THE REVIEW

EIGHT ARE GREAT!


It was wonderful to have eight members at our Meeting on Wednesday. Ellie had arrived a week early, but came back on the 7th as well. She didn’t explain to her husband why he was eating supper alone two weeks in a row. And Margaret Florczak arrived with Gemma, for the first time in a couple of years. She’s graduated from SFU now, and may attend Meetings more regularly. It was so good to see everyone, and many thanks for your generous donations to the Ram’s Head domain name fund. We are good for two years now.

Jim is still waiting for surgery, but attended our meeting and was first to read. In Chapter 6 of the second book in Coventry Ghosts, we see the ghosts Leanne, Robin, Laurie and Sara all haunting the coffee shop, excited to celebrate Olivia’s 13th birthday. Olivia makes a wish when she blows out the candle on her cupcake, and we hear her wish will soon come true.

Ellie read a memoir of hers inspired by finding an old address book from her childhood. She remembers the summer spent with her friends when she was six years old and living in Penticton in 1953. She vividly portrays their antics and the sense of freedom and empowerment they learned from their interactions and adventures.

Jason read the chapter “Connections” from his novel, and we see Gregg meeting up with Jody after his great grandmother’s funeral. She wants him to tutor her in French, but then tells him she’s going out with someone else that night. And we see Gregg and his brother Dave interacting and learn that even though Dave is older, Gregg is the more responsible one. Jason exemplified very well and true to life how the teens interact with each other.

Margaret F. read a journal entry of hers from Nov. 13/04 about her insights on aging. She sees the expansion of her mind, but the loss of her physical attributes. Even so, there is still the overriding joy of life to sustain her every day. This was a very poignant piece that spoke to all of us.

Anne Berrie has started a story based on her own experience with her sister. In it we are shown Ruth going to visit her older sister, whom she hasn’t seen for seven years. Ida battles with mental illness, but still lives on her own in her own apartment. When Ruth arrives, Ida first has to tear off the masking tape around the inside of the door before she can open it, and then greets Ruth with bloodshot eyes, and a gas mask around her neck. She then says that Ruth looks terrible. This was a priceless piece of characterization of both sisters.

I read Margaret Moffatt’s “Baronet Dye Has A Visitor” from “Coffin And Dye” Dye is alone at his office one evening, reading a letter by candlelight because Coffin forgot to pay the electric bill. He sees what looks like a ghostly apparition, but is really the housekeeper from Wagnal Manor whom Coffin had slept with. She thinks Dye is Coffin, now with a beard but still owning the Rolls, and she proceeds to proposition him, wanting to show him a good time if he pays for her room at the hotel. We have yet to learn of his reaction.

Bob told us that his wife Carole includes being a Boston Red Sox fan on her Facebook profile. Bob is a true fan who watches all their games, and was looking at something on the internet regarding the team, and there, out of two million fans, is Carole’s picture. Talk about coincidence.

If you know of other writers you think would like to attend our Meeting, please feel free to invite them. Meeting other writers inspires us all.

Next Meeting will be Wednesday, September 21st at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Look forward to seeing you then.

Lisa