Reviews from

At Home in Mississippi

Viewing comments for Chapter 45 "Eighth Grade Continues."
Growing up in the 40 and 50 in MIssissippi

18 total reviews 
Comment from Ulla
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Aw, I really enjoy reading about your early memories, Beth. Well, so you very early on got a reputation for being an artist. How wonderful is that! Yes I do remember having penpals as well. How innocent the world was back then. Ulla xcx

 Comment Written 27-Sep-2024


reply by the author on 29-Sep-2024
    Thank you, Ulla. Yes it seemed like a different world back them. I'm glad you enjoy my stories.
    Beth
Comment from Jim Wile
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I enjoyed this a lot, Beth. I liked the way your school wasn't afraid to foster competition, which seems to be sorely lacking these days. I liked your self-deprecating humor about your singing in comparison to your family members.

So, let me ask you: Were you furious when that girl won first place with your poem, or were you flattered that it won? Did you ever have words with that girl?

 Comment Written 27-Sep-2024


reply by the author on 27-Sep-2024
    Thank you, Jim. I was aggravated that she won first, and I didn't. I was confused too, because I hadn't really liked the poem I gave away. I did tell the girl, who was my best friend's sister, it wasn't fair she won. She claimed she had changed something in the one I gave her, but I couldn't find anything that had been changed.
    Beth
reply by Jim Wile on 27-Sep-2024
    Yikes! Not only a cheat, but a liar too. Good for you for trying to nail her. That's interesting you didn't really like the poem that won.
Comment from Y. M. Roger
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See, you were meant to be a writer! Wish they still did the penpal exchanges... ours was with Germany. And hooray for money to to paint as you enjoyed... thanx for sharing today! :)

 Comment Written 26-Sep-2024


reply by the author on 29-Sep-2024
    Thank you. It is good to see you back reviewing work on this site. I appreciate you reviewing my story.
    Beth
Comment from Ric Myworld
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I'm always amazed at all you can remember. And how those like me couldn't give you details of yesterday without leaving something out. LOL.
It's always a pleasure. Thanks for sharing.

 Comment Written 26-Sep-2024


reply by the author on 27-Sep-2024
    Thank for reading another chapter of my life. Yesterday is a different story. I was paying more attention years ago.
    Beth
Comment from Karen Cherry Threadgill
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You wrote this well enough, but it could use more life. How did all thar red lipstick make you feel? How did cooking those first time burgers play out? did some get their food half raw? Way to done? Why did the visits dwindle? What happened to the girl who won with your story. I hope you will tell us more. Karen

 Comment Written 26-Sep-2024


reply by the author on 26-Sep-2024
    Thank you, Karen, I kept cutting stuff out of this because I didn't want it so long. I guess I expected people to read between the lines. The girls looked older making me feel I was in class with adults. The visit grew less because I didn't like making meals for them. I cleared that up a bit. Thanks for the suggestions.
reply by Karen Cherry Threadgill on 27-Sep-2024
    I am just nosey. :-)
Comment from Wendy G
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Another interesting chapter. That girl who entered your writing was a cheat - a pity she took out first place from you. Life at school and at home was certainly different, and it's good to look back on those days. Thanks for sharing.
Wendy

 Comment Written 25-Sep-2024


reply by the author on 12-Oct-2024
    Thank you, Wendy. I was aggravated that the poem I didn't thing was so good won first while the one entered didn't.
    Beth
Comment from royowen
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Oh yes one can earn real money from God given gifts, as you've learned, however my music CDs written from songs I wrote, although they cost more to produce than I gained less, but they were fun producing, and the kids got a kick and a future out of it, my kids enjoyed sleepovers, but not in my day were they arounfm great post Beth, blessings Roy

 Comment Written 25-Sep-2024


reply by the author on 28-Sep-2024
    Thank you, Roy. I'm sure there is more than money that make it worthwhile for you to make those tapes. I appreciate your review and comments.
    Beth
Comment from Debbie D'Arcy
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You're really coming into your own in this chapter, Beth. And you remind me of so many authors I've written about who perfected their art after working in journalism. Every time I read your stories I wish I had the clarity you have recalling childhood events especially going right back to the war. Thank you for sharing your enjoyable chapter. Take care Debbie

both (w?) would flip over in their sleep..
It would be 1997 before Hong Kong (became)... (this avoids putting 'would be' in again and increases fluency)
I was eleven when I wrote it, (and?) was embarrassed..
I had assumed I just sang also??
Another thing our school did each year was (to) have...
Other events were fifty and one hundred yard dashes (I think it reads more fluently with words and unabbreviated 'yard')

 Comment Written 25-Sep-2024


reply by the author on 28-Sep-2024
    Thank yoiu Debbie. I always appreciate your reviews and comments. You are so helpful seeing thing that need improvement. I guess I was trying to be funny by saying I sang also. I didn't mean alto. I meant I didn't know what the various tones were called so I also sang.
Comment from Jacob1395
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Another fascinating chapter in your life Beth, it must've been a bit of a shock for you to suddenly having to share a bed after having been used to your own. It must've been amazing for you when the businessman offered you work. A well written, engaging chapter. I enjoyed reading it.

 Comment Written 25-Sep-2024


reply by the author on 29-Sep-2024
    Thank you, Jacob. I'm glad you enjoyed reading my story.
    Beth
Comment from lyenochka
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Wow, you did so many extracurricular activities! Your town may have been rural but your school sure did a great job to provide lots of activities and kudos to your mom for giving you speech lessons. Although I don't think your family members should disparage your singing!

Your relationship with Helen (didn't you have sister-in-law who was also named Helen?) put me into a tailspin mentally so I had to map out the relationship and concluded that Helen was your second cousin once removed because there's a generation difference. You would have been the second cousin of one of her parents. Second cousins have a common great grandparent. You can ask Kyung Hwa because Korean has a different name for each type of cousin! Lol.

Question:
We all had cereal for breakfast, and the visits became rare. Was it because of the food that visits became rare?

 Comment Written 25-Sep-2024


reply by the author on 25-Sep-2024
    Thank you, Helen, yes, Evan's oldest sister was named Helen and I have a close friend at the YMCA named Helen. When I saw your birthday card, I saw Helen, and thought it was her but then she sent on also. We call it second cousin one removed. Her mother would be a first cousin once removed, I think. I didn't bring three people home often because I didn't like cooking for them. lol
reply by lyenochka on 25-Sep-2024
    Lol. I can understand that. But then you had a big family and got used to cooking for lots of people!