Detour
Viewing comments for Chapter 10 "Common Bonds (Rachelle)"Two very real women in not so real situation.
30 total reviews
Comment from Carol Hillebrenner
This is a lovely interlude in your problem with a broken-down car. I am not certain three adult children of different sexes would be allowed to live together. This does make for a lovely story as you ask them to sing for you and then ask them to allow you to teach them to lead the choir that their mother used to direct.
reply by the author on 25-Jul-2024
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This is a lovely interlude in your problem with a broken-down car. I am not certain three adult children of different sexes would be allowed to live together. This does make for a lovely story as you ask them to sing for you and then ask them to allow you to teach them to lead the choir that their mother used to direct.
Comment Written 24-Jul-2024
reply by the author on 25-Jul-2024
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They're still teens, and Rebekah hasn't even done Rumspringa yet. Plus, they've just lost their ma'am and daed and a sister, so I would think the Ordinung would allow for them to stay in their home together, right on the same farm with their father's brother and wife. I do appreciate this feedback, though. I am striving for authenticity here, so do you know how I could check this?
Many, many thanks for this input! Xo
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Our neighbors at our farm are Menonites so the answer might not be the same. Does your newspaper run the Amish Cook column. She does answer some questions. Actually, there are a lot of differences even among different groups of Amish.
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Yes, that is true. It's so similar to what my religion (Judaism) has: Orthodox (Schwartzentrauber), Conservative (regular Amish) and Reform (Mennonite) our families in this story are the middle group.
Our newspaper is in a different county than where the Mennonites live, so no, no Amish Cook column, sadly.
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Amish Cook is in newspapers for the general public. Newspapers are, however, disappearing.
Comment from Ulla
Hi Rachelle, it's amazing how you give us a peek into the Amish world. I've only come across them once and that was down in south Missouri where I visited friends. Your story is quite unique. Ulla xcx
reply by the author on 24-Jul-2024
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Hi Rachelle, it's amazing how you give us a peek into the Amish world. I've only come across them once and that was down in south Missouri where I visited friends. Your story is quite unique. Ulla xcx
Comment Written 24-Jul-2024
reply by the author on 24-Jul-2024
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Thank you! I read an entire detective series a couple years ago, by author Linda Castillo, in which the main character was a police chief who'd been Amish when she was young. Her police department was in Painter's Mill, PA, where there were a substantial number of Amish, so that's how I learned so much about them. Fascinating, good people. Here in Upstate NY where I live, there's a community of Mennonites one county over, so I'm personally familiar with the in's and outs of it, but just peripherally so. I understood that there was quite the community in Missouri.
thanks for the nice feedback. xoxo
Comment from Begin Again
Good morning!
What a magnificent day to take a journey and get a peek into the Amish world and how they live. Your easy flowing description and warm thoughtful touches add an extra layer to the purity of their lives. You have definitely done a terrific job of connecting the reader to your new friends.
Smiles, Carol
reply by the author on 24-Jul-2024
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Good morning!
What a magnificent day to take a journey and get a peek into the Amish world and how they live. Your easy flowing description and warm thoughtful touches add an extra layer to the purity of their lives. You have definitely done a terrific job of connecting the reader to your new friends.
Smiles, Carol
Comment Written 24-Jul-2024
reply by the author on 24-Jul-2024
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I do respect their lifestyle very much. No guile, no bragging. Very hardworking.
Thanks for this very lovely review! Very much appreciated. xoxo
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It is evident! Well done!
Comment from Jim Wile
Such a wonderful chapter, Rachelle. We get to see the warm teacher side of you here as you are entertained by these youngsters and so desire to lead them in their choir. What a persuasive case you made for it; how could they refuse?
I loved this passage: "Their eyes are closed, but their souls are lying before me as open and vulnerable as newborn lambs. A swarm of goosebumps percolates up my spine then prickles across my head, igniting the part in my hair. Tears come flooding down my cheeks, just as they do when my own students play so well that I cannot contain the beauty of their talent." It was so perfectly written to convey what their singing meant to you.
A very well done chapter.
reply by the author on 24-Jul-2024
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Such a wonderful chapter, Rachelle. We get to see the warm teacher side of you here as you are entertained by these youngsters and so desire to lead them in their choir. What a persuasive case you made for it; how could they refuse?
I loved this passage: "Their eyes are closed, but their souls are lying before me as open and vulnerable as newborn lambs. A swarm of goosebumps percolates up my spine then prickles across my head, igniting the part in my hair. Tears come flooding down my cheeks, just as they do when my own students play so well that I cannot contain the beauty of their talent." It was so perfectly written to convey what their singing meant to you.
A very well done chapter.
Comment Written 24-Jul-2024
reply by the author on 24-Jul-2024
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Thank you, Jim. I honestly do get this feeling when I'm teaching - when I'm so overwhelmed by how well a student is doing. It's the ultimate rush.
xoxo
Comment from Daylily
This is such a wonderful chapter. I am glad you have drawn upon your own musical talents as background knowledge to write it. One of my all time favorite videos seen on Youtube is Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) by Pentatonix.
This sentence confused me at first, and then I googled: Is daed an Amish word -- and read: So dad (Daed) and mom (Mamm) are capitalized in all usages.
Your writing is often very informative about so many different things and I love that!
reply by the author on 24-Jul-2024
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This is such a wonderful chapter. I am glad you have drawn upon your own musical talents as background knowledge to write it. One of my all time favorite videos seen on Youtube is Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) by Pentatonix.
This sentence confused me at first, and then I googled: Is daed an Amish word -- and read: So dad (Daed) and mom (Mamm) are capitalized in all usages.
Your writing is often very informative about so many different things and I love that!
Comment Written 24-Jul-2024
reply by the author on 24-Jul-2024
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Thank you, Lily.
I think, though, Lily, that, just like when it's not Amish, it's capitalized only if it's direct address: Mom/Maam, I'm leaving for school.
I told my mom/maam that I'm leaving for school.
I'll check into it more. Thanks for the catch, though; I appreciate that you always have my back. xoxox
Comment from LJbutterfly
For me, the highlight of this chapter was your description of Rebekah and her brothers singing Amazing Grace. "Their timbres are identical, so they blend like a pipe organ in a majestic European cathedral." I could almost hear what you mentally heard in order to write this. I imagined a soprano, a tenor, and a baritone.
I hope you can teach them some songs. I'd love to read your advice on voice development, and read your suggestions and description of their reactions.
I enjoy becoming engrossed in your vivid descriptions.
reply by the author on 23-Jul-2024
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For me, the highlight of this chapter was your description of Rebekah and her brothers singing Amazing Grace. "Their timbres are identical, so they blend like a pipe organ in a majestic European cathedral." I could almost hear what you mentally heard in order to write this. I imagined a soprano, a tenor, and a baritone.
I hope you can teach them some songs. I'd love to read your advice on voice development, and read your suggestions and description of their reactions.
I enjoy becoming engrossed in your vivid descriptions.
Comment Written 23-Jul-2024
reply by the author on 23-Jul-2024
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I LOVE that you're so "all in!!" It warms me through and through!! Thank you for this absolutely beautiful review!! xoxox
Comment from pome lover
Well, I hope Simeon lets "you" teach him and he will end up leading the choir and Rebekah gets to sing with them, or maybe she does, in the choir. So both of their parents are dead? No elder in the house? Oh, and I forget,
have you been shopping yet for clothes? (in this story)
Katharine
reply by the author on 23-Jul-2024
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Well, I hope Simeon lets "you" teach him and he will end up leading the choir and Rebekah gets to sing with them, or maybe she does, in the choir. So both of their parents are dead? No elder in the house? Oh, and I forget,
have you been shopping yet for clothes? (in this story)
Katharine
Comment Written 23-Jul-2024
reply by the author on 23-Jul-2024
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No elders in the house, but Amish past sixteen, once they return home from Rumspringa and commit to the church, are considered "adults."
Nope; it's not even been twenty-four hours' time since this story began, so I haven't been shopping. I'm wearing Rebekah's maam's dress and apron and flat black high-top boots.
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bet you're a cutie!
Comment from T B Botts
Hello Rachelle,
this is another delightful post gal. I feel like I'm in the room with all of you, though I would never participate in the singing. I do love to listen to music though. For some reason I just thought of the parody song by Weird Al Yankovich- Amish Paradise. It's a take off of Gangster's Paradise, by I think the rapper Coolio, but I could be mistaken. I like the music and the beat, and also the words. It's really funny.
I notice that you leave the O out of God. Is that a sign of respect? Can you speak the name Yaweh or Jehova or are those names also off limits? I've never run across this before, though I worked at the school with several Jewish folks; one was the superintendent, whom I really liked, but we never discussed religion. I'm just curious, I mean no disrespect.
In any event, well done on your story gal. I'm really enjoying the different perspectives of you and Gretchen, you both bring a lot to the table.
Have a blessed evening.
Tom
reply by the author on 23-Jul-2024
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Hello Rachelle,
this is another delightful post gal. I feel like I'm in the room with all of you, though I would never participate in the singing. I do love to listen to music though. For some reason I just thought of the parody song by Weird Al Yankovich- Amish Paradise. It's a take off of Gangster's Paradise, by I think the rapper Coolio, but I could be mistaken. I like the music and the beat, and also the words. It's really funny.
I notice that you leave the O out of God. Is that a sign of respect? Can you speak the name Yaweh or Jehova or are those names also off limits? I've never run across this before, though I worked at the school with several Jewish folks; one was the superintendent, whom I really liked, but we never discussed religion. I'm just curious, I mean no disrespect.
In any event, well done on your story gal. I'm really enjoying the different perspectives of you and Gretchen, you both bring a lot to the table.
Have a blessed evening.
Tom
Comment Written 23-Jul-2024
reply by the author on 23-Jul-2024
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Tom, it is never disrespectful to ask questions to learn more about a religion. You have never been anything but respectful to me since we've begun communicating on this site.
The reason we write "G-d" that way is because if it's written out and then thrown away, that seems wrong and disrespectful. Just like, it's disrespectful to boil a kid in its mother's milk, which is the reason for not eating meat and dairy together. It's a way of making us aware of behaviors that could so easily get tossed aside. I THANK you for asking. xoxo
I also thank you for the lovely review - and the reminder about that Weird Al song. Oy! I hadn't thought of that in absolutely forever!! What a fun way to start the day! xoxox
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Hello Rachelle,
thanks so much for answering my question, the reasoning sounds absolutely right. As a nation, we would all do well to start restoring the Lord back to His rightful place in our lives.
Blessings,
Tom
Comment from Michele Harber
Lovely story, Rachelle, and I can see the teacher in you encouraging them to sing as you did. I also believe that an Amish family would be as kind as you've shown this family to be. What I don't believe, though, is that an Amish family would leave their children alone this long with "English" strangers. While I was enjoying the story, that one point was definitely nagging at me.
Beyond that, your storytelling skills are excellent, as always.
reply by the author on 22-Jul-2024
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Lovely story, Rachelle, and I can see the teacher in you encouraging them to sing as you did. I also believe that an Amish family would be as kind as you've shown this family to be. What I don't believe, though, is that an Amish family would leave their children alone this long with "English" strangers. While I was enjoying the story, that one point was definitely nagging at me.
Beyond that, your storytelling skills are excellent, as always.
Comment Written 22-Jul-2024
reply by the author on 22-Jul-2024
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This is thought-provoking, and I will definitely give it consideration. In Amish culture, these boys are considered adults. They've done Rumpringa and returned to the fold and committed to the church and the life. We'll learn soon that he has a love interest, and will be proposing soon. Had his mom not died, he'd have been married already. So they're not "kids" like we Englishers would think of kids. Plus, I haven't come across as a threat. I do appreciate your saying that, though. Ditto for the reassurances, too. Both are equally heard and appreciated. Xo
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I may just be looking at this from a New Yorker's suspicious point of view. Someone coming across as non-threatening can be as worrisome as someone saying, "Don't worry."
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This is true...says another New Yorker...
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😀
Comment from Pam Lonsdale
This line: "they blend like a pipe organ in a majestic European cathedral" put me right there in the scene, "apple butter on Amish hot cakes" made me hungry:-)
Great imagery all around, but goosebumps percolating and igniting the part in the hair is something I can feel, as I've literally felt this sensation before.
"Would you be willing to allow me teach you some songs . . ." ADD "TO" TEACH
There's only one thing missing from this post: Gretchen. I don't believe you mention her once. Is she standing by? I ask because I thought this would be written as a shared experience and not just your story.
Otherwise, I really enjoyed the emotional turn this has taken and a better understanding of Amish life. Again, the imagery is excellent.
Thank you, my Amish JAP:-)
xo
PT Pam
reply by the author on 22-Jul-2024
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This line: "they blend like a pipe organ in a majestic European cathedral" put me right there in the scene, "apple butter on Amish hot cakes" made me hungry:-)
Great imagery all around, but goosebumps percolating and igniting the part in the hair is something I can feel, as I've literally felt this sensation before.
"Would you be willing to allow me teach you some songs . . ." ADD "TO" TEACH
There's only one thing missing from this post: Gretchen. I don't believe you mention her once. Is she standing by? I ask because I thought this would be written as a shared experience and not just your story.
Otherwise, I really enjoyed the emotional turn this has taken and a better understanding of Amish life. Again, the imagery is excellent.
Thank you, my Amish JAP:-)
xo
PT Pam
Comment Written 22-Jul-2024
reply by the author on 22-Jul-2024
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Well, I did mention her car, Old Reliable...
We are separate in this chapter. She has remained at Helen and Ezra's, and I have gone to where Rebekah and her brothers live. I'm not sure she mentioned me, either, except at the very beginning, when she said she's used to playing the "sidekick" and without me there, it's awkward with just her and Helene.
There will be times when we are just with our respective hosts, developing relationships there.
Thanks for the eagle-eye catch there. I appreciate it!
Thanks for the other kind comments, as well. I always love your reviews. xoxo