Comment from Judy Lawless

Excellent

Your imagery in this story is wonderful. We can see it all and feel the joy and maybe even taste the cookies from our own memories. I have written a similar story, not from my childhood, but from when my children were young. Well done.

The only suggestion I might offer is some dialogue that emphasises the excitement and joy of individual people involved.

 Comment Written 26-Mar-2021

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reply by the author on 29-Mar-2021

Thanks so much for the excellent review for my little piece and I am glad you found it so evocative of those shared Christmas moments. There will be some limited dialogue in some of these Memory moments, but it will mainly be narratives of my own impressions of these moments of life and how they fit together to create a tapestry of emotion across a life. estory

Comment from Iza Deleanu

Excellent

You brought up sweet memories that I had spent in the same way with my mom and dad. Christmas was so festive and simple those days, today we forget what is about. Thank you for sharing and good luck with your writings.

 Comment Written 25-Mar-2021

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reply by the author on 26-Mar-2021

Thanks for the excellent review and I am glad I was able to bring back those emotions of past Christmases in your life through it. Christmas connects so many people in the world through space and time, in this shared moment of magic and joy and grace. That's what I wanted to capture in the piece. estory

Comment from Carol Hillebrenner

Excellent

Well-written and very good at making Christmas so wonderful. It seemed so special when we were children, and somewhat less so as we grow older.
Thank you for your lovely memories especially after this sad Christmas which barely happened as our adult kids had Covid in their houses, although no one got really sick.

 Comment Written 24-Mar-2021

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reply by the author on 26-Mar-2021

Thanks so much for the excellent review and for your perspective on the piece and I am glad I was able to capture something of those wonderful Christmases of childhood. I hadn't thought of it as a covid piece, but I can see how those memories of past joyous Christmases can carry the joy of Christmas on to the holidays yet to come. estory

Comment from Ulla

Exceptional

Hi estory, here goes my last six, a six that is so well deserved. You captured that specific moment of the year so very well. A moment that I was brought up with and that I did my best to bring on. I now know that I succeeded. Thank you so much for sharing that special time of the year, that to me has always spelled that spring is not too far away in the distance. Just like you said. Ulla:)))

 Comment Written 24-Mar-2021

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reply by the author on 26-Mar-2021

Thanks again for the sixer and your continued support for my work over all these years. I appreciate it and Hope you will continue to enjoy them. This series was lots of fun to write. estory

reply by Ulla on 26-Mar-2021

You are so very welcome! It's well deserved.

Comment from juliaSjames

Exceptional

Reading this on a cool rainy Spring morning warms the cockles of my heart.

Beautifully written, poetic at times, and always overflowing with emotion.

Thank you for sharing. I'll look up the other memories in due course..

Stay safe healthy and blessed

Julia

 Comment Written 24-Mar-2021

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reply by the author on 26-Mar-2021

Thanks again for all the wonderful comments in support of my little memory piece. I appreciate it. estory

reply by juliaSjames on 26-Mar-2021

You're welcome dear Estory

Comment from Lyn Peters

Excellent

Such a sweet memory! I am reading this in the spring, and yet reading your piece immediately transported me backward in time to December. So evocative was your writing that I could feel the cold on my cheeks and smell the pine needles. Thank you for sharing this treasured memory.

 Comment Written 24-Mar-2021

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reply by the author on 26-Mar-2021

Thanks for the excellent review and I am glad that you thought the writing so compelling in conjuring up these images and feelings of Christmas. Those are really flattering comments and I will treasure them. estory

Comment from Elizabeth Emerald

Excellent

Charming foray into the past--brilliant imagery: rekindling the green and gold of summer--tree seemed to be wearing a ball gown

Sugg:

it seemed to flicker in the house [hopefully as the candles on the wreath. NOT SURE WHAT YOU MEAN]

The cold [omit comma] darkness

judgement=British; judgment=USA

lowest branches to its highest boughs.
(reverse: boughs are below branches)

 Comment Written 24-Mar-2021

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reply by the author on 26-Mar-2021

Thanks so much for the five star review and your suggestions and comments. That Advent wreath image was like an image of growing expectations for me, that's what I wanted to get across in this image of the flickering candles like our flickering anticipation. Glad you enjoyed it and found it so evocative. estory

Comment from Gloria ....

Excellent

You have captured the essence of Christmas so beautifully in this story. Each line is brimming with imagery as bright, and memorable as those glass birds, lights and tradition passed down from generation to generation.

All our sense were involved at the scent of pine, hot chocolate, tea, and yes even oatmeal.

A superb write, e, and perfectly timed for just now. :)

Gloria

 Comment Written 24-Mar-2021

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reply by the author on 26-Mar-2021

Thanks for the excellent review and for all your amazing comments celebrating my little piece. I am really heartened by comments like this about the evocative quality of the images; that is such a big part of my writing and I am glad it seems to be working so well. I appreciate all the support over all the years. estory

Comment from Irish Rain

Exceptional

Wow.
I wish I could give this 10 stars!!
I loved every single word.
It is exactly as Christmas should be.
We used to have the fresh tree too...
I always picked a huge Charlie Brown-type.
Now, it's artificial, not the same...
but Christmas is still beautiful.
WONDERFUL memories!!
Blessings...

 Comment Written 23-Mar-2021

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reply by the author on 26-Mar-2021

Thanks again for the wonderful six star review and your enthusiastic comments. Peanuts was a big part of Christmas for me too. Nothing tops that Charlie Brown Christmas story, especially the part where Linus reads the Christmas story from Luke. estory

reply by Irish Rain on 26-Mar-2021

YES!!! My favorite part!!! Have a nice weekend!!

Comment from Cindy Decker 2

Excellent

Hello, Estory,
Your poem did indeed bring back family memories of Christmas. You have a lovely writing style, evoking many memories and images.
Good luck in the contest.
Best wishes,
Cindy

 Comment Written 23-Mar-2021

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reply by the author on 26-Mar-2021

Thanks for the excellent review and for these enthusiastic comments, I really appreciate it and it is great that so many people found it such an evocative piece. estory