The Quest
Viewing comments for Chapter 18 "The Quest Part Eighteen"Finding My Roots
33 total reviews
Comment from Sasha
This is beyond heartbreaking. What a horrible and cruel thing for your grandmother to do and also so selfish. For your mother to receive that letter on her wedding day is equally heartbreaking. I am so pleased your stepfather turned out to be a good, kind and understanding man that loved your mother very much. I am being very sparse in my reviewing and only reading the ones I have already committed myself to do. I still have over 140 messages and will NEVER be able to read the all.
reply by the author on 17-Jan-2016
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This is beyond heartbreaking. What a horrible and cruel thing for your grandmother to do and also so selfish. For your mother to receive that letter on her wedding day is equally heartbreaking. I am so pleased your stepfather turned out to be a good, kind and understanding man that loved your mother very much. I am being very sparse in my reviewing and only reading the ones I have already committed myself to do. I still have over 140 messages and will NEVER be able to read the all.
Comment Written 17-Jan-2016
reply by the author on 17-Jan-2016
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Sasha, I am honoured that you are following my story and so pleased for you review. I do hope you feel better. You know I do care. Thanks ever so much again and the next chapter is now posted. If you got the time that is. All the best and thanks again. Ulla:)
Comment from abbasjoy
Wow, Ulla. Had that letter come a few months earlier, your whole life would have been different, to say nothing of your mum. But, it obviously wasn't to be.
It's hard to think your grandmother didn't allow your mum to make her own decision. I guess she thought she was doing it for her good.
A lot of times when people think they are helping a situation, they don't know the whole story, and make a worse mess of things.
I wrote a poem back in 2006 called The Butterfly, and I think the last stanza probably describes why your grandmother did what she did.
The Butterfly
A story once was told,
Of a caterpillar on a tree,
It was in its cocoon stage
Waiting to break free.
Along came a kind man
Walking by that tree,
Seeing the struggle that ensued,
Thought he'd help the caterpillar break free.
What he didn't realize,
Is that he had interrupted the process
Of an emerging butterfly,
Completing its last stage of metamorphosis.
Many times we try to help,
Without understanding what is really going on,
And so end up interrupting the process,
Which was not the Master's plan.
You see, God is the only One,
To complete the process He's begun,
Otherwise from a cocoon will come,
A butterfly half done
The story is beautiful. Now your mum is caught between the man she had loved and who in fact did love her, but she is now married to another man and their marriage turned out for the best, despite her previous heartache.
Well done, Ulla.
reply by the author on 13-Jan-2016
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Wow, Ulla. Had that letter come a few months earlier, your whole life would have been different, to say nothing of your mum. But, it obviously wasn't to be.
It's hard to think your grandmother didn't allow your mum to make her own decision. I guess she thought she was doing it for her good.
A lot of times when people think they are helping a situation, they don't know the whole story, and make a worse mess of things.
I wrote a poem back in 2006 called The Butterfly, and I think the last stanza probably describes why your grandmother did what she did.
The Butterfly
A story once was told,
Of a caterpillar on a tree,
It was in its cocoon stage
Waiting to break free.
Along came a kind man
Walking by that tree,
Seeing the struggle that ensued,
Thought he'd help the caterpillar break free.
What he didn't realize,
Is that he had interrupted the process
Of an emerging butterfly,
Completing its last stage of metamorphosis.
Many times we try to help,
Without understanding what is really going on,
And so end up interrupting the process,
Which was not the Master's plan.
You see, God is the only One,
To complete the process He's begun,
Otherwise from a cocoon will come,
A butterfly half done
The story is beautiful. Now your mum is caught between the man she had loved and who in fact did love her, but she is now married to another man and their marriage turned out for the best, despite her previous heartache.
Well done, Ulla.
Comment Written 11-Jan-2016
reply by the author on 13-Jan-2016
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This is an amazing review including a beautiful poem. I think you have nailed it the reason why my grandmother did what she did. It's still unbelievable the damage she did. Thanks again. All the best. Ulla
Comment from chcbeck
My goodness me what a mixture of all emotions. I can't imagine holding a letter from my biological father, with a plea to be able to have a part in your life, and not finding out until much later in life.Thanks for sharing and telling a very sensitive subject.
reply by the author on 12-Jan-2016
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My goodness me what a mixture of all emotions. I can't imagine holding a letter from my biological father, with a plea to be able to have a part in your life, and not finding out until much later in life.Thanks for sharing and telling a very sensitive subject.
Comment Written 11-Jan-2016
reply by the author on 12-Jan-2016
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Thank you so much for a heartfelt review. All best. Ulla
Comment from Selina Stambi
Meanwhile, all I could do was to sit back and listen to the words that could possibly hold the key to what could have been ... a poignant line. Well penned.
Oh wow, Ulla. My heart broke in a million pieces for you.
What a revelation. What could grandma have been thinking?
A fascinating chapter. Beautifully written.
Looking forward to the next chapter.
Love,
Sonali :)
"Wow, Mum, you have kept this during all those years?" Repeating what I had just thought.... suggest: ...
I voiced my thoughts. "Wow, Mum, you kept it all these years?"
our child, but for some reason that I can't fathom(,) you have chosen to withdraw
forgotten remark that my adoptive father (made) all those years ago
suggest: ... purpose(,) expecting that (they might) be needed sometime later on. What I
reply by the author on 12-Jan-2016
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Meanwhile, all I could do was to sit back and listen to the words that could possibly hold the key to what could have been ... a poignant line. Well penned.
Oh wow, Ulla. My heart broke in a million pieces for you.
What a revelation. What could grandma have been thinking?
A fascinating chapter. Beautifully written.
Looking forward to the next chapter.
Love,
Sonali :)
"Wow, Mum, you have kept this during all those years?" Repeating what I had just thought.... suggest: ...
I voiced my thoughts. "Wow, Mum, you kept it all these years?"
our child, but for some reason that I can't fathom(,) you have chosen to withdraw
forgotten remark that my adoptive father (made) all those years ago
suggest: ... purpose(,) expecting that (they might) be needed sometime later on. What I
Comment Written 11-Jan-2016
reply by the author on 12-Jan-2016
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Sonali, thank you so much for a great review. I so appreciate what you are saying. I have made the corrections and thanks for pointing them out. All the best. Ulla
Comment from Ric Myworld
It's scary how many lives and families have been broken by miscommunication. Young people, unsure, traveling, or having been separated by parents who thought they were doing the best for their child, and in some instances grandchildren, too. Thanks for sharing another fine chapter. :-)
reply by the author on 12-Jan-2016
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It's scary how many lives and families have been broken by miscommunication. Young people, unsure, traveling, or having been separated by parents who thought they were doing the best for their child, and in some instances grandchildren, too. Thanks for sharing another fine chapter. :-)
Comment Written 11-Jan-2016
reply by the author on 12-Jan-2016
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Hi Ric, thanks a lot for this great review, and for all the support. All the best. Ulla
Comment from Bill O'Bier
A very sad tale. The piece paints a picture of this event and does so with great detail. I felt as if I was there. The flow of language and dialogue worked well. Thanks so for sharing it. Bill
reply by the author on 11-Jan-2016
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A very sad tale. The piece paints a picture of this event and does so with great detail. I felt as if I was there. The flow of language and dialogue worked well. Thanks so for sharing it. Bill
Comment Written 11-Jan-2016
reply by the author on 11-Jan-2016
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Thank you Bill, I so appreciate your review. Yes it was sad, but also very revealing and happy in the sense that my real father was not an insetitive person. He cared after all. All the best. Ulla
Comment from Tessa Kay
Now we're getting somewhere. the threads are coming together. I enjoyed this chapter.
-just sat back,(comma) watching me
-it appeared..she disappeared.. change it up a bit?
-She disappeared inside(no comma) and was back moments later,(comma) holding an old looking letter -
you describe it in the next sentence, so the reader knows it looks old. No need to tell him in advance. Just show, and the reader fills in the rest.
-Repeating what I had just thought. - I would cut this.
-I took a gulp of coffee noticing that the bottle of wine - simultaneous with the gulp of coffee? If not, then normal past tense (I noticed). That would fit better also with what she 'also noted', as all this would otherwise be during the gulp of coffee.
-I opened this envelope(no comma) and pulled out two sheets of paper(no comma) with a handwriting strangely familiar to me.
-cried as I don't think I've ever cried in my life. - Poor George. He must feel like she's sorry she married him. I wish she'd looked at him and said something like, 'I'm glad I didn't get this earlier, or I wouldn't have found you'. I do feel for him.
But I see she explains that part now. He must've been half a saint, that man.
Isn't it amazing how many different ways our lives could have gone? I guess it's important to make the best of whatever way we're going.
You certainly seem to have done that. :)
reply by the author on 12-Jan-2016
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Now we're getting somewhere. the threads are coming together. I enjoyed this chapter.
-just sat back,(comma) watching me
-it appeared..she disappeared.. change it up a bit?
-She disappeared inside(no comma) and was back moments later,(comma) holding an old looking letter -
you describe it in the next sentence, so the reader knows it looks old. No need to tell him in advance. Just show, and the reader fills in the rest.
-Repeating what I had just thought. - I would cut this.
-I took a gulp of coffee noticing that the bottle of wine - simultaneous with the gulp of coffee? If not, then normal past tense (I noticed). That would fit better also with what she 'also noted', as all this would otherwise be during the gulp of coffee.
-I opened this envelope(no comma) and pulled out two sheets of paper(no comma) with a handwriting strangely familiar to me.
-cried as I don't think I've ever cried in my life. - Poor George. He must feel like she's sorry she married him. I wish she'd looked at him and said something like, 'I'm glad I didn't get this earlier, or I wouldn't have found you'. I do feel for him.
But I see she explains that part now. He must've been half a saint, that man.
Isn't it amazing how many different ways our lives could have gone? I guess it's important to make the best of whatever way we're going.
You certainly seem to have done that. :)
Comment Written 11-Jan-2016
reply by the author on 12-Jan-2016
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Thank you so much Tessa and for all your help with the commas. They really do defy in the English language. So different from any other language I know. I'm learning but will never master it. I'm so pleased that you liked the chapter. All best. Ulla
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I think we should start a petition to abolish commas. I'm sure we'll get a lot of signatures :D
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Ha, ha,ha, I think you are absolutely right. Ulla:)
Comment from lyons88
Could find no fault with this whatsoever. It reads like a precise and honest remembrance of events and let's face it, it would have been memorable. There seems to be or very little sugar coating, which I like. Wish this review could be more useful to you but hopefully it helps you to know that I enjoyed it and couldn't see any problems with it.
reply by the author on 11-Jan-2016
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Could find no fault with this whatsoever. It reads like a precise and honest remembrance of events and let's face it, it would have been memorable. There seems to be or very little sugar coating, which I like. Wish this review could be more useful to you but hopefully it helps you to know that I enjoyed it and couldn't see any problems with it.
Comment Written 11-Jan-2016
reply by the author on 11-Jan-2016
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Thank you so much. Rest assured it does mean a lot to me, and I so like your opinion that there is hardly any sugar coating as you say. Thanks for that alone because there is not meant to be any. This account is exactly what happened. All the best. Ulla
Comment from sweetwoodjax
this is an excelent chapter, ulla, you did an excellent job sharing this chapter of the journey with us. i am glad that she found out reuben didn't abandon her without a second thought.
reply by the author on 11-Jan-2016
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this is an excelent chapter, ulla, you did an excellent job sharing this chapter of the journey with us. i am glad that she found out reuben didn't abandon her without a second thought.
Comment Written 11-Jan-2016
reply by the author on 11-Jan-2016
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Thank you so much. Your comments are so appreciated. All the best. Ulla
Comment from damommy
Very good. It certainly struck a chord with me because my mother had a mother like that and had also never received letters she should have. While I'm not adopted, I could have been a totally different person, or not been at all. All I know is that is hurt my mother very much. This was a good story and you told it very well.
reply by the author on 11-Jan-2016
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Very good. It certainly struck a chord with me because my mother had a mother like that and had also never received letters she should have. While I'm not adopted, I could have been a totally different person, or not been at all. All I know is that is hurt my mother very much. This was a good story and you told it very well.
Comment Written 10-Jan-2016
reply by the author on 11-Jan-2016
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Thanks so much for this splendid review. It's amazing how much damage was caused by an interfeering act. All the best. Ulla
