Reviews from

Pecan Pie

Non-Fiction Writing Contest

23 total reviews 
Comment from barbara.wilkey
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AHEM!!!! You did a wonderful job honoring Manny! I am sure he is looking down at you and smiling. I hope I am remembered as good. We should all strive to be that person.

 Comment Written 20-May-2017

Comment from nancyjam
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A very touching and heartfelt piece. I'm sure Manny
loved your eulogy.
I love the sincerity of your thoughts and I would think
those present would be inspired to try during their
lives to be "good"
Nancy

 Comment Written 19-May-2017

Comment from Mustang Patty
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thank you so much for sharing this entry in the non-fiction writing contest, as well as your memories of Manny. The eulogy you wrote for him was lovely, and I'm sure it gave comfort to the family.
I have a hard time imagining you being 'terrified,' as you are always brave in your writing - but public singing is quite different.
Good luck in the contest,
~patty~

 Comment Written 19-May-2017

Comment from Phyllis Stewart
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What a beautiful eulogy. You nailed it! I'm sure his family and friends agreed. Nothing better than being a good person, I think, and you were fortunate to know one. :)

 Comment Written 18-May-2017

Comment from Barb Hensongispsaca
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I am afraid this has opened up a new side of you that i did not know and for that i am sincerely sorry but you are a very private person when it comes to certain stories and feelings. I loved it

 Comment Written 18-May-2017

Comment from Gloria ....
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

I love the title, and picture is also perfect. You have a lovely and personal narrative voice which instantly draws us into a feeling of an intimate discussion with you, even though you are the only one talking. How nice that you got to sing a song, and solo too.

Fascinating revelations about schizophrenia--such a debilitating and little understood disease.

I think you may have meant eulogy rather than epitaph.

Manny would want you too. (to)

Just a gorgeous memory of what sounds like a lovely man. Some people have such heavy burdens to carry, it's a graceful wonder they remain "good" until the end.

Exceptional piece, in tone, imagery and philosophy.

Best of luck in the contest. This is gonna win or no pecan pie for the Contest Committee. ;-)

Ange


 Comment Written 18-May-2017

Comment from DR DIP
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That is a wonderful Story Michael you HAVE that ability and it shows in your writes in your posts both here and on forum. Reading and writing eulogy's for funerals is a great honor that someone thinks highly of you as a wordsmith to be asked to do so.
I really am honored when I am asked to write a verse for a friend or a love ones funeral in my simple yet heartfelt writes. So i know exactly how you feel. Thanks for sharing.

dip

 Comment Written 18-May-2017

Comment from Sasha
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What a marvelous tribute to your dear friend, Manny. I am sure his family and friends agree with everything you said. The part about the pecan pie nearly brought tears to my eyes. Isn't is amazing how the simple things in life are the ones that stay with us the longest. Lovely work with this. I am sure he would be pleased with what you said.

 Comment Written 18-May-2017

Comment from Jay Squires
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Mikey, I'd honored to have you stand before the one or two attending my services and read the words you penned. I'll send some detailed notes, under a different cover, you can use to buff out the tarnish.

Seriously, I loved what you did here.

There's a great deal of joy that comes with this ability we have, this skill with words, this knack for putting them together in a clever way or even a profound way at times. [You've provided a delightful echo, Mikey, with the repetition of "this" three times and the fine-tuning of the three NOUNS modified by "this": "this ABILITY," "this SKILL," and finally, "this KNACK. We all are heir to potential of ability, but when we hone it to a skill, it's because we exercise a conscious effort. We refine the skill to a knack when we can knowledgeably access rhetorical devises such as you have with repetition.]

What a treat to watch someone read your words and hear them laugh, see them wipe a tear, maybe just sigh or nod their head in agreement. [And then, fiend grammar steps in with its bullying police, warning you of agreement between "someone" and "him/him/his" instead of "them/them/ their". The easier thing to do would be to change "someone" to "others" or "people", or some such plural. It's one of the stupidest grammar rules, but I'm too small to fight tradition.

I do try and tell the story of people who have passed, especially if I feel no one else is going to do so. ["I do try TO (?) tell the story ..." I think I'm correct in pointing this out. The "and" seems colloquial, but damned if I can tell you uncategorically that you're wrong. More of an FY I, to glance at.]

Well, I'm often roped into such things, so no big deal other than singing without a band [To me, this cries out for an EM-dash after "deal" ("... so no big deal--other than ...") It is partly because when you add to what preceded it with what follows, makes for a mighty long sentence. Also, it--ironically--shows that what follows IS a big deal.]

He was a great cook although everything [What follows this sentence are three more sentences beginning with "He," and I don't think it was rhetorically chosen. It doesn't create a favorable echo.]

It wasn't a day-old half price apple pie from Walmart. [HALF-PRICE also hyphenated.]

But they don't mean a thing, do they. [Needs to end with a question mark.]


 Comment Written 18-May-2017

Comment from janalma
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A very fine tribute to your friend. I'm sure his family felt pleased that they'd chosen you to speak of him. Well written and cohesive. At first, I wondered where the pecan pie came in but was quite satisfied when you fulfilled your title. Lol. Very nice. (Some stories I read seem to be a waste of my reading time...I have my preferences, haha) This one wasn't.

 Comment Written 18-May-2017