Reviews from

Remembering Yesterday

Viewing comments for Chapter 122 "1991 As The Year Begins"
A widow's journey into her relationship with her

20 total reviews 
Comment from Raffaelina Lowcock
Excellent
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Your recounting of the Gulf War, as well as the ensuing things since then, is very well done and it took me back to my own days of watching that war. Yes, we did become addicted, as you say, and have since observed so many bad scenes. Christi seems to be delaying a serious approach to life, while the others are focusing. Skin cancer is truly a hard one to deal with. I have a dear niece with that problem. Those boys were lucky the girls were there to call for help.

Ralf

 Comment Written 04-Jun-2021


reply by the author on 04-Jun-2021
    Thank you so much for the review and comment. I'm sorry it wasn't still current and paying. Kids do such crazy things and get themselves in trouble.
    Beth
reply by Raffaelina Lowcock on 04-Jun-2021
    I am just so far behind. Not to worry about the member dollars.

    Ralf
Comment from Mary Kay Bonfante
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

I'm glad I finally have a six to give you again, even though your promotion is over. The Shelby family has many interesting stories, as always! Did you ever stop and think about how much adventure your family experienced--not always collectively, but one way or another? Yowling cats, Christi at the Grand Ole Opry, and Connie almost went on TV. Boat-guy with the kitten reports was still calling, and it sounds like Christi had a rough brush with the chiropractor she worked for; a very awkward situation, really unfortunate. But it sounds like she got through it.

My suggestions:

The evening news on the 16 of January shocked us.
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The evening news on the 16th of January shocked us.

Today even as I write these words, we could tune into a news station and watch missiles being fired live into Israel from Palestine, and watch as Israel retaliates.
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Today, even as I write these words, we could tune into a news station and watch missiles being fired live into Israel from Palestine, and watch as Israel retaliates.

There have been so many riots and school shootings on liveTV,
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There have been so many riots and school shootings on live TV,

All night bombs fell in Baghdad.
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All night, bombs fell in Baghdad.

I realize how the things we've witnessed since have changed our way of thinking.
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I realize how the things we've witnessed since then, have changed our way of thinking.

This wasn't uncommon on fair skinned people like you.
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This wasn't uncommon on fair-skinned people like you.

she had gone a month with no work ...
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she had gone a month with no work, ...

Christi had copied the names and numbers of all the people who went there to get massages ...
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Christi had copied the names and numbers of all the people who went there to get massages, ...

She booked them into a competition in January hoping to win a booking on the Grand Ole Opera in Nashville.
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She booked them into a competition in January hoping to win a booking on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

a Japanese Chemical company
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a Japanese chemical company

...they realized they were trapped in sub-freezing temperature.
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...they realized they were trapped in a sub-freezing temperature.

The story is called "The Deadline."
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The story is called "The Deadline."

***

Is Lenny a keeper? I guess we may find out, eventually; but of course, the kids were young. I'm glad Evan got attention for his skin problems.

Yes, I remember the days of Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield. I worked for a prominent veterans organization, and we were getting bomb threats! Even so, my awareness of the Middle Eastern presence dated back to an earlier time, with the Iranian Hostage Crisis; but I also attended Hofstra University in the late 1970s, where we had a substantial number of Iranian students attending on campus, who were very friendly, unlike their militant counterparts who we saw on the nightly news; remember Ted Koppel? They were probably more sympathetic to the Shah than they were to the Ayatollah, and possibly sent to the USA at that time, for that very reason.


 Comment Written 23-May-2021


reply by the author on 23-May-2021
    Thank you again for your close scrutiny of my story of errors. You amaze me at your willingness to review even after it is no longer active. It is interesting that you were so involved with the veterans organization during that time. I knew one Iranian girl who came to our water aerobics class and she was very friendly. There is an Iranian man who writes on the site occasionally. He is in his twenties. Yes I remember Ted Koppel. You'll be hearing more about Connie and Lenny. I was very fond of him, but he is no longer a part of our life.
    Beth
reply by Mary Kay Bonfante on 24-May-2021
    You're very welcome, dear Beth. Yes, there was a funny moment when I was working for the veterans organization. I had hit my head on something, and I tied a scarf around me, with some ice on my head. I got called in by one of the bosses, who thought I might have become a radical Muslim! He was way off. I had a friend there, and we had a great laugh together.
    Blessings and love, Mary Kay xoxo
reply by the author on 24-May-2021
    That is really funny. You could make us all laugh but embellishing on that story and writing about it.
    Beth
    N
reply by Mary Kay Bonfante on 24-May-2021
    Thank you, Beth! Maybe I should start a list of things to write stories about, and start working on it. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Comment from barbara.wilkey
Excellent
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We were stationed at Fort Meade, MD when the war broke out. I remember it perfectly. I was fielding phone calls from young Army spouses and family. Finally after hours of phone calls, I walked into the living room and saw my 3 young boys laying on their stomachs watching the war. My husband, their dad, had been there since October. I quickly turned off the TV and we didn't turn it back on until the war was over.

 Comment Written 22-May-2021


reply by the author on 22-May-2021
    You were probably wise to turn off the set. My kids weren't interested in watching. I know that must have been a bad time for you but thankfully it didn't last too long. I didn't know anyone personally who was there but I could understand how frightening it must have been for the innocent civilians.and the men serving as well. I appreciate your review and comments.
    Beth
Comment from MAMONIA
Excellent
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This is a wonderful process through grieving and I am trying to write all my thoughts and feelings down like you. There are so many events you share with your loved one through the years and it is difficult to stop.
Besides writing it down, I have been speaking out loud to my husband. In a way, I know his responses by heart.
I enjoyed your words and how you express yourself.
Great work.
Marie

 Comment Written 22-May-2021


reply by the author on 22-May-2021
    Thank you Marie. I am so glad you are doing this too. I hope you will share your story on this site. The people who are reading my story seem to find a lot in common with my life and theirs.
    Beth
reply by MAMONIA on 22-May-2021
    Thanks so much.
    Marie
Comment from royowen
Excellent
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Isn't it interesting watching one's kids grow up, they can get themselves into trouble, but particularly and characteristically are helped out by and grow up eventually and start to become what God intended them to be anyway, in spite of themselves, we serve a gracious and faithful God, well done, Beth, blessings Roy

 Comment Written 20-May-2021


reply by the author on 20-May-2021
    We try our best to raise the to be the kind of people they should be and trust God to make up the difference. I'm sure we weren't perfect parents, but we pray the will continue to trust in God and eventually turn into the responsible adults. For the most part, they have.
reply by royowen on 21-May-2021
    That?s right Beth. We can only do our best, Jesus makes up the short fall.
Comment from amahra
Excellent
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Speaking to your deceased husband through writing. I like it. This is a great idea for your kids to read...not just your kids but grandkids as well.
But the other thing you mentioned people, including myself at one time, who thought nothing is shocking anymore? Not true. We said that because of horrible things we've witnessed in this modern age. So we think we can't be shocked. But there are shocks to come when we find out who's really behind the monstrosities. I've heard it will curl our hair.

 Comment Written 20-May-2021


reply by the author on 20-May-2021
    Thank you for the review and the comments. Things that used to shock don't ever raise and eyebrow any more, but I am sure there are more shocks to come. Still these days we expect things will continue to get worse. The bad things we hear about the more we tend to accept them as the way things. I really really appreciate your comments.
    Beth
Comment from 4theloveoftrees
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I haven't been on the site much lately, busy with outdoor activities but I will definitely keep my eyes open for "The Deadline". As always, I enjoyed reading your chapter in this book meant for your children. Thanks for sharing.

 Comment Written 20-May-2021


reply by the author on 20-May-2021
    Thank you for the review and comments. I'm probably going to post the short story today. I just need to earn a little bit more to promote. it.
    Beth
Comment from Ulla
Excellent
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Hi Beth, yes, I do remember 1991 very well, because my then husband was in the Gulf at the time. He was in the Navy and wee Denmark sent a frigate to the Gulf. Well, my husband was on board. Not a happy time for my little family.
As always I loved your chapter about the happenings to your family. I really enjoyed the reading. I will be looking out for your posting called 'The Deadline'. Ulla:)))

 Comment Written 19-May-2021


reply by the author on 19-May-2021
    Thank you so much for the review and comments. I will try to post the short story tomorrow.
    Beth
reply by Ulla on 19-May-2021
    Loking forward to it:)))
Comment from Judy Lawless
Excellent
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It was interesting to read your opening paragraph about all that was happening in the world, and seeing it live on TV. In 1991 we were too busy on our farm, so saw none of the Dessert Storm action, although I had a friend who was a pilot for the Canadian Military, who was there. It seemed to be a real struggling year for Christi, but it's nice to know that Lenny was still around and taking good care of Connie. I'll watch for that story about the trial. Good job.

Just one little thing: "but the rest of us avoiding (avoided) talking for long

 Comment Written 19-May-2021


reply by the author on 19-May-2021
    Thank you for the review and the comments. Someone asked if I was was too young to remember seeing Vietnam on TV. I certainly wasn't too young but I was busy too busy to watch it. Besides we didn't 24 hr. news channels back then. Poor Christi has always found life to be a struggle.
    Beth
Comment from damommy
Excellent
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You're so right. We have much too much news We hardly blink an eye at violence these days as there's so much of it, it seems. I think TV and movies have done a lot to take away our amazement. Interesting story, and I like that you're talking to your husband.

 Comment Written 19-May-2021


reply by the author on 19-May-2021
    Thank you so much for the review and comments. My life is a lot like very one else. But I want to kids to see it from our prospective, and I wish the older members of my family had left something of their life for me to read.
    Beth