any more!) but because I think it flows better.
Para 16, Line 3 - When I reached the first sentence about the Ferris wheel, I was stopped in my tracks and had to puzzle it out. I think it would help if you insert 'toy' before 'Ferris wheel'.
Comment Written 23-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2014
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Glad you liked this. Excellent suggestions. I took them all. Yes, all of that is on the money. Thank you very much. mikey
Comment from humpwhistle
A person's life is his own, and he has the right to tell it as he chooses. So, I've limited myself to the mechanical stuff.
Best of luck in the contest.
Peace, Lee
The women that(who) raised me
I had two half-brothers (the way this sentence is structured, I think 'have' is more appropriate than 'had'. Unless your step brothers are dead.
lovely ladies that (who) gave me all of that love
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reply by the author on 23-Oct-2014
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A person's life is his own, and he has the right to tell it as he chooses. So, I've limited myself to the mechanical stuff.
Best of luck in the contest.
Peace, Lee
The women that(who) raised me
I had two half-brothers (the way this sentence is structured, I think 'have' is more appropriate than 'had'. Unless your step brothers are dead.
lovely ladies that (who) gave me all of that love
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 23-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2014
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I have a post it right in front of me with "THAT" written on it. Yes, they are alive. Good tips. Appreciate it. Always open to suggestions. A better way to tell one's story is always worth looking at. Thank you, mikey
Comment from gypsycaravan
Thanks so much for sharing this story, mikey. What a blessing you were able to reconnect with some of them before they all passed away. It also lets the air out of the theory lawyers use at horrific trials, that the defendant grew up in a less than perfect home. People, and yes, children, too, make their own choices in how they want to lead their lives. Congratulations on your choices.
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The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2014
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Thanks so much for sharing this story, mikey. What a blessing you were able to reconnect with some of them before they all passed away. It also lets the air out of the theory lawyers use at horrific trials, that the defendant grew up in a less than perfect home. People, and yes, children, too, make their own choices in how they want to lead their lives. Congratulations on your choices.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 23-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2014
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Hi. Thank you so much. So true. I know lots of people with less than classic beginnings who turned out just fine. I know just as many who grew up in ideal settings who didn't amount to a thing. There's no formula for us humans. It's funny I have these siblings who are all into it, but I'm an only child and I can't relate to it at all. Hahahaha. My sister is all bro and sis and I'm like thinking, "I don't even know you!" How awful. Oh well, I'm in charge now. I assigned them all 5-7-5 funny animal pieces by sun up. mikey
