Grasping the Elusive Dream
Viewing comments for Chapter 5 "Start of School in New Orleans"The Followup to Chasing the Elusive Dream
21 total reviews
Comment from Wayne Fowler
Good work. Good story telling.
I would have no trouble at all telling the kids that I was going to take the possums to the country and find them a good home - and no, you can't come with me.
reply by the author on 27-Jun-2023
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Good work. Good story telling.
I would have no trouble at all telling the kids that I was going to take the possums to the country and find them a good home - and no, you can't come with me.
Comment Written 25-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 27-Jun-2023
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I'm sure most men would feel as you. I father had no problem saying don't bring those things into my houses. Than for a great review.
Beth
Comment from patcelaw
I absolutely love the story. You have told us so well and you made me laugh at several different spots. The one spot that really stuck out in my mind. Was your laughing at your mother-in-law about the possum in her bed. That must've been hilarious moment for you.
reply by the author on 27-Jun-2023
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I absolutely love the story. You have told us so well and you made me laugh at several different spots. The one spot that really stuck out in my mind. Was your laughing at your mother-in-law about the possum in her bed. That must've been hilarious moment for you.
Comment Written 25-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 27-Jun-2023
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Thank you so much Patricia. I'm glad you are enjoying these stories. I love it when you find thing to laugh about. We all need to laugh more. It's good medicine.
Beth
Comment from damommy
Oh, my, what a story. I can imagine the upset with the possum in mother-in-law's bed. I used to bring my large turtle indoors in harsh weather, and when she appeared from under the couch, let's just say she startled many visitors. I'm interested in Don's being bullied. I can relate.
reply by the author on 25-Jun-2023
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Oh, my, what a story. I can imagine the upset with the possum in mother-in-law's bed. I used to bring my large turtle indoors in harsh weather, and when she appeared from under the couch, let's just say she startled many visitors. I'm interested in Don's being bullied. I can relate.
Comment Written 25-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 25-Jun-2023
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I will always remember the time I brought a turtle in when I was about five thinking I'd found a pretty rock. I freaked when he walked across the floor. Thank for reviewing my story.
Beth
Comment from Ben Colder
Was wondering if the name Shelby was related to General Shelby, Confederate. He was, I think from Tennessee but don't quote me on that. Good one, Beth. Possums remined me of rats.
reply by the author on 25-Jun-2023
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Was wondering if the name Shelby was related to General Shelby, Confederate. He was, I think from Tennessee but don't quote me on that. Good one, Beth. Possums remined me of rats.
Comment Written 25-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 25-Jun-2023
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Yes, General Shelby is from the family that came over from Wales. He is the brother to Rees Shelby which is Evan's ancestor about five generations back. General Shelgy's name was Evan and Isaac was another brother who was the first governor of Kentucky. Isaac, Evan and Rees' father was name Evan and he the first to arrive in the country bringing them with him. Thanks for rhe six stars.
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I thought so.
Comment from barbara.wilkey
Your post caused me to do some research because I always call possums opossums. This is what I found, 'Opossums live in North America, while possums are from Australia and Oceania.' Anyway, I really enjoyed reading this story. I found it funny.
reply by the author on 25-Jun-2023
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Your post caused me to do some research because I always call possums opossums. This is what I found, 'Opossums live in North America, while possums are from Australia and Oceania.' Anyway, I really enjoyed reading this story. I found it funny.
Comment Written 25-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 25-Jun-2023
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I know they are really opossums but no one uses them that way any more so I used the way most people do. Southern peopr seem to they you're being pompous when putting the O in them. lol Maybe I should put 'possums to make them sound less ignorant. I'm glad you found it funny.
Comment from LJbutterfly
This is another delightful and adventurous story and memory. Growing up in a big city, I can't begin to imagine having a possum inside your house. I wonder how you found them after they died. Were they out in the open, or did they die behind furniture? I admire your desire to please your children by letting them keep the possums, while I can relate to your mother-in-law's horror finding a possum in bed with her. Yikes! Great story.
see if your can pawn them off (see if YOU can pawn them)
reply by the author on 25-Jun-2023
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This is another delightful and adventurous story and memory. Growing up in a big city, I can't begin to imagine having a possum inside your house. I wonder how you found them after they died. Were they out in the open, or did they die behind furniture? I admire your desire to please your children by letting them keep the possums, while I can relate to your mother-in-law's horror finding a possum in bed with her. Yikes! Great story.
see if your can pawn them off (see if YOU can pawn them)
Comment Written 25-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 25-Jun-2023
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Thanks for the excellent review. Actually the food we gave them contributed to the death of two of them. One had escaped to the outside earlier. We didn't know what to feed them and gave them too much raw meat. I think they got rickets and weakened and died.
Comment from Paul Manton
Happy days, Beth! Your story just gets better and better.
It was interesting in so many ways, even though it was entirely domestic.
Having been a teacher in a few 'tough' schools (my friend on seeing some moms in one of the schools described them as 'bruisers'! In fact, they would have held their own in a WWF ring - or cage)
I can imagine the fear engendered in a sensitive boy by such an alien environment. Bullying seems to be universal, without a very thorough discipline management plan. To create a happy and universally cooperative school it is essential to have an outstanding Principal. I have been lucky to see bullying disappear with this kind of leadership.
But I have not inherited a brood of possums! You have kindly not told us how they died, but at this point I wonder if your story could be a tv soap opera?
But the coup de grace is poor Carol - that must have been the worst Christmas of her life! and it doesn't help that her mom knew how she felt.
What a colorful life the Shelby's live!
Very well told, without a word out of place. The parts of the story were well balanced and contrasted; the paragraphs were exactly right.
Next episode please.
Paul
reply by the author on 25-Jun-2023
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Happy days, Beth! Your story just gets better and better.
It was interesting in so many ways, even though it was entirely domestic.
Having been a teacher in a few 'tough' schools (my friend on seeing some moms in one of the schools described them as 'bruisers'! In fact, they would have held their own in a WWF ring - or cage)
I can imagine the fear engendered in a sensitive boy by such an alien environment. Bullying seems to be universal, without a very thorough discipline management plan. To create a happy and universally cooperative school it is essential to have an outstanding Principal. I have been lucky to see bullying disappear with this kind of leadership.
But I have not inherited a brood of possums! You have kindly not told us how they died, but at this point I wonder if your story could be a tv soap opera?
But the coup de grace is poor Carol - that must have been the worst Christmas of her life! and it doesn't help that her mom knew how she felt.
What a colorful life the Shelby's live!
Very well told, without a word out of place. The parts of the story were well balanced and contrasted; the paragraphs were exactly right.
Next episode please.
Paul
Comment Written 25-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 25-Jun-2023
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Thank you Paul. I so glad you enjoying my story. I'm enjoying your detailed reviews. I liked your descripting of some of the moms your encountered. I almost became a teacher as I had an education minor but dreaded the idea of dealing with the parents. I saw my share of the problems the teachers put up when I was on a school board.
Beth
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The best schools are heaven, Beth - but the opposite is also true!
Enjoy the rest of Sunday.
Paul
Comment from nancy_e_davis
Jim brought three baby raccoons home to our children once. We had an outdoor cage for them, but the way they growled and hissed at my children scared me to death and that night I went out and opened the door to the cage and set them free. I saw them as a threat! They were adorable though when they were not feeling threatened. Good story Beth. Nancy:)
reply by the author on 25-Jun-2023
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Jim brought three baby raccoons home to our children once. We had an outdoor cage for them, but the way they growled and hissed at my children scared me to death and that night I went out and opened the door to the cage and set them free. I saw them as a threat! They were adorable though when they were not feeling threatened. Good story Beth. Nancy:)
Comment Written 25-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 25-Jun-2023
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Thank you, Nancy. Wild animal shouldn't be kept any longer than necessary because they seldom do will in captivity. I think my Dad took care of setting one of the possums free. I appreciate the review. Thanks for sharing the raccoon story. They are cuter than possums.
Beth
Comment from Debbie D'Arcy
Another lovely story, Beth - not quite as dramatic as the last one because the children are now settling down at school. That said, I'm a bit worried about Don which I know you'll elaborate upon later. Also enjoyed the possum story which added humour and a little anticipated sadness in the end. Your prose as ever is well expressed in clear and very readable text with good spacing. There are 2 very small edits: para beginning "The day I enrolled..." - (wandered) off; para beginning "A few days... - and see if (you) can pawn... But an enjoyable read and some engaging details about your children enabling the reader to get to know them. Thanks for this enjoyable read, Beth. Debbie x
reply by the author on 25-Jun-2023
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Another lovely story, Beth - not quite as dramatic as the last one because the children are now settling down at school. That said, I'm a bit worried about Don which I know you'll elaborate upon later. Also enjoyed the possum story which added humour and a little anticipated sadness in the end. Your prose as ever is well expressed in clear and very readable text with good spacing. There are 2 very small edits: para beginning "The day I enrolled..." - (wandered) off; para beginning "A few days... - and see if (you) can pawn... But an enjoyable read and some engaging details about your children enabling the reader to get to know them. Thanks for this enjoyable read, Beth. Debbie x
Comment Written 25-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 25-Jun-2023
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Thank you Debbie, I'm glad to know you are still enjoying my story. I will have more to say about Don and bulling incident later. I do appreciate you helping me clean up thing you find in my stories. You make them easy to find buy telling how the paragraph starts.
Beth
Comment from JSD
Amusing ending. The writing is developing from a list of memories to a more unified narrative with this episode. Really engaging. A couple of errors in the last two paras. 'A personal' and 'one of the guests'.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
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reply by the author on 25-Jun-2023
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Amusing ending. The writing is developing from a list of memories to a more unified narrative with this episode. Really engaging. A couple of errors in the last two paras. 'A personal' and 'one of the guests'.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 25-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 25-Jun-2023
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Thank you for the review. I'm glad you found some humor here. Thatks for pointing out some things I'd missed.
Beth
