Reviews from

It's Always Been About Water

Memoir - Theme of life

18 total reviews 
Comment from BeasPeas
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Great job on this non-fiction, Relda. Worded very well, descriptive, interesting. My, you have accomplished a lot when it comes to water -- enjoying it and rescuing people from it. I agree that water is God's gift. Marilyn

 Comment Written 30-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 30-Jan-2020
    Thanks for the kind words, Marilyn. I've been in the wrong place at the right time - and vice versa, aquatically speaking. The Bible talks about the stones cry out ? well, for me, it was water. I'm so glad God speaks to each of his children in a language they can understand.
    I appreciate you.
    Relda
Comment from Robert Zimmerman
Excellent
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Hi Relda. The first post I read from you about your name was very entertaining. I found this to be very entertaining. I saw your note about the word I in your writing. When writing autobiographical literature, it's a hard word to avoid.

Your stories of being a water baby are interesting because it is clear you would prefer to be there rather than just about anywhere else. When you spoke about your uncanny ability to float, it reminded me of my floating skills. My flotation skills are very similar to a lead anchor.

I enjoyed reading this story and look forward to reading more.

Robert


 Comment Written 30-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 30-Jan-2020
    Robert - lead anchor - cracks me up! Yes I favor watery terrain to any other. Wanted to retire to a houseboat, but my Bud had ALS and we needed to stay land-side. I do live on a small pristine lake, in Florida, and as we correspond, I'm looking at contractors who are building a pool in my backyard. Lake AND pool will do nicely!
    So grateful for your, comments, and inside clue about the 'I' word. I am trying to desensitize myself to using it.
    God bless and my best,
    Relda
reply by Robert Zimmerman on 30-Jan-2020
    You're welcome. (I should have said two lead anchors" I hope the pool brings you some water fun.
Comment from Tami Urbanek
Excellent
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It is obvious you love water-any water-even mud puddles. As a child I was terrified of water. But I taught myself to move to the deep end and go back to the edge of the pool and go farther and then back and then farther. It wasn't until I was an adult that I could get on a boat-even though I knew how to swim. That fear is much dissipated. Regardless, reading about your experiences brought up some long past trepidations of water.
Keep going with your memoir, I can see some parts here that would be fascinating to read!

 Comment Written 30-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 30-Jan-2020
    Tami - nice to meet you. Everyone has a theme to their life. Mine just happens to be liquid. I admire your courage in facing your fear and overcoming the deep end. I suppose there is a deep end for everyone, as well. For me I think it is sleeping - I've experienced night terrors all my life. I dread going to bed, no matter how tired I've become.
    Thanks so much for the review, comments and encouragement.
    God bless and my best,
    Relda
Comment from royowen
Excellent
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My wife my, two daughters are natural swimmer, both my girls have awards for water rescue, my eldest grandson is a champion swimmer, the others can swim, but a bit young yet. But then Australia is surrounded by, and for a country with only 23 million, kick above our weight. I found it interesting with the gun thing, I was looking at the annual statistics for gun related deaths in America is 100,000, here it's 63, in England it's the same. But you're right about water, the elixir of life, redemptive power, well done. Our granddaughter can't sink, nor can her brother, me, I'm a lump of lead, well done, blessings Roy

 Comment Written 30-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 30-Jan-2020
    Hi, Roy. I love that expression, 'kick above our weight!' Never heard it before - but it really works! Kudos to the family swimmers and award-winners.'
    About the firearm - get your point - gun deaths are tragic. I grew up around them and my Bud as well. He was so into gun safety, he taught gun safety and hunter ethics for years, through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and for the Florida Chapter of the NRA. (He wasn't an NRA guy except for that.)
    Three times I've been frightened of illegal activities when on my boats. Two of them were when a lot of suspicious activities were going on around where I was anchored, with other boats and lots of occupants aboard. Both occurred in one of those 'lonely stretches.' Found out later that one occurrence was dealing with drugs (there were 'cigar boats' involved). Never knew what the other one was about but instinct says they were up to no good. The third was when I returned from fishing in my dinghy to a houseboat and found wet tracks everywhere inside. Thankfully the intruders skedaddled, but made the hair raise on the back of my neck anyway, and thankfully they did not find the gun.
    Thanks to you, for your comments and review. Always nice to talk.
    God bless and my best.
    Relda
reply by royowen on 30-Jan-2020
    Thanks for explaining, (you didn?t have to) although those activities go on here as well, one is more likely to encounter knives than guns. I felt so sorry for the students that have been shot up, and the emotive way they tried to get gun laws ratified, we had a very brave prime minister who was criticised to the extreme for introducing gun laws after an incident in Tasmania, where 36 people were mercilessly gunned down including two little girls my daughters? ages, (I subscribe to a charity named after them, for abused children) I?m amazed that guns able to blow the head off an elephant can be legally sold. It works very well here, Even New Zealand are tightening their gun laws after some crazies killed fifty people in a mosque. Jesus words repeat in my head, ?Those that live by the sword...? I saw an American evangelist, who?s spoken at our church, mucking about with an AK47 on video, But thanks for your wonderful explanation Relda, love you. Roy
reply by royowen on 30-Jan-2020
    Thanks for explaining, (you didn?t have to) although those activities go on here as well, one is more likely to encounter knives than guns. I felt so sorry for the students that have been shot up, and the emotive way they tried to get gun laws ratified, we had a very brave prime minister who was criticised to the extreme for introducing gun laws after an incident in Tasmania, where 36 people were mercilessly gunned down including two little girls my daughters? ages, (I subscribe to a charity named after them, for abused children) I?m amazed that guns able to blow the head off an elephant can be legally sold. It works very well here, Even New Zealand are tightening their gun laws after some crazies killed fifty people in a mosque. Jesus words repeat in my head, ?Those that live by the sword...? I saw an American evangelist, who?s spoken at our church, mucking about with an AK47 on video, But thanks for your wonderful explanation Relda, I understand now, love you. Roy
reply by the author on 30-Jan-2020
    See your point completely. Knives! Yikes! I think I'm more afraid of knife than a gun.
    Have a great day!
    Relda
reply by royowen on 30-Jan-2020
    Thanks for being gracious Relda. Still pals?
reply by the author on 30-Jan-2020
    Absolutely!
Comment from Ricky1024
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

We have so many ways in which we can enjoy God's Gift of water!
In which we were literally immersed within...
Yes, breathing Liquid Oxygen before we are even born in our mothers wombs!
...
Fresh water will quench our thirst!
And, is the best thing in the world for out bodies!
As we are basically s Contained Balloon of Liquid...
Basically comprised of Water!
...
We enjoy it recreationally in many, many, ways!
We can swim in the many different types of water.
From freshwater lakes to the Saltine waters of the Seas!
...
We bathe in shower in the refreshment of water!
We add many, many, different things to it to quench our thirsts will the the creation of Iced tea to Mineral Waters!
...
We also, use water in emergencies to put out fire!
And we'll use water in emergency to cool us down!
We grow and plant seeds to feed us as we water!

****

Here in Southern New Jersey in Ocean County, is what's known as...
"The Pine Barrens."
And, derp underneath is the "Cohasey Aquifer."
Literally trillions of fresh clear filtered by the pines acidity water!
Largest supply of freshwater in the entire World!
....
The many towns and townships purifie the acidic water with limestone or "Calcite."
Utilizing our Culligan filtration systems.
...
This was well written and rich in Theme and Imagery.
It read well and Flowed well with no Grammar Issues.
...
Adjective and Objective Contents were both Excellent and Exceptional while Descriptive Measures aligned Perfectly.
Tht,
Doctor Ricky 1024


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 Comment Written 29-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 30-Jan-2020
    Hi, Doc! Wow ? loved your writing in the first section. So many illustrations with so much impact. My folks grew up on Green Pond Slough (locals name for swamp) here in Florida. I've been there many times and it is a magical place. Lots of sand flats, soaked with water - when you walk on it water puddles around your feet - not quicksand thank goodness! And there are rivulets everywhere.
    Would love to see the Cohasey. I've been in New Jersey once for the seafood.
    Thank you for the info - enjoyed it very much - and for all the time you took in your review and response. Love it when a fellow believer 'gets' my writing.
    God bless and my best,
    Relda
Comment from MissMerri
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

First, I want to say how much I enjoyed reading this, and second I'd like to suggest you continue to write your memoir without concern for the use of the word "I." It was not intrusive at all in this piece, and in fact, seems like exactly the right word for writing a story about yourself. I found this extremely interesting and easy to relate to. I also love to swim and grew up on the edge of a mountain lake, where I swam all summer, every day. Winters were another story, but I sometimes ice-skated on the lake, and daily watched its changing beauty, so I easily understand your love of water. Your writing is excellent. I have no idea how this could be any better. I look forward to reading more of your work. MM

 Comment Written 29-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 29-Jan-2020
    MM - Thank you so much for your review and encouraging comments. Special thanks for sharing of your mountain lake story.
    Most of my water experiences occurred in Florida, so I never had 'ice' to contend with. Yikes! One water experience I will never try is a polar plunge.
    I ice-skated in Tallahassee ? at a temporary rink at Christmas-time. I fell a lot - but it was such fun. I do envy that form of solid-water.
    Your encouragement to go for the memoir is greatly appreciated.
    God bless and my best,
    Relda
Comment from Minglement
Excellent
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I definitely identify with this charming read, as I too am a water baby - not by birth sign, but by lifelong inclination. Beach, stream, river, lake - doesn't matter, I'm a happy camper :) Thanks for sharing :)

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 Comment Written 29-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 29-Jan-2020
    Kindred souls!
    Thanks for the review and comments.
    God bless and my best,
    Relda
reply by Minglement on 29-Jan-2020
    Lol, ndeed :) You are welcome. It spoke to me.
Comment from Cass Carlton
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

This is as fresh and lively writing as I have ever encountered. Your memoirs would be a delight to read. I hope you do some day.Not too far in the future,mind, once the clock has reached the seventies there isn't as much time left to sit and think about things. (I am eighty next birthday and well into my bucket list) I love skinny dipping. The feeling of the water on my skin with no fabric in between is magical. I am not a strong swimmer though, but I love the water. I once had a bathe in a waterfall. It was an experience I can only describe as transforming. When I came out of the rush of the deluge I felt as though I had been washed inside and out with a bottle brush and was all new and shiny. The water was icy cold and the weather was wintery and dreary. But as I came away I looked back and there were rainbows all over the waterfall. I wanted to go back, but the driver had turned the car for home. So I sat with tears in my eyes and dreamed for days and nights afterwards of going back to the rainbows and washing myself again and again in that wonderful, cold,
waterfall.Somehow I wasn't cold afterwards. My hands were warm and my cheeks rosy. My husband was mystified. He had sat in the car and shivered while I, clad only in bra and knickers, (at first) soon divested when they got wet, cavorted under the waterfall. My hair was wet and my clothes were damp, but it was a wonderful experience. cheers Cass


 Comment Written 29-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 29-Jan-2020
    Cass - You go, girl! Loved your personal water-wishes. I was right there with you.
    And thank you so much for your encouraging comments. And the nudge to waste no more time.
    God bless and my best,
    Relda