C. (Comment, never msg).’s Comments (group member since Jan 30, 2014)

C. (Comment, never msg).’s comments from the Gentle SPECTRUMS group.

I KNOW Winnie's Mom was youngest among wives. I was clarifying that "older" might mean no more than she was 20 and he was 25. I certainly had no impression of 10 years between or any rules. It seemed like a law for male egos to approach whomever was willing.

I urge the unique, instant, easy perspective of talking about whatever appeals to us while we are in the progress of reading books. Memory is not as fun as "Hey, what do you make of that sentence last night".

It is a good consideration that Winnie might not have been taught to be spiritual. Or perhaps Amy thought in 1930s China, one or the other religion could be surmised. You can't assume that in a vast, tradition valueing but limit shattering place like North America, with Canada these days apparently wielding the most freedom to choose and change. In 1930s China, perhaps naming religions didn't need to be said. In 1991 in San Francisco, it seemed like christianity with Chinese flavour.

Doctors Stephen Gasgoingne and Christopher Day are musts. I obtained perfect condition, beautifully coloured hardcover books, for a song apiece at Awesome Books. I mean $6.00 CDN or less.

Christopher, recently ascended to our enormous loss, treated aniamls naturally and believed in the lines of Dr. Richard Allport. However, I recall (it is among the books I need to locate) he was much more emphatic about avoiding euthanasia as an undesirable "only in a worst case" and absolutely refusing Chinese or western herbs with any animal products at all. He felt "How could you heal and save animals but consume others". God bless him.

Stephen is also very special, a modern medical doctor who saw with Chinese Medicine could do and learned why. He went to China to train. His book explains several of the basics of the healing and good energy maintenance that this umbrella has to offer, very easily and briefly. You get a good sample of what we can learn to do and a history of how it came to us from Asia.

Great clear sections to read like a story, well organized charts and lists of plain old food, herbs, and other methods to use. Obviously they almost always suit animals and people but checking a vet's book or homeeopathic or TCM vet website will confirm and reassure us of safety and dosages.

I see it as stepping Donna Eden's basics on the Chinese Medicine side and going to a more advance and inclusive level, including food and other things she does not. I aim to do the same with Indian understanding of auras & chakras but weeding through the popular conceptions of a much more familiar system is needed, to clear out the way for the real, non hip, serious knowledge; if you know what I mean.

Hi Kerri! I am glad to finish here. You missed what I was saying and want to correct that. I am not disputing the novel might have said Winnie's Mom was younger than her spouse. We girls often are. I said that younger does not mean he was MUCH older. I did not mean something like 40 isn't old; I meant lets not assume "older" means more than a year or two at all!

A young Chinese man might have been expected to have a first arranged marriage at age 18. He might have puffed himself up as a sexual wonder boy and sought a second wife or two a year or more after. Do we know if there were more or only the two we met? By the time he married Winnie's Mom, he might only have been about 25 years-old. You are older and would not want it supposed that works out to being age 40!

I don't think Aunt Du's service can be a religious comparison to China. It was in the United States, which in itself dilutes customs. Don't forget, they were christians by then, so if it had any Chinese spin it was cultural, not Chinese spirituality.

Since we heard too much about animal consumption in war and among their families modernly in the USA, they were not Buddhist! Ancestor worship continues. Have you seen the first "Mulan" film, the cartoon? It is all about that. I also saw Julie Chen's trip to China on the ancestry show "Who Do You Think You Are" and all the old customs were in place. It is an old country with less outside influence than you might think, most notably prior to the internet.

I am at war with my unfamiliar impressions of China. I obviously oppose their idea that it is all right to eat just about anyone. For me, no individual life who moved and had eyes and a face, should be consumed. That means no one except plant life, which regenerates and harmonizes as a group.

All at once, if you remove animal consumption for any product, meal, or herb, their concept of healing has made sense and become life saving to me. The meridians, acupressure, many herbs, and energy enhancing exercises like Qi-Gong and Tai-Chi are from China and I have seen that they work. The Auras and Chakras we get from India. The Celtic weave is obviously from Ireland and perhaps the other two Celtic lands. I want to find out.

I rail against much I have heard of China as an animal rights defender and a peaceful activist. Other things, I think are blessings and have my sincere respect. It is a confusing place. Thankfully, there are modern practitioners who leave the animal products out of it, like Dr. Stephen Gasgoigne MD and Dr. Christopher Day DMV. That is a lovely bridge to harmonize and blend the good, acceptable parts of the healing and life practices for all of our loved-ones big, medium, and small.

On family, it is two sides whose Grandchildren I need to name and acquaint. I at least know the names of Grandparent Siblings and some of their kids. This is the Aunt who did not return my call so far. I will be able to find their kids' names. I will also easily look up the names of the fourth Grandparent siblings, whom I do not think I met. Their children and Grandchildren, my age, are a mystery but I like solving those, dear Kerri!

You skipped my joke the first time too. What of that? I like to joke around and not solely focus on business.

There is nothing to be sorry about. Most people do not know their Grandparents' Siblings at all, I think. Do you? What is more, I met two of my Great-Grandparents, both of those who shared my lifetime and were at all possible. I have the photographs to see the faces of my other Great-Grandparents and some of their Parents too.

I am ahead for knowing one set of Grandparents' Siblings supremely well. Their three living kids and their Grandkids are my closest remaining family. I know another set of Grandparents' Siblings fairly well. I met all of this second set as well and kept in touch with two on that side, until they ascended recently. I aim to acquaint their children and Grandchildren.

I met the Sisters of my third Grandparent when I was little. I am attempting to acquaint their few remaining kids and their Grandchildren. My aforementioned Grandparent is the only one whose Sibings' children and Grandchildren will be a challenge. A better word than sorry, would simply be to wish me luck and success in my goal.

I don't have the impression Winnie's Dad (what was his name?) exceeded his wives. He seemed like a young man building a good manufacturing business. We agree that we preferred extraneous characters left out of view.

I recall the suggestion of death but no reason to believe it. I already wrote: why move the child with two (or more) wives to raise her? Why was there no service, burial, or mourning tradition? I think China and Asia generally were strict cultures that would demand children, with no age as an excuse, participate in Holy traditions. Winnie was not dressed in a special way, did not eat or refrain from eating or doing her usual pursuits, did not go to a ceremony. If a burial were on the island she moved to, she would have been shown the place to visit as she grew, or she would have sought the resting place.

Like us, China has a lot of spirtual options. Buddhists are supremely gentle and inclusive towards animals equally to people. I don't know what they are like with loved-ones' souls and resting places. As far as I know, the common faith is described as ancestor worship. Ancestors and their resting places are revered, honoured, maintained, visited, sought, and consulted often throughout your whole life. Not telling where a Parent's monument or remains are is unheard of.

I remember Winnie's family was called "Old & New Aunt" but not that the relative was a Brother. I wonder if it was a reference or printing mistake but I feel like I got "Father's Sister" from something in the novel. I appreciate you checking these items.

You are running through short stories too much. It was good you piped down to fact check. I have things to attend to and won't keep a bonkers pace to maintain this lead. Read normal sized novels! I read the PDF you sent me and can't believe how empty of text pages are, when they comprise 99% glib teenaged dialogue! If your screenplays are generally dialogue, I would call a "cheat" accusation after so many of them. ;)

Not laughing at my daring to use math and astonishing teachers and tutors? That personal aspect is a fun, bright spot I hoped you would reciprocate with me. It isn't only about answering direct questions. I am proud to have ventured out of my comfort zone and astonished to find math confirming exactly my educated estimates!

I appreciate your remark, that this is a good family story. Beyond Moms & Daughters and Daughters & Fathers. Helen's kids are not her Cousins but regarded that way when the four youths grew up together. Winnie obviously found Huazhang abrasive and selfish and had nothing to do with her Brothers. On the readers' pages anyway, we didn't get into extras like playing and taking care of them and what they did at home.

Oh my, their place was not home because her Dad's was "unfamiliar", which is a fact rather than an emotional compliment. Winnie said in heart if not in words, that it is home because she grew up there in every way that includes: memory, growing, learning, fun, challenges, family, the million ways people make a family and what they share; small, medium, and big. Her heart just went there when she thought of home and couldn't wait; including to see her true Parent figures.

About the general family subject, neither Helen's kids to Pearl or Samuel (?) and Huazhang and her Brothers to Winnie were close. However, her adopted three Parent figures (with one or two actual Aunts) and Helen's Aunt, becoming more like family than the actual Parents or Cousins. You wrote already "bonds Winnie formed throughout life" and I feel the same way. There had been no way to know where you would flee, to facilitate exchanging addresses in war but that postmistress became an important friend. Winnie & Pearl became closer to the 90+ year-old Aunt than Helen was.

I made close friends like family, where we know each others' close and long-distance relatives and shared joyous and harrowing things. Mom & Dad had such people in their lives as well from their childhoods and later, who became "Aunt & Uncle", if we met them when we were children. My tribute honours them too in our family reel. I will give it to you on DVD or video file, as you prefer.

After dragging through diluted stories, it is nice that Amy kept her story parameters tight, meaning "neat and functional", "need to know". It might have been fun to know how many wives and Brothers & Sisters were in Winnie's Dad's house but I am glad we sped by excess information.

I wonder about her Grandparents on her Mom's side, as well as her Dad's. Her Mom's Parents would have sought the child out, unless they knew where their Daughter was. Or Amy wanted a mystery, or did provide good solid material for a sequel. Whether or not that lady lives, there are Brothers & Sisters and Cousins to embrace them in China. I think universally, people understand they could not have kept in touch with people they would branch out to in normal environments.

Thankfully we had no wars but divorce kept me from knowing my maternal Grandma's Siblings. I would like to find their offspring. There is a good chance their Grandchildren are older than me but they and their children would do very nicely.

You don't think I need a reminder that her Aunts had Huazhang's address. It was the point of Winnie going to the island, which I cited as my favourite part of the whole novel. I had not recalled the side detail of if they had visited the address. I could not discuss it until about two months after I finished this novel. I am glad they visited her and probably Huazhang's Dad too.

Of course, obtaining the address urging Winnie to go was made beautiful by the joy of being home again, her true home and seeing the people she loves, who raised her. I like your imagination too of how the three of them loved receiving her letter, saying she would come home to see them. She spent a night there, didn't she?

I did not recalled them sharing a husband. I don't think in those terms and no such idea came to mind. I guess it is plausible, although I don't know if Sisters would want to share husbands.

We knew which woman was Huazhang's Mom but not jumping into a conversation as soon as I finished reading it, I do not know their names.

I hope you confirm how long Winnie was at her Dad's house, in jail, and living with her Son & Jimmy in an apartment. You concur she married at about 18, the year of the war. I hope she wasn't at her Dad's long in bad circumstances. I hope Jimmy wasn't harrassing them much thereafter! Was there a word about that?

When I used math (and really hoped you would laugh outward at my joke about putting it to use - come on!), we did not need to rely on that information. Calculating an 18 year-old in 1939 made it easy. I am amazed it worked out to the exact year I estimated prior to calculating it all.

Thank you again for talking about my Parents and cats with me. I am glad the way I express my love for them and received by them, resonates with you, Kerri, with inspiration. Love, Carolyn.

Marigold, her children, and McCartney, Spirit mean the world to me. They are the lights of my life and I am a brigher soul from their equal love shared with me. Thank you for saying their names and keeping up memories of my Parents too: all of my closest, dearest, brightest, most vital loved ones. I can't believe dearest Dad is already in Heaven a year but I will survive. They left enough love blanketed upon me to keep me going always. I feel it and I know it, with gratitude and relief.

I don't recall the Aunts having a husband who wanted his Daughter shunned. Exactly like them, he must have thought of his grown-up child and wished her goodness, safety, light, and health. In either case, they put up a front but were eager to know how she was when Winnie was heading for a visit to Huazhang. Did the book say they her Dad, Mom, and Aunt visited her from time to time? If not, this must have meant a lot to send positive messages and treats through Winnie, on their behalves.

Yes, I say again, place stories in the year they are published, unless we are told they are historic or future fiction. I would correct if you can help me with input, Kerri, that I might have added more years than there were.

Was Winnipeg 20, 18, or younger when she married? They went to her Dad's home when the war ended. How long were they there? How long were she, Danru, and Jimm at their apartment? Jail was a few months, correct? I will guess two years since leaving her Dad's place and six months while she was with him. Let's see how that pans out another way.

The easiest way to calculate the whole shebang presents itself if we say Winnie was 18 at marriage, the year they entered the war. I know math teacher and French Tante tutors who would applaud over me saying this and I will say it: "Let's do the math to figure this out"! Yes, it seems to work out the same, without over estimates I considered possibly making.

Winnie at 18 in 1939, when WWII opened, has her born in 1921. Our modern year 1991 - 1921 = 70 years-old. Estimating her dear Mom 20 years older than her, makes her 90 years-old after all. I wish the years were earlier but she could be alive and also well.

This comprises all I have to talk about, following your observations, Kerri. If you have anything to propose or ask, I am all ears. If I missed anything, please point the way to it.

Would barriers last long on you, if you fostered an animal or a child? I am certain that whatever instructions or expectations Winnie's Aunts had, they loved that little girl. She was loving, polite, respectful, and obviously needed love. I think they always gave it. For a variety of reasons we discussed, included what you added, I think their outward affection was clear to everyone. Except a toddler in a new place, who was revered to the point of being carried.

Marigold is exceptionally special and is meant for me. However, knowing myself, I have not fostered again. In Conan's lifetime whose return we intend to enjoy, I won't consider anyone new in our family. Angel & Petal too are strong, well, and happy.

You are right that it must have been hard to say good-bye to their Niece and for their Brother to suddenly be in charge of her big plans. It must have been worse for war to stop news of how she was doing. I wonder what they would have said if they knew he had been violent. They felt like they were expected to shun Huazhang, not for leaving a terrible person but for a rogue lifestyle. However, they each gave her care packages when Winnie said she would see her.

Post war changed people and so does age. Your Mom, Grandma, and Lisa could tell you about menopause too. I don't know if they read Donna Eden or Christiane Northrup but they must have noticed without being told, an "I don't care what people think. I am speaking up for myself" power that comes over them. The nesting phase ended, prioritizing a daily joyous life for yourself begins.

Modernizing times must help elders like Winnie's Aunts, stop caring what neighbours thought of their rogue Daughter and divorced Niece, who is another Daughter to them. I like that. I don't know if Amy wrote them expressing this plainly but I sensed that they felt Winnie had become more of a Daughter than Huazhang behaved.

I did not recall a death rumour. I hope it wasn't so. I think Winnie's Mom was the last wife and young, perhaps only age 20. I don't know if she planned to take Winnie the next day when she left but at the least prepared her for it later. The toddler did not recall all the details of that day trip.

I don't remember Pearl's age but publishing year 1991 is the current era, unless books say otherwise. If she was born in 1946 or so, a few years after the war stopped, Winnie must have been only about 30 years older than her. I guess that makes her young Mom about 90. Meeting her would be a miraculous gift.

We have heard uplifting stories of people turning the terrible emotions of sorrow or loss, into a life shift that is positive. We hope we could do that with separation or pain. We wish the illness and loss had not occurred but since it did, could powerful new directions arise from it, like the decay of old plant bodies nourishing vibrant new seeds. I achieved a huge number of life shifts since our childhood cat went to the Second Chapter in 2003.

McCartney came to live with us a few months afterwards, a loan to comfort us, some babysitting, then Timmy decided he wanted his boy in our spacious apartment where we were always home. He moved across three provinces after that and liked knowing his boy was loved and had freedom to grow. They used to share a tiny, dark basement apartment, close to traffic unsuitable for animal outings.

Spirit was born a year afterwards and given to us by Mom's friend's cat. He was the first kitten I had had in Thumbelina's lifetime. I was given a lot of help grieving her and grew much happier quickly, with Sons to love. However, I researched animals in the afterlife and alternative healing for the first time. I should have opened and read "Energy Medicine Kit" while Spirit was a baby, not elderly and sick! That is what I mean by wishing I had acted sooner; I had early tools. I knew about Donna Eden's full book then but kept thinking I would wait for an ideal prices, which did not improve from 2004 to 2021.

I began to build the healing and non-religious faith library that is strong and varied today. I learned about animal rights: not buying animal tested products, declining all fur, leather, suade. I became vegetarian and Ron volunteered to try new food with me. We didn't know there were veggie alternatives, we were entirely willing to stop eating animals. It was easy because I simply stopped thinking it was okay. Once we heard about alternatives, it was even easier, a given! If you can eat alternatives that contributions to fewer animals killed or kept at farms at all, most people would make the switch!

We tried different churches, including a spiritualist one, that taught us the perception of God towering above us and no one else having value, was wrong. In fact, we learned we needed no church at all and our faith and freedom of spirituality soared.

I wish Thumbelina did not have kidney disease or had healed and we were together much more in my life. However, she would be pleased with the steps I took to a very different path that I am on today. In 2006, I brought McCartney to an animal & tree communication retreat. Right after, I started a greeting card company featuring my writing, animal and tree photographs, and more.

I could spread the word about how to save animals and speak up to gain their rights as equal living beings but could not host a place to stay or doctor wildlife. I helped one injured nestling as best I could. I promised that when I had a house, I would help animals more. So one month after moving to our land here, I fostered Marigold and her children were born: next month, fifteen years ago.

McCartney & Spirit went from an apartment to walking in fields, forest, garden soil, flowerbeds, and wildflowers. They and Marigold's entire family have seen black bears, turtles, amphibians, snakes, birds, and walked up to whitetailed deer like it was no big deal.

Marigold had never been to a shelter which you know but the rescue that got her off a ranch, met me halfway to pick her up. I volunteered to foster her & any kittens she delivered. I quickly knew they all belonged with us, fought for them, won, and have been overjoyed ever since then.

For a few days, we had called Marigold "Guest Cat" and tried to have distance. We fell in love with her and didn't want her alone in a separate room. After her infants were born, we helped her and marvelled at what a beautiful, powerful Mom she is.

Good-night!

Besides children, Winnie's visit to her Aunts (and Uncle, I think) was my favourite part. I am glad you love this subject. I waited at least two months to relish this. I don't want to examine both sides like a calculator with a neutral response in both columns. What do you think!

There are numerous ways to identify women who loved Winnie as a little girl. They might love her like a Daughter but even with a special bond with their own little girl, I think she was loved equally as family. They seemed like they had expectations and customs Huazhang and if she was eldest (was she?), there are some that needed no explanation. Remember that they weren't raising her for themselves. They knew they had to return her to their Brother, for inheritance and some responsabilities. They might have been able to keep some distance but I didn't see it.

Consider: Winnie was an inexperienced child when she left, who had nothing but impressions. They weren't informed; she did not ask "Why do you seem to give Huazhang nicer things and let her carry money". I doubt they knew their Daughter didn't share treats evenly with her Cousin. They gave her plenty of shit. I think Winnie was generally wary. She had not left her Mom's bedroom, was at a new house and island, new people were in charge of her.

I don't think you answered what bond you perceived with the Cousins. I said I saw none. The girls shared a room (and perhaps a bed) but that was all. Huazhang thought and acted for herself. I applauded her acting on behalf of other people later but she was still unpleasant and not warm in how she conducted herself. A girl about Winnie's age was all she had to acquaint and there was no warmth.

A stew of impressions Winnie didn't seek wisdom about, built a unfounded ideas an uneducated, mourning girl. The women probably thought the Cousins would work and play together and that Huazhang would teach her anything she needed to know about tasks or behaviours. Even though they likely knew she was selfish and lied. The women were busy, housework being consuming until we had gadgets and self expression.

Maybe they were affectionate but it seemed brief compared to what she needed, or days of strangeness or uncertainty. However, I don't think they made Winnie feel like a guest. I think she gave herself that sort of impression. It is hard to tell when some people are serious or humorous.

When Winnie wrote a letter that she was going home, that island was truly her home, to visit; I know they went berserk. I do not think it was because they missed her afterwards. I think they fit their Niece beautifully into their fold, had to give her up for marriage, then war struck. Winnie sensed she was loved and appreciated always. She had tears in her eyes and an excited lift in her heart as she sailed home; which could only have come from knowing the truth. She felt the love between them before she saw their eager waves and reception.

I think I told you the funny story Dad loved to repeat, about the difference between Mom's maternal background and his parents. His parents waved into a frenzy as soon as we appeared in the driveway and we could feel their love still waving at us, well after we were no longer visible. My parents did likewise. They'd go with me to the door and wave and watch as far as they could see me, a joyous presence that I have taken with me always. At the apartment in these last years (unfortunately as of tomorrow's date), my parents stepped onto the balcony to keep waving at Ron & I. We also give each other a honk in parting. My folks did it for us too on their way from our apartment or house.

Mom's Mother was raised with very formal manners in a high society home. After a few years in Dad's energetic family, she msut have asked her Mom why she didn't wave us in or out. Grandma explained that it was impolite to stand at a window peering at people. Mom described the joy it was to show enthusiasm for arrivals and warmth to take with us when we parted. Grandma started waving at us, a change Dad loved describing again and again, which he attributes to his demonstrative parents! :)

I had never thought of undemonstrative people being more profound and huggers being superficial but don't think I agree. It is definitely true that undemonstrative people can have a lot of love and care for us. People who know them well have clues that keeps it clear. They show it in other ways, like McCartney who disliked being picked up. Less obvious loved-ones have to ensure everyone knows they are loved by them. On the side of superficiality, I don't hug or compliment anyone I dislike. I am courteous but you know where you stand with me.

I have a different example along the lines of your suggestion. I don't believe one way is automatically true care and the other is not. People think dogs are outgoing but I need them to be a WHOLE lot more quiet and not to jump up too much. My friend had a dog like that to avoid, in the early 1990s, when we were often wearing pantyhose and dresses to go out on the town, or some festivity.

I prefer the personal love and genuine respect of cats, obvious to me, if not for some people. Our cats do stroll across us in bed and on the couch. However, they shower us with the most POWERFUL LOVE I have ever known in countless ways. They are mainly quiet, focused ways and I thank God for the blessing of feeling their love's beautiful, protective depth.

We have all drifted from friends and acquaintances. Twice I was the one cut from people I valued. It was disappointing that it was over perceived akwardness in both cases, easy to resolve if there were one conversation. It lead to the discovery that they were willing to lose my friendship easily. The rest of the time, I cleared out from people where there were deal breakers.

One sweet woman did not try to ask her husband to let her Son's cat move in with him, when he needed a place to stay. I was astonished that she tolerated a husband dictating "no" over a given: you HELP them keep beloved pets during a temporary stay. I was too uncomfortable wondering if he gave the cat a new home which would be horrible and bowed out, after a short and polite observation. I noted that her husband had brought his Sister and Granddaughter to live with them permanently. They had a massive house and sweet cat who would love a companion, or have ample room to avoid him.

I stayed clear of a pal I had for a few years, mainly because she ended her loyal cat's life over behaviour problems! I don't believe in euthanasia in sickness; definitely no other reason. That cat lived with her in an apartment and she was his world. She married and they bought a house. Because he hissed at all the strangeness and her husband hated that, he was kept in the basement. The cat felt worse and expressed his desperate needs. She got a new cat and a new husband.

I am sure I was well regarded generally but did not befriend every coworker or school pupil. One was so snotty to me, I was sure he disliked me more than anyone. He either was hotheaded or outgrew it. When I worked at the same place he did a little over a decade ago, he saw my name and left me a note inviting me to say hi. I was astounded.

Winnie introduced us to a world that did not go past her beloved Mom's arms and bedroom and her Mom knew that. Other people were only faces that popped in to pose questions or serve meals, some unwanted, others neutral. She did not have anything to do with her Dad or the other wives and children, which has to be how he was capable of sending her away.

His insistence on keeping a toddler he did not know and live with, is the maddening part. I hope his youngest, newest wife (I think) was not killed. They seemed like moral people, even though no one offered information when Winnie grew up. However, it is clear that she planned to leave this husband and would not have left any child of hers, for whom she was daily happiness and survival. In the day trip scene, arrangements were made and she had prepared her Daughter to ensure a calm exit.

Whether the man would have been touchy about divorcing even a fourth or so wife, or if he was selfish about relinquishing a tenth or so child, I think someone noticed her plan. I hope she was merely made to leave with a divorce, claiming he would not make legal problems if she left the child. Hiding her might be why the girl was raised elsewhere. I remember ferry rides: wasn't it an island? I think the woman & child knew there were islands in themselves there and would be happy and free on their own, or eventually with a new marriage partner. I will get my day going and add more later on.

We will probably have personal aspects of most conversations in e-mail. The pair you referenced do not apply. There was a lot of helpfulness and loyalty but a breakdown of trust or consideration. When the most serious stress occurred, it was revealed that they hardly knew us. Moreover, they perceived essentials so incorrectly, giving them any more time would be a waste. That is, if they had not also committed multiple betrayals. Just to clarify that they don't count. I don't want to think of or leave a record of them, so once you have seen this, I will delete it from here. It will be its own paragraph so it can be wiped clean afterwards.

I did not read last night because I bathed and retired late. Ron needed a good rest after a restless first night before returning to work. He should be great and after another rest, he will feel solidly healthy and good. We loved "Minecraft", even though it was strange. I love creativity that is bonkers and almost entirely positive.

I picked fresh lettuce and beans an hour or so ago. The lettuce is washed and on the table, with the other half in the crisper. I am taking the green and yellow beans off from cooking. I cleaned and replenished two water dishes for birds and others shared by cats, amphibians, and anyone else who needs a drink.

We are safe and fires are dying out. However, much of our country including Nova Scotia to my surprise, have threats. Please continue to pray for all of us everywhere, my dear friend, Kerri. We had a few short rains and are grateful each and every time it does.

Winnie and Wen Creep did not need refuge at her Dad's home. They had returned from the war and were going to his Parents' place. Winnie asked to visit her Dad on the way. The creep kidnapped the poor man. While his able bodied, clear minded household permitted it is disappointing. I guess this author wanted stories of hardship.

A moving question occurred to me today: What do you feel happened to Winnie's dear Mom from the clues about their time together? Do you have questions for us to ponder?

And now, let's discuss the subject I have been eager to open with you since I read it in this novel a few months ago! Besides being with all of her children, her Mom, Jimmy, and good moments with her Dad.... my favourite part was Winnie's emotional, happy return to visit the Aunts who raised her. It was beautiful and uplifting.

A question that I am asking sincerely for help figuring out, not only a rich dynamic to contemplate together is this: Do you think people misunderstand busyness or gruffness or non hugging personalities? Do you think many people love us more than we thought? Or did the Aunts miss Winnie later and start caring about her later? Have you experienced someone caring about you better than you interpreted, or anyone not disliking you as you thought?

I believe you know the story of my card giving. Mom for some reason taught me to write, address, and stamp my own Christmas cards when I was eight and I have continued my dear Mom's and my dear Grandma's traditions all this time. I became a letter writer too and wondered why relatives in particular did not leap to write back to their dear Niece or Cousin. Mom taught me that people love receiving letters more than we know and just might not be letter writers, or might need to make the time to do it once in awhile; not prompt or as easily as I do. She said to always imagine people enjoy hearing from me more than it looks. That has cheered me up continuously over the years. Thank you, my beloved, dearest Mom!

I hope to retire by about 8:30 PM to get back a solid reading groove. However, after a bath shortly, I am going to review a few more books. I am happy about this groove I have going too. Reviews you might like seeing are "Mystery On October Road", "The Bassumtyte Treasure", and "How To Live With A Neurological Cat". I replied to most of the ones who visited, with gladness and gratitude. Some of these have been published for years, with you supplying the first remarks and even sometimes the first like button.

I do not care about clicks. However, people receive "best review" titles and it isn't for samples of their actual work. It is maddening to go by clicks when most people review poorly or briefly. If they sampled the perfect review content and format, I am just saying, yours truly would be up there!

It could not have been an introductory trailer for "Bob Hearts Abishola" because Billy was huge until later seasons. His size hinges on establishing the series. The character had a heart attack and Abishola was his nurse. Even if I had seen the 1990s sitcom, this was new, edgy, and he wasn't such a sweetie as the old character seemed, at least from clips. Bob's boldness with his likeability was refreshing: not a pushover, someone who could debate right back with a Nigerian wife or a loud Mom.

You often say a lot of series are on your list, fortunately because of high-speed internet. I watch little television and look for positive things that get me inspired or laughing, so a recommendation from me, I think, means something. :)

Either our reptile friend chose somewhere private to suntan, or the green mat worked to stop drawing attention to a metal doorsill. I love that dear little guy and respect his larger relatives. However, it was nice to open my back door and not see a snake, almost tumbling in. I let the girls out the front door, with the caution that I was accompanying them to set out the birdfeeders for the day. I see several goldfinches seeking seeds in our flowerbeds until I did and I won't have the cats around birds.

I did not know Viggo had a predecessor. He is memorable as a nice guy. I could do without him as a sadist in "G.I. Jane". It is a compliment to provide "Lord Of The Rings" details because I have the extended boxsets and have enjoyed interviews out the wazoo.

Oh my gosh, what astonished me about Courtney Cox not name dropping her participation in "Family Ties" that I could see, nor anyone who highlighted her major acting credits, is that hers was not a drop in. She was a major character for the last few seasons! My earliest introduction to Courtney was "Ace Ventura Pet Detective", then I saw her in "Coccoon" II or III.

I was tired of hearing about "Friends" but after seeing a good Oprah interview, tuned in the day everyone figured out who Fathered Rachel's baby, because Ross' sweatshirt was dropped off. Who they were, their history, dynamics, humour, personalities, Monica & Chandler's wedding, Phoebe providing babies for a Brother (a story made for Lisa's true pregnancy).... I saw those later. I disliked the first few seasons, until Lisa dropped throat-clearing for her character. I am actually uninterested in watching any of it again, except when Monica & Chandler fall in love. I skip the early seasons of "The Big Bang Theory" too, until Sheldon proposes to Amy.

Yes, snakes are afraid of us and only want to get away quickly and discreetly. Our little back door guest only moved along the inside doorframe. I put a box at the corner to ensure he did not go farther into the kitchen but he did not want to. I rolled the cookbook cart shelf and he was coiled in the corner behind it, at the end of the door frame, against the end of the cupboards. When I saw how small he was, my heart went out to him and I could have picked him up. I guided him out along the doorframe with a pitcher and book to keep him calm.

They are fast and strong but being afraid of us makes them only care about hiding or the exit. They don't fly and they are larger than insects and definitely easier to guide than insects. They are not a large animal besides compared to insects, so naturally you don't want them hiding anywhere you can't see or retrieve them easily. It was fine. Okay, time for book talk in another paragraph.

If the postmistress went to the United States, it would be lovely for Winnie to regain a good friend. She helped her at the most essential times. She was wise to escape with money Winnie couldn't claim.

I always thought Winnie chose to put her money in impactful places and wisely evaluated it each time. Housework was much harder prior to conveniences, without war. If a Mom wanted a maid, she needed it. She likely felt safe with someone around. If she didn't spend it in good causes and for some pleasure for herself, a violent and alcoholic male might do it on something useless.

I wondered why Winnie did not report theft to her Dad before she married, or after if that was the case. You have a good idea, that she might write to him anytime afterwards. They had not written or had a conversation before, or a relationship. Nonetheless, a report was due to see what he made of it.

I love your thoughts on what we might enjoy in a sequel, Kerri. I share them. Why not propose it to Amy? I praised Simone St. James before her popularity flourished, for writing paranormal, non-crime mysteries that were neither "cozy" nor "horror". I told her that the "standard mystery" middle tone was rare and how much I valued her stories for supplying it. She replied with great appreciation. She confirmed that she wrote what she needed to see as a reader! Too bad that after free previews became passed around in huge numbers, she interpreted her popularity to mean that literature needed "thrillers". She abandoned what made her original and a better writer.

I have written a lot and will close here. I am late for a bath and need to bring the girls back where they are relaxing in the library. Ron is asleep - first days back at work tired everybody. I said I have a theme I am most looking forward to discussing and will present that conversation next.

I open the back door warily nowadays and it was wise. The little garter snake was not scared away from the warm metal doorsill. He was right there again. I saw him in time to tap him with a Kleenex to move away and he did. We have a little mat there that I pulled up on the doorsill, to discourage lounging. It is also an easy mode of rolling animals off of it we need to.

Snakes are easier to catch and help outside than insects. They aren't as small and don't fly! My technique for insects is to wait until daylight attracts them to windows, then to open that screen for them. One month until we have windows that are easier to use.

Since there isn't time to write here, review books, and e-mail: you skipped a bunch in my recent e-mail you could make do with. You probably know that, entitling yours "a few replies". Also, you missed my review of "Chamber Of Secrets", which I look forward to having your reaction on. Finally, I reply to you everywhere. I don't go by notifications; I recheck everywhere I commented.

I enjoyed "The Amazing Race Canada", before writing this and finishing another book review. Manitoba hasn't appeared yet but as the host's home province, his town was featured last year and I loved it!

I hope you had a fun supper and tell me whose occasion it was, since you wrote a card. I hope videos of you & Izzy appear in my text-messages. No more excuses about having colds! I am glad you are laying off books to socialize.

You ramped up your speed while I was reading "The Stand" for Pete's sake. Then I paged through Manitoba history slowly. I am going to make my way better with an Aboriginal story. I also have a beautiful book of photography, of a loyal Mom polar bear and her cubs. Good night! Love, Carolyn.

Explanations succeeded, if you got that Emily was in charge of her outcome and aftermath. No one forced her to marry, nor run after him shaking fists. She told him to buzz off. He did.

You are through with me? I'll use my vacation ticket. Not okay to invite a friend? Make up your mind, bitch. Rachel went alone. Ross stayed to appease Emily again and again. Said the wrong name? Stop the ceremony; don't continue then run away.

I'd appreciate follow-up on the effort to convey articles explaining the actress was unfunny. She barely cracked a smile or made a wry face. Anything to get with the program she was invited to. Comedy made unpleasant situations work on that show, among actors who could do it well.

I can't imagine anyone believing it was her choice to continue a plot that went nowhere. If an article cited a pregnancy, the producers let it slide to be polite. "Friends" was a premium show that people begged for a ten second appearance on. Matty was fortunate to continue because he left his addiction outside work hours and was one of the top four stars by the time he took some recovery absences. His Dad, who guest starred, threatened that if they didn't support Matty, he would pull out. They stopped pressure him to hurry anything he needed to restore his health.

The stories of Ross & Rachel returning to each other worked. However, I liked him with Charlie, another paeleontologist. In the writers' frequent stupid move, she was with very unsuitable Joey before Ross asked her out. They belonged together. I thought it might be a rare case where it is she who left the famous show, to be a lead in "Ghost Whisperer". That was one of my favourites. I only caught "Friends" a bit before it ended. I can only see articles about filming 9 shows instead of 4, double what she was invited to act in. Fans wanted more of her.

I enjoyed watching "Bob Hearts Abishola". It was current, musical, edgy comedy from an unfamiliar talent to me. I did not watch "Mike & Molly", so Billy's style always got me laughing. I recognized the younger Brother, from "Mom" starring Allison Janney. I only tired of the "bossy Nigerian Mom" theme. Bob's ex-wife reappeared and tried renewing friendship with his Mom. This is a character that could have clung but my favourite moment got rid of her. She brought cookies, said she would return later for the pan, and Bob smacked it upside down. Having emptied it, he said "There you go"!

"Mom" about alcohol recovery was also through the roof with fresh, current comedy. Anna Ferris was good in her role (Daughter of the titular Mom, Allison Janney) but I liked it better after she retired. The role of Anna's Daughter was bitchy and her Son had no use after she was gone either. Nor her ex-husband, who went onto "Bob Hearts Abishola". Chuck Lorre recycled actors. The black nurse who was often on "The Big Bang Theory", became nurse Abishola's boss. Old shows are fun but I love the surprise burst of laughter from unexpected, new humour.

You don't stay if you don't jive. I think it is commonly known that Mike Fox replaced an actor named Eric, who had filmed part of "Back To The Future".

Speaking of recycling actors, last year I saw most of "Family Ties" and Crispin Glover appeared once! So did Geena Davis. Courtney Cox had an important part that I did not know about because I did not seen the last few seasons while I was busy in highschool! Why she doesn't rave about it is beyond me! That is another accolade to list in her accomplishments! I will change comment boxes, to discuss Amy Tan directly.

I am catching my breath about a dear little garter snake who was misdirected inside for a few minutes. I am unafraid to pick them up, especially this sweet little one but preferred to use a pitcher. I should have picked him up and my hesitation precipitated a place I do not want a snake. I went out to check for Petal because Ron took the truck to bikeride on trails. I pray cats aren't under vehicles when they are used. A snake was on the doorsill and left inwards instead of outwards.

I shook off the mat but could not confirm he had gone. I was glad to visually confirm where he was! Curled up near the back door under our cookbook shelf. Being unsure was unacceptable. He moved towards the kitchen slowly but I had it blocked with a box. He went back to the corner to curl up and I led him to the open door with the pitcher. He would not go into it. When he was at the door, I got him to rise back onto the ledge with a book and he gratefully exited.

He seemed smaller up close but this might be the young garter from our south flowerbed. I haven't seen him in awhile and hope he is well. If they are different, I hope this younger one gets over his scare but stays clear of doors. A doorsill is hard to see. It happened years ago but that garter ran away from the door.

You might not know Manitoba has many Hutterite and Mennonite communities. They patronize stores and attractions in groups, wearing traditional clothes and hats. However, there is independence in their hearts. I met the most extraordinary young woman, about eighteen year-old and we hit it off well. She told me the name of her village if I wished to visit. She values her religious faith and her heritage customs and is true to them. At the same time, she has a balance with modern thought and freedom that I have never seen like that.

I know from experience among religious friends and neighbours that many people marry hastily even now, a step removed from a chosen betrothal. They don't feel right doing more than hold hands, so there is little they can do to keep up dating. Mom bluntly said "They get married so they can have sex" and she is right. I know and respect those values but also understanding living with someone for a little while, is how to root out anyone incompatible or unkind.

People can change but a trial run lets us know someone prior to matrimony. It is good that divorce is possible, even though folks hope discord that size doesn't occur. This wonderful girl said divorce is against her beliefs so she tries to choose cautiously. I said I did too but you can't predict changes in disposition, etc. God does not want us living in misery and one can get out. She agreed and told me emotional support has been brought to their communities, like councillors.

She admitted her Dad was getting a handle on alcoholism and was proud of him. She said there were meetings with women that challenged gospel instructions. She said it was eyeopening that a discussion leader asked "How many of you would stay with your marriages if it was acceptable to leave them". She said no one raised their hand.

Winnie would not have been encouraged to date long but had the opportunity to sift out selfishness. A cruel person could only appear courteous for a little while. Winnie should have told her Dad that the new family swept up his dowry. I don't think they were married but it was worth warning her Dad if there had been a ceremony. Although uncomfortable to raise in her Dad's office or after the thefts, Winnie speaking up was her shot at getting help with a situation she did not know how to handle. She was a girl needing to know when she had permisison to act and what she ought to tolerate.

Any spirituality worth its salt know God does not want us unhappy, stressed, or trapped, nor does He / She want us judged. If a person wants to get well acquainted before considering an engagement, do it. If a person feels that divorce is necessary, trust that they took awhile to come to that conclusion. Stop judging anyone for having children or not, working an outside career or not, partnering with a marriage ceremony or not.

I don't recall the postmistress being in the United States. Winnie saw her before she left China, leading the ruse to get Wen Fuckoff's divorce settled. I don't know if divorce is harder today, only that there is a backlog to put it through and assets to settle.

Women had assets is the China of Amy's novel. Wives are supposed to speak-up for husbands who had strokes or injuries. I don't know why one of the many senior wives did not get the police to arrest Wen Fuckoff. His political scare approach was a bluff. Nonetheless, one of those wives or all of them together, could have used a crafty approach to dispense of him. There were many against one and they were not trapped like the stroke victim.

It had not occurred to me that Winnie's young Mom might be alive. That would certainly be another wonderful reason for Amy to write a sequel.

Danru was little but take it from a country of immigrants: age has nothing to do with how well anyone adapts. My relatives and Ron's made a wonderful legacy here, even though some of them had strong accents and others had little skill with English. Most people learn English well and some relinquish accents, although keeping traits of their homeland is encouraged.

I thought refugees were here until their countries were safe but they are satisfied here. They got jobs quickly and places to live that I guess are good. They can upgrade when they have a mind to. Housing and apartments are at a premium but I hope old buildings are renovated instead of any encroachment on natural spaces.

Ross rushed a relationship, which was accepted. He was solely stupid not to ask Rachel if there was a chance. He thought he had to move on and was doing it. The word you're going with is "unpopular"? I said before that Emily was hated universally at a landslide majority (which I know you are not among).

People sympathized that anyone would feel upset by an interrupted ceremony. Rachel have to tell Ross she was available. Emily's realization that she had rushed a relationship would have simmered down, past wasting money and embarrassment. There was no time to be in love or to pin your world on someone she had just met.

I know the situation very well and can't believe you think that lukewarm actress left at her choosing due to pregnancy. Her role as she played it wasa not working. Some main "Friends" actors said "Get her the out of here", further to TV viewers. They explained why and I appreciated it because I am the most sympathetic person. She was so bland, I couldn't bear scenes with her and when she whined or ranted long AFTER the day she could justify it; all I felt was "shut up".

The explanation in articles discussing it was that when Rachel's character was upset or fought with Ross' character, at least Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer were funny and sympathetic and warm. That actress was unlikeable from the day we met her; pissed off about arriving late in the rain and a rendezvous with someone being cancelled. Stomping her foot that the church she wanted was decomissioned, as if he couldn't research beforehand. She was a bitch and was fired from a potential extention because she had no comedy in her to compensate for how she conveyed herself. Have you seen it a lot? I have rewatched it countless times and can recite dialogue verbatim.

I sense that the awful country you read about maintained an idea of force. There hasn't been for centuries, except in novels and a few societies. You said Malala's Dad had "decent choice". They asked for their arrangement, like a lot of people! If Parents consider matches, they are options being suggested. Put yourself in the children's shoes: they expect marital suggestions, if they have not met someone by a certain age. It is not different from looking on-line or our Parents suggesting nice young people.

Shake off the old "force" impression from history or fiction. Western societies pressure kids about marriage. I had to shake relatives off after Ron & I were together a few years. When we were engaged, there were questions about plans and kids. For example, we expected guests to partake of vegetarian meals. It is the direction that goes against no beliefs. Soon, Ron & I understood we wanted to savour engagement and its traditions. A few years after, home-buying became our marriage and honeymoon.

Just remember "SUPPER" when you write about your outings. The D word belongs to the United States. I also want to say, I air dry my hair and refuse to let hairdressers dry it either. I am surprised anyone uses a hairdryer because nature only takes a few minutes, whatever the humidity. It doesn't matter how many minutes hair is wet when we are home. And by the time we arrive at an outing, it is dry. I don't think blowdrying is good, nor dyeing (unless we were white or grey). Highlighting is a waste that I hope is out of vogue. We have natural highlights that are beautiful!

I think doing nothing but trim and daily shampoo & conditioner, is why my hair is healthy. When stylists touch it, they seem surprised. I am 99% brown at over fifty years-old. People should avoid leaping to assumptions like "genetics", so commonly believed that sources on-line would repeat it. I think what we eat and how we live has a say that needs to be studied. I have heard of ingredients that can reverse vision to ideal function and hair colour to its natural hue (black sesame seeds).

Looking at my clear, unwrinkled skin, no one would argue that Mom & I are onto something with washing. Just scrub with water and a facecloth. I put no soap on face or neck. Cleansing and exfoliating are natural too. The active ingredient is usually fruit, right? So I wipe my hands on my face, neck, hands whenever I have eaten fruit or cucumber. I relax with cumber peels on my eyes, nose, mouth for fifteen minutes. I wash it after awhile, only with water. The occasional time I change coffee grounds (Ron gets up earlier), I rub them on my face, hands, feet. I scrub them off with water, when I go into the bath. I glow like a beacon.

Interesting that divorce was easy. The challenge was requiring the other person's signature. If you got that, it was accepted and recorded officially. Without computer databases, you carried your copy to reiterate you were free, if asked.

Maybe Chinese did not frown upon it. Most of our impressions are from English or North American stories. "Crazy Rich Asians" portrays China with a gigantic class difference but perhaps family or spiritual matters were outside it, left to each person's needs.

I think you are getting your perception of forced marriage from ancient history and fiction, as I warned. Don't mistake fiction or bygone terms. Perhaps an unknown culture or fearful person might be an exception. Arranged marriage consults the suggested couple. It feels odd to us, unless we think of close family introducing us to someone they know to be good people.

It sounds like you are faulting Ross for a marriage Emily agreed to and spent weeks planning. He should hardly have dated anyone let alone proposed if he still yearned for Rachel. It was especially clueless when they were both unattached and interested in one another. However, even if he they stupidly kept quiet, Ross thought his preference was inattainable. His only fault was proposing marriage quickly and not speaking with Rachel about their opportunities. Emily accepted.

The show is to blame for how cringingly they wrote the story. Emily urged Ross to continue a ceremony, then refused to talk to him. He had a wedding night alone, thought he must be alone for the honeymoon, and asked Rachel to share a ticket with him. What a drag that Emily appeared and was glum to find that Ross had decided to not be depressed or waste the money. I love John Ritter but "Three's Company" was the worst of all for misunderstandings, when someone walked into a room and noticed a kiss or overhead a telephone call.