Lessons in the Key of Life
Viewing comments for Chapter 14 "Punctuality at All Costs"A music and dance teacher's improvization
34 total reviews
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
That must have been a nightmare!! Thank goodness your daughter is a mind-reader! I just saw this story in the book of the month, and came over to read it, so glad I did, you're in the lead! You certainly get yourself into some scrapes, lol, trust you to mess up the fire hose! LOL! I didn't know whether to laugh or cry for you. I compromised and had a little giggle, lol. Hilarious! Good luck in the contest! Big hugs. Sandra xxx
reply by the author on 02-Jul-2019
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That must have been a nightmare!! Thank goodness your daughter is a mind-reader! I just saw this story in the book of the month, and came over to read it, so glad I did, you're in the lead! You certainly get yourself into some scrapes, lol, trust you to mess up the fire hose! LOL! I didn't know whether to laugh or cry for you. I compromised and had a little giggle, lol. Hilarious! Good luck in the contest! Big hugs. Sandra xxx
Comment Written 02-Jul-2019
reply by the author on 02-Jul-2019
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Thank you very, very much for this lovely review. I always love reading your fun and encouraging words. xo
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I went back when I realised the six had jumped to a five, I couldn't change it again. Such a nuisance. I really loved that story. :)) xx
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It's no problem. You know the words of your reviews are what I love most of all. The extra star is just a bonus. xo
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I'm sending a humungous hug!
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And I'm taking it with delight!! xo
Comment from Jeffrey L. Michaux
Awe, poor Darling. You had a train wreck of a day that could have been so much worse. Your husband was a real trooper by not saying anything and just driving you home. I would have handled it the same way. Thank the Lord that He moved on your daughter to suddenly feel like she needed to come home. That's super awesome. It's terrible that you couldn't make your piano lessons though. I HATE to be late for anything. I almost don't want to go anywhere unless I'm going to be on time. Late is not an option. It ruins my day. It looks like everything turned out alright in the end. Wine, Birthday, license. I enjoyed this Rachelle. Well done!
reply by the author on 02-Jul-2019
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Awe, poor Darling. You had a train wreck of a day that could have been so much worse. Your husband was a real trooper by not saying anything and just driving you home. I would have handled it the same way. Thank the Lord that He moved on your daughter to suddenly feel like she needed to come home. That's super awesome. It's terrible that you couldn't make your piano lessons though. I HATE to be late for anything. I almost don't want to go anywhere unless I'm going to be on time. Late is not an option. It ruins my day. It looks like everything turned out alright in the end. Wine, Birthday, license. I enjoyed this Rachelle. Well done!
Comment Written 02-Jul-2019
reply by the author on 02-Jul-2019
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What I love about your reviews, Jeffrey, is that you totally 'get' the gist of every single part of what I post.
It especially heartens me how well you identify with the 'being late' part. Oy! It makes me crazy to be late!
So thank you for this fantastic review. I always love reading what you have to say. xo
Comment from A. Willow Bends
I feel as if I have known you forever. Were we sisters in a previous life? This sounds like typical day for me! Well written, all the emotion screams out from this piece and you can feel YOU shrinking through it all! Miracles and coincidences do often mesh, as with the daughter being home with the plates. I love the whole piece. Great job and keep sharing! Your life is freaking hilarious! I'm sorry. It just is. You do a marvelous job of conveying this to the reader! :)
Wendy
reply by the author on 02-Jul-2019
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I feel as if I have known you forever. Were we sisters in a previous life? This sounds like typical day for me! Well written, all the emotion screams out from this piece and you can feel YOU shrinking through it all! Miracles and coincidences do often mesh, as with the daughter being home with the plates. I love the whole piece. Great job and keep sharing! Your life is freaking hilarious! I'm sorry. It just is. You do a marvelous job of conveying this to the reader! :)
Wendy
Comment Written 02-Jul-2019
reply by the author on 02-Jul-2019
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I'm just trying to do my best with the sense of humor I was given...and the accompanying ridiculous situations that seemed to be part of that deal!
Thanks, oh sister from another life! I appreciate this perfect review very much. xo
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Your sense of humor is part of the very strong base that supports your writing talent! TRULY! :)
Wendy
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Thank you, sweet woman. I do appreciate that very much. xo
Comment from Y. M. Roger
I swear to goodness, EVERY time a work day starts out line this one - all sunshine and fee-good - it's almost a recipe for disaster! Seriously, I could do an anthology entitled 'What the Hell Happened to the Sunshine?'!! ;) But, I could also wrap many of those shorts with wonderful and IMHO Blessed intervention as with yours here ... Oh, and EVERY one wrapped up and put to bed with a glass of wine!! ;) ;) A wonderful offering, my friend - thanx for sharing!! Take care! :) Yvette
reply by the author on 02-Jul-2019
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I swear to goodness, EVERY time a work day starts out line this one - all sunshine and fee-good - it's almost a recipe for disaster! Seriously, I could do an anthology entitled 'What the Hell Happened to the Sunshine?'!! ;) But, I could also wrap many of those shorts with wonderful and IMHO Blessed intervention as with yours here ... Oh, and EVERY one wrapped up and put to bed with a glass of wine!! ;) ;) A wonderful offering, my friend - thanx for sharing!! Take care! :) Yvette
Comment Written 02-Jul-2019
reply by the author on 02-Jul-2019
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It's the Enjoy It Now; The Other Shoe WILL Be Dropping Syndrome. Fortunately for us, Yvette, we can go with life's flow. Eventually the day will end. Eventually there will be wine.
Thanks for the very fun, understanding review. xo
Comment from Debbie Pope
When I read Tina Fey's autobiography, I thought, "how could that much stuff happen to one person, and how can she tell it with such humor?" That's what I think every time that I read your posts. You have had an extraordinary life and you tell it so well. I look forward to reading anything that you write. Do people constantly tell you "This could only happen to you, Rachelle." It happens to you so that we can all enjoy.
Thank you so much for sharing your crazy life.
reply by the author on 02-Jul-2019
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When I read Tina Fey's autobiography, I thought, "how could that much stuff happen to one person, and how can she tell it with such humor?" That's what I think every time that I read your posts. You have had an extraordinary life and you tell it so well. I look forward to reading anything that you write. Do people constantly tell you "This could only happen to you, Rachelle." It happens to you so that we can all enjoy.
Thank you so much for sharing your crazy life.
Comment Written 02-Jul-2019
reply by the author on 02-Jul-2019
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I think of it this way: G-d gave me a big sense of humor, and then He said, "Well, now I have to give you lots and lots of chances to use it, Rachelle." And I'm okay with that, since I also have REALLY good coping skills, though those have come in the form of on-the-job training.
I love this review, Debbie. Thank you for brightening the morning. xo
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Did that hose incident cost you anything or did you call on the family luck?
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Haha. Well, it was kind of both! My brother-in-law was a bigwig in town at the time (head of the Department of Public Works) and knew the fire chief well. There was actually no damage to the fire hose, so my brother-in-law managed to talk him out of 'punishing' me with a bogus bill. I didn't have to pay the $75/day charge for not having proper plates on my car, but I did have to pay $103 for the charge of "crossing a fire hose," which, p.s., the judge said, "I'd never even heard of that until today." [What? You mean no one else has gotten themselves stuck on a fire hose joint before? I find that so surprising!!)
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You are one of a kind.
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And I just KNOW you mean that in a positive, oh-so loving way, right, Debbie?! xo
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Definitely loving. Constantly amazed
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See why I absolutely adore you?! xo
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Of course.
Comment from Michele Harber
OK, you've done it. You've managed to outdo me with a story to which I have no comparable anecdote. Your wonderful writing, however, made me gleefully laugh at your pain. I particularly loved your reference to "an algorithm that included teaching piano lessons from my room in a federally subsidized nursing home and the potential sale of future grandchildren."
I just have a couple of suggestions that I think might make an excellent story even better, but these are by no means make-or-break issues. First, I wouldn't start the paragraph about straddling the fire hose with the words "Oddly enough." You're cuing the reader in right away that something's going to go wrong. If you give the reader those couple of seconds to think you might have found your escape, it makes what actually happened that much more of a surprise.
Secondly, this is one place where the degree of detail you used at the beginning, to describe the "bursts of red and yellow tulips" and "the Spring sky, blue as cornflowers, and filled with cotton ball clouds" is perfectly appropriate, as you're setting up what a perfect day it started out as. Because you set that up so well, you can use it to humorous advantage, should you so choose, by showing how differently you view these same things once your day has gone so wrong. "He simply drove us home ... past the wilted tulips, under a sky the purple/blue of a bruise and - is that a rain cloud?" You can then go right into finding your daughter in your house.
As I said, these ideas might add a little bit more to your story. They're yours if you want to use them, but they're certainly not required for your story to be successful. All you need for that is your incredible writing talent.
reply by the author on 01-Jul-2019
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OK, you've done it. You've managed to outdo me with a story to which I have no comparable anecdote. Your wonderful writing, however, made me gleefully laugh at your pain. I particularly loved your reference to "an algorithm that included teaching piano lessons from my room in a federally subsidized nursing home and the potential sale of future grandchildren."
I just have a couple of suggestions that I think might make an excellent story even better, but these are by no means make-or-break issues. First, I wouldn't start the paragraph about straddling the fire hose with the words "Oddly enough." You're cuing the reader in right away that something's going to go wrong. If you give the reader those couple of seconds to think you might have found your escape, it makes what actually happened that much more of a surprise.
Secondly, this is one place where the degree of detail you used at the beginning, to describe the "bursts of red and yellow tulips" and "the Spring sky, blue as cornflowers, and filled with cotton ball clouds" is perfectly appropriate, as you're setting up what a perfect day it started out as. Because you set that up so well, you can use it to humorous advantage, should you so choose, by showing how differently you view these same things once your day has gone so wrong. "He simply drove us home ... past the wilted tulips, under a sky the purple/blue of a bruise and - is that a rain cloud?" You can then go right into finding your daughter in your house.
As I said, these ideas might add a little bit more to your story. They're yours if you want to use them, but they're certainly not required for your story to be successful. All you need for that is your incredible writing talent.
Comment Written 01-Jul-2019
reply by the author on 01-Jul-2019
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Hahaha. These are great suggestions. Thanks, FSBFF. xo
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My pleasure - from one FSBFF to another. xoxo
Comment from Robert Zimmerman
Hi Rachelle. Just so you will know I'm not trying to salt the wounds but I did laugh as I read the story. What impressed me most was the use of the words
"Redolent" and "James Bondian." As I've said before I like your descriptive writing style and I found the story very easy and enjoyable to read.
reply by the author on 01-Jul-2019
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Hi Rachelle. Just so you will know I'm not trying to salt the wounds but I did laugh as I read the story. What impressed me most was the use of the words
"Redolent" and "James Bondian." As I've said before I like your descriptive writing style and I found the story very easy and enjoyable to read.
Comment Written 01-Jul-2019
reply by the author on 01-Jul-2019
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No, that's not salt in the wounds, Robert. It's you helping me make lemonade from the lemons. Thanks for the encouragement you always bestow. xo
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You're welcome!
Comment from juliaSjames
I was torn between a stern judgemental review, how could you DO that etc etc, and empathy because I've done truly foolish things in my time. Empathy won by a mile. Happy the Universe cooperated and everything turned out fine.
Good composition. The lovely day morphing into near disaster and then ending with a celebration. Seems that your family luck isn't restricted to monetary gain.
Blessings Julia
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2019
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I was torn between a stern judgemental review, how could you DO that etc etc, and empathy because I've done truly foolish things in my time. Empathy won by a mile. Happy the Universe cooperated and everything turned out fine.
Good composition. The lovely day morphing into near disaster and then ending with a celebration. Seems that your family luck isn't restricted to monetary gain.
Blessings Julia
Comment Written 30-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2019
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Well, that middle part was a little less than lucky, though...
And thank you for not scolding me. xo
Comment from doggymad1
Once again apologies for thoroughly enjoying your misfortunes. I was there - a fly on the wall with you for every agonizing moment.
Brilliant write, I wish I had a spare six for it, you gave me yet another belly laugh
hugs
Freda
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2019
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Once again apologies for thoroughly enjoying your misfortunes. I was there - a fly on the wall with you for every agonizing moment.
Brilliant write, I wish I had a spare six for it, you gave me yet another belly laugh
hugs
Freda
Comment Written 30-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2019
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So glad you enjoyed it, Freda. Thank you for the great review. xo
Comment from robyn corum
Rachelle,
You DROVE OVER a FIRE HOSE???? OMS. Girl, you are brave... or... missing some cells. I'm not sure which. And then you are willing to talk about it. Publicly. I think I like you more and more. hahahaha
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2019
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Rachelle,
You DROVE OVER a FIRE HOSE???? OMS. Girl, you are brave... or... missing some cells. I'm not sure which. And then you are willing to talk about it. Publicly. I think I like you more and more. hahahaha
Comment Written 30-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2019
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I have no shame, Robyn. Thanks for the fun review! xo