Reviews from

Top of the Mountain

Hug them, squeeze them, love them . . . every day.

180 total reviews 
Comment from robyn corum
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Dear Bob,

I am so terribly, horribly sorry, and I hate it that nothing I can say can make anything better for you and your wife. I can't imagine what you've been through and I admire your strength for having survived it. God bless -

 Comment Written 26-Feb-2017


reply by the author on 26-Feb-2017
    Thanks so much, Robyn. I appreciate your understanding and caring. Blessings. Bob
Comment from aryr
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Oh my goodness first I do offer belated condolences. It was probably very hard for you to share this, but I believe that it was no doubt therapeutic. I could feel the emotions of your words- joy, settling senses, anger, confusion, doubt, fear, disbelief, extreme sorrow and loss. For whatever it is worth the priest was right you have been to the top of the mountain. A very good piece of writing, thank you for sharing. Blessed be Bob

 Comment Written 26-Feb-2017


reply by the author on 26-Feb-2017
    Thank you for your gift of understanding and blessed feelings in response, Alie. BNless you and yours always. Bob
reply by aryr on 27-Feb-2017
    You are so welcome Bob
Comment from JW
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Your time in foster care clearly explains your novel. Your telling of this provides an insight nothing else could.

I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your son. I know what it is like to lose a young one. There could not be a hurt any deeper.

I can also relate about the month of February being emotional. Both of my parents passed on years ago. My mother's birthday was Valentines Day, my fathers, President day.

Thanks for sharing this, Bob. JW


 Comment Written 26-Feb-2017


reply by the author on 26-Feb-2017
    Thank you for your time to read this, JW. I appreciate your iu=understanding very much. Blessings. Bob
Comment from dragonpoet
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I can't imagine the pain of losing a child at that age. Sorry for your loss.

I can see how this is the worst thing that happened to you. Even though you had rough childhood. If any at all.
I am glad you found a sister.

The priest was right to tell you that and it is a hopeful statement that along with faith that could pull you out of grief to live life again.

It is smoothy written and shows strength in character.

Keep writing

dragonpoet

 Comment Written 26-Feb-2017


reply by the author on 26-Feb-2017
    Thank you, Joan. I sincerely appreciate your candid review of this piece. Yes, Every February, (his birth month) the pain comes rolling back to the forefront of my thoughts. Bless you, my friend. Bob
reply by dragonpoet on 26-Feb-2017
    You're welcome. The pain gets less as the years go by but in never goes away. I feel it on the anniversaries of my parents' death and on their birthdays and other family holidays.

    Joan
Comment from Maureen's Pen
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Dear Bob, This must be the hardest thing to bear in life. The loss of a child, I can't even imagine it. The everlasting ache and loss must overwhelm at times.
This is penned with such emotion and skill, I found myself blinking back tears just so I could continue the read. As always your writing has me sitting back and wondering about the bigger picture and where we will be when we walk through that door and cross the golden river.
Congrats on the win - and thank you for sharing.
Mo

 Comment Written 26-Feb-2017


reply by the author on 26-Feb-2017
    Thank you, Maureen. Your big heart is reflected in your review here. I thank you for your caring and understanding. Bless you always, myn friend. Bob
Comment from Rasmine
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Bob,
I am so sorry for this loss--I can't imagine the pain you and your wife must have felt. I, myself, never had children, and that hurts like hell, but nothing like this pain. My belief is that he is in another place right now--energy doesn't just fizz out, so there has to be life after death. I am so sorry that you were separated, though.
Your writing made me cry. To me, that is a sign of a wonderful writer. You invoked emotions in me. Keep writing.
Caringly,
Nome

 Comment Written 26-Feb-2017


reply by the author on 26-Feb-2017
    Thanks so much, Nome. I sincerely appreciate you caring the way you do. Bless you and yours forever. X Bob
reply by Rasmine on 26-Feb-2017
    Anytime. You and your wife have a good Sunday :)
Comment from Pearl Edwards
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Bob, what a sad story to live, to write. To say it's well written, emotional, powerful doesn't seem enough. Congrats on the win, and how appropriate that the contest be at this time of the year.
Thoughts are with you and your wife,
valda.

 Comment Written 26-Feb-2017


reply by the author on 26-Feb-2017
    Thank you, Valda. Your sentiments are appreciated sincerely. This happened in 1981, but the pain still remains ...especially this time of year. Bless you, my friend. X Bob
Comment from Kooky Clown
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Bob your story brought tears to my eyes and I can only imagine how sad this time of the year must be for you and your wife Pat my thoughts and prayers are with you at this time they say time heals but I am not sure about that. I hope the six stars will help a bit God bless.

 Comment Written 26-Feb-2017


reply by the author on 26-Feb-2017
    Thank you so much, Kooky. I know you have a wonderfuly big hert and I appreciate you. Yes, this time of year brings many memories flooding back. Blessings, Bob
Comment from Sis Cat
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Bob, thank you for sharing your gripping account of a "horrible nightmare"--losing your only son, Bobby. I thought you faced tough challenges because of your merry-go-round childhood as a foster kid or your tough stint in the Marines, but these do not compare to losing a son. Father Harding was right: "You will never suffer like this again."

I think about my own mother and how she would have felt and reacted if one of her children died. Bobby was born the same year as my little brother. I noted that what would have been Bobby's fiftith birthday passed several days ago.

Your write your experience with rawness. I sensed something tragic was about to happen but did not realized how catastrophic it was until I read the hospital scene and felt the growing acceptance of a tragedy.

This is one of many scenes that stayed in my mind:

"After the service at the cemetery, Bobby was left alone; his casket sitting like a polished, unearthed artifact suspended above the freshly dug hole in the ground as people drifted away."

The reactions of Bobby's confused, somber pals were riveting. You end your memoir with a scene of a family retreated into itself--paper on the doorstep, undecorated Christmas tree in the corner. The emptiness is an appropriate tone to end this story.

I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing Bobby's story in your well-deserved win.

 Comment Written 26-Feb-2017


reply by the author on 26-Feb-2017
    Thank you, Andre. You have a big heart for sure and it becomes very visable with this offering by you. A sincere thanks for the timre snd understanding. Bless you and yours. Bob
Comment from GWinterwin
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

I am so very sorry my friend to hear this story. Yes the hardest thing is to lose a child, I have not lost one, but I have no doubt that it is the very hardest thing that can happen to someone. I cannot feel your pain, but I can have compassion, and caring. I honestly pray for strength, and healing for you, and wife from almighty God. Thank you for sharing this with us my friend, it no doubt took a lot of courage. Even after many years, there is no doubt still a lot of pain. God bless you my friend, I am praying for you.

 Comment Written 25-Feb-2017


reply by the author on 26-Feb-2017
    A sincere thank you, George. Your time and especially your understanding are duly noted and I want you to know I appreciate you. blessings for everything. Bob.
reply by GWinterwin on 26-Feb-2017
    Thanks my friend, I'm sincerely praying that you're future is bright in every way. God bless.