Reviews from

Lessons in the Key of Life

Viewing comments for Chapter 1 "Dancing"
A music and dance teacher's improvization

28 total reviews 
Comment from LisaMay
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Superby written vignettes of your oh so interesting life, Rachelle. Studded with warmth, humour, fear, challenge, motivation, delight, perspiration, success. The stories are filled with movement, life, colour and character also, thus making for very enjoyable reading. Lucky breaks, right-place-right-time, fake-it-till-you-make-it stories of courage and perseverance etc made me gasp with admiration at your self belief and audacity. Valuable lessons for folks to read and have a think about assessing what limitations they might put on themselves and how someone else (you) had a fascination life engaging your skills and growing with each challenge.

One small catch" "No! As a matter of fact, I have a proposal you for you:"
delete the "you" in front of "for".

 Comment Written 31-Mar-2019


reply by the author on 31-Mar-2019
    Thank you, Sis; you are my favorite relative by far. xo

    Thank you, too, for the eagle-eye nit I need to go edit. I always appreciate that, as you know. xo
reply by LisaMay on 31-Mar-2019
    You are most welcome!
Comment from Bill Pinder
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Excellent writing as usual! you do a great job of bringing stories to life with humor. Love the story of the balding, overweight men giving up their dignity to do a ballet routine. Very important life lesson to not allow ourselves to be stopped by self imposed limits.

 Comment Written 31-Mar-2019


reply by the author on 31-Mar-2019
    Thank you, as always, Bill, for your encouragement and warm, wonderful reviews. They mean more to me than you'll ever know. xo
reply by Bill Pinder on 01-Apr-2019
Comment from damommy
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

This is such a wonderful story. I like how you jumped in their and met the challenge. I've been in situations that I didn't know how to do something and just faked it until I did know. I agree with all your 'lessons,' especially the one about dignity being over-rated. If everyone would let themselves relax and enjoy life, the world would be a better place. 8-)

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 Comment Written 31-Mar-2019


reply by the author on 31-Mar-2019
    No wonder you and I get along so easily, Damommy! Our mantras are identical.

    Thank you for this really great review. I love it! xo
reply by damommy on 31-Mar-2019
    Thank you. I always say, before I tackle anything, that I'm at least as smart as the dumbest person who's done this. So far, it's stood me in good stead. 8-)
reply by the author on 31-Mar-2019
    HAHAHAHAHAAHHA!! Omg! I LOVE that!!! May I have your permission to use it??!! That is HYSTERICAL!!
reply by damommy on 31-Mar-2019
    I'm flattered that you want to use this, but I'd like to keep it for myself. I hope you understand. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
reply by the author on 31-Mar-2019
    Of course I do! I'll think of it (and you!) every time I'm about to try something new, though!! lol
reply by damommy on 31-Mar-2019
    Thank you for being so gracious about it. I'm still very flattered. Bless your heart.

    Yvonne
Comment from HealingMuse
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Hi Rachelle,

I absolutely love the stories you share about your career in music. And you always give us encouragement with a wise moral to your stories This piexe is impeccably wrll written, as always. So put these six stars in your crown and please, keep writing. Jan

 Comment Written 31-Mar-2019


reply by the author on 31-Mar-2019
    Omigosh! I love you, Jan. You are Queen of the Warm, Wonderful Reviews. xo
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted


LOL! That was so funny! But you are right, you shouldn't set yourself a limit to what you can achieve, that would stifle you and you'd never find out how capable you really are. I can just imagine the shock and pride you felt when you realised what you'd let yourself in for and how well you achieved it. I really enjoyed your story, well done. :)) Sandra xx

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 Comment Written 31-Mar-2019


reply by the author on 31-Mar-2019
    Thank you, Sandra. I was rather flabbergasted, to be honest. It was a huge risk, but when you're young, that doesn't seem like a reason not to indulge. You'll see, as the book progresses, that it happens to me a lot. And with each unfamiliar opportunity, it gets easier to trust things will work out.

    Thanks for this really nice review. You're always so generous to me with your words. xo
Comment from JudyE
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

What a fascinating story. I enjoyed this so much. I've seen middle-aged farmers dancing Swan Lake in their workboots and the music has been ruined for me for evermore. Well, not really but you probably know what I mean. :)

Only one tiny suggestion: I might have written 'and was called in often to work' as 'and was often called in to work'. I'm not sure why I'd change it. Maybe it's just the speech patterns I've learnt in my country.

I really found this very entertaining. Thanks so much.


 Comment Written 31-Mar-2019


reply by the author on 31-Mar-2019
    I think you're right about that edit, Judy; the way you worded it definitely flows better. I'll make that adjustment right now. Thanks for having my back.

    And thanks for the lovely review, as well. xo
Comment from Mark Valentine
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Fantastic! First of all, I think you should expand the Swan Lake vignette into a movie script -- "Dirty Dancing #: Oy, My Back!". Your writing communicates how much fun that must have been - I believe it's the first time "foofy" has been used in Fanstory. The ability of that group to laugh at themselves is endearing.

I love the 'lessons" (I think I mentioned that before, but it bears repeating) - you can substitute "writing" for "performing" in your "if it's not fun, why do it" lesson and you'd have a great Fanstory slogan.

The little background pieces you scatter in these - like thinking your name was 'Larry..Linda..Donna..SHELLEY!' are delightful - I can hear your mom calling you.

These are a joy to read - keep 'em coming.




 Comment Written 31-Mar-2019


reply by the author on 31-Mar-2019
    Thank you, sincerely, Mark. Your words here mean the world to me. xo
Comment from 24chas
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

You've done it again, Rachelle. Another captivating chapter in your life. And, of course, the lesson at the end is always perfect and on point. This was very interesting that you could teach all these people to dance the way you did. You must be an awesome teacher! You must also be such a disciplined person to learn tap in a week. I guess you're just a natural! Great job.

 Comment Written 31-Mar-2019


reply by the author on 31-Mar-2019
    Well, 24chas, since it WAS just for young children, that definitely worked in my favor.

    Thank you for the review; you know I always love and appreciate your warmth and encouragement. xo