Reviews from

Mom in Florida--RIP

Biography, tribute ...

37 total reviews 
Comment from Helen Bach
Excellent
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A fascinating read and a fine tribute to your 'mum' in Florida. This sensitive and touching portrayal is well written with humour and wisdom stitched throughout. You brought this remarkable lady back to life with your talented pen. My kindest regards xxx

 Comment Written 07-Apr-2016


reply by the author on 08-Apr-2016
    Hi, Helen.
    Wow, What lovely words to read. I can't thank you enough. I'm so pleased to hear such compliments and kindness. It's a big comfort and most appreciated. mikey
Comment from brenda bickers
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Oh, Mikey,
I could really kick myself right now. I Didn't know that you had suffered a loss in the family, and here I was pestering you with silly Questions and sonnets. Please accept my apologies.

I am so sorry for your loss, and thinking of you. Mums can be so special and although you didn't have a good up bringing by your own mum, Betty sounds like the best substitute for another.
How sad that you all live so far apart and unable to comfort each other. You know where we all are if you need us. This was a wonderful read and a fitting tribute to a wonderful lady.
Brenda

 Comment Written 07-Apr-2016


reply by the author on 08-Apr-2016
    Ha! Are you THAT flexible? Wow! No worries, my friend. I'm fine and appreciate the distractions especially when its cool exciting stuff like CDs and the like. You are so sweet and you're words are so comforting. Thanks so very much. I do truly appreciate it. mikey
Comment from dejohnsrld (Debbie)
Excellent
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I think you wrote this very well. It has both emotion and humor, and a great deal of love and caring. I am so sorry for your loss. I am glad you had the opportunity to get to know her. You and your family are in my prayers, my friend~Debbie

 Comment Written 07-Apr-2016


reply by the author on 08-Apr-2016
    That is so appreciated Debbie. Your words are of great comfort. Thank you so much. I'm pleased you liked the writing. I'll be fine. Lots of nice people like yourself to fall back on. :)) mikey
Comment from Phyllis Stewart
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Touching story of an unusual family. Betty seems like a special lady. Glad you got to know her. Sorry you didn't get the chance to know your dad, but life is far from perfect. We're lucky we get as much as we do, I think. :)

 Comment Written 07-Apr-2016


reply by the author on 08-Apr-2016
    So true. Betty and I are similar. We both kind of take it as it comes and that made everything roll pretty smoothly as far as reunions and all that. It was easy for us to meet and get right in step. I had no agenda and neither did she. We got right down to the business of knowing each other from word one. It never bothered me not knowing my father. I just didn't know him. I knew other people. Thanks so much. mikey
Comment from ciliverde
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Mikey, this is an incredible tribute to an amazing woman. The way she greeted you - your mom in Florida, taking care of you. People like that are rare and as precious as anything. You did a beautiful job telling this story, I love the monkey's tail at the beginning and the end. It's kind of sweet that you and your dad loved each other, in spite of being too damn lazy to find each other...or whatever it was. It's just how life is sometimes.
I'm sorry for your loss, but happy that you knew Betty Cahill - her love still surrounds you, and all the people she loved. I guess you will get to chat with your dad about luck, and a few other things :)
(((hugs)))
Beautiful writing!
Carol

 Comment Written 07-Apr-2016


reply by the author on 08-Apr-2016
    Wow, Carol. How lovely to hear your words. You are so right about her. Some people are just genuine and never seem to find agendas. She was like that. She just wanted everyone happy and did what she could to make it that way. She was an amazing bridge for all of us and she did little more than put one hand in another hand. Thanks so much for such a thoughtful and kind review. So very appreciated. mikey
Comment from lightink
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What an extraordinary woman! Mikey, I'm so glad you found someone so loving after your horrid upbringing! This story brought tears to my eyes! Both the unexpected strong bonds with your distant family; how you described your feelings, and this genuine, warm, loving woman - who was all ready to be a mom for you! Also, the closing line, your slight envy that your father found such a woman, is priceless ;)!

 Comment Written 07-Apr-2016


reply by the author on 08-Apr-2016
    Wow. I'm so touched that this moved you and resonated with you. I'm so pleased that it was meaningful to you. Your words make me smile and that's something I'm pleased to do at the moment. Thanks a million, mikey
Comment from Gloria ....
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Mikey, it sounds to me like Mrs. Betty Cahill was an even tempered woman with a fine sense of humour but you two brothers inherited from your dad. Isn't that interesting? I agree with your one hundred percent that traits such as humour are genetic in origin and of course supported by the environment, such as stolen hubcaps.

It sounds like you had helluva confusing upbringing and have turned out remarkably resilient and well-balanced despite it all.

Excellent segue opening and closing with the monkey's tail.

This is an exceptionally well-written tribute to your Mom in Florida and I expect your brother Brian and all your family are going to love this.

What a thoughtful and tender write. I can definitely see the facial resemblance between you two.

Love it!

Gloria


 Comment Written 07-Apr-2016


reply by the author on 08-Apr-2016
    Some of the revelations at the reunion were quite amazing. My biological mother was tone deaf and the family who raised me had zero musical or artistic ability. So, you can imagine my abilities seemed strange to me in that light. Withing minutes of meeting my father's side of the family there was a sea of guitars and instruments and everyone was singing and they were good too. OH, now I get it. :))
    Another story, but I know your a musician and would appreciate this.
    It's interesting about inherited abilities. It should be obvious I suppose considering athletics and the like. I still found it surprising that sense of humour and some physical manerisms as well were inherited. Facial expressions one would assume to be learned or mimicked, but Brian and I shared several and of course laughed our asses off at them. Yeah, that was funny as hell to us. LOL
    Thanks so much. So insightful and thoughtful, dearest. mikey
Comment from Barb Hensongispsaca
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You are the best writer of prose Mr Micheal Cahill.
I loved this tribute and the fun you put into your writing.
You make it real and like we are part of all of it.

 Comment Written 06-Apr-2016


reply by the author on 08-Apr-2016
    Aww. You're too sweet, my friend. I'm delighted to hear that though. This is pretty much the way I write when I just write. So if you like it then I'm in good shape. :)) Thanks so much for the lovely words. mikey
Comment from Mary Wakeford
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This is a lovely tribute to a woman loved by her writer son. She sounds like a hoot and wise beyond words. I think she would be well pleased that she left the planet with the love of your father, and his son. Excellent, heartfelt rendering.

 Comment Written 06-Apr-2016


reply by the author on 08-Apr-2016
    Thanks so much, Mary. What very lovely things to say. She was a kick, that's for sure. I'm so pleased you enjoyed this. I appreciate everything you said. mikey
Comment from Jay Squires
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A beautifully written memorial, Mikey, as only you can write it. Particularly the last paragraph--more specifically the last sentence: "We'll talk about it one day." A joyous tribute to your Mom in Florida.

After all the nice things you said about my short story, I was reluctant to point out any nits at all. But, hey, that's what we're here for, right? No amount of SPAG, however, can trump the love and sincerity of this post.

So said Mrs. Betty Cahill upon exiting her vehicle [This slowed me down, Mikey. I thought you meant Mrs. Betty Cahill was referring to the person quoted in the first sentence, and WASN'T that person. It clears itself up, but does slow one down.]

My half-brother, Brian, and myself howled ["my half-brother, Brian, and I howled. >> Brian and you are the subject, not the object. The test is to remove Brian and start with "myself" and finish reading the sentence.]

There's a long story that goes with this, but it's for another time. [I've read that story but I would read it again in a heartbeat.]

they appeared intact when I met them. [Couldn't resist that, could you? LOL.]

I corresponded with a couple cousins [... with a couple OF cousins]

I grew up without a father raised by an insane mother. [... without a father {and was} raised ... or at the very least add a comma after "father."]

 Comment Written 06-Apr-2016


reply by the author on 08-Apr-2016
    Hi there, Jay
    I always want corrections, YES! I made them right away. Sorry to be slow in responding. A little buried in the real world. Wow. I'm so delighted to hear you enjoyed this and my style. This is certainly my style I would say. She was a real sweet and genuine lady. She made it easy for everyone to reunite and there weren't any issues, she didn't allow any really. Thanks so much for this. The corrections were a big help. I do plan on passing this on to the family, so yes, I want it to be perfect. mikey