[stylist] Christmas story assignment try again

Sun Dec 11 21:51:31 UTC 2011

This is a really good social commentary.
Jackie

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Cheryl Orgas & William Meeker
Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2011 1:29 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Christmas story assignment try again

Eve,

Wow!  You've described an issue that transcends the holidays.  It is the
stuff of which a novel could be written.

I can't count how many times I've been told that  I am an inspiration by one
sighted person or another.  I think most people are sincere to one degree or
another, when they say it.  Yet I remain isolated unless I make the effort
and reach out.  That raises the question "What is it that, despite exemplary
behavior, positive social interactions, and general good will, keeps people
from reaching out and connecting with another person?"

There no doubt a variety of reasons, but differences of age, appearance, or
other real or perceived characteristics may be the cause of the hesitation.
These dynamics of isolation could be explored in a novel, or at least a
short story.  And you have written its beginnings.  Keep going.

Bill Meeker

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Eve Sanchez
Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2011 10:45 AM
To: newmanrl at cox.net; Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] Christmas story assignment try again

Robert, yes it was on purpose for affect. I probably shouldnt say anything
as I hate when one has to explain their work, but Mrs Haderly is not really
who the story is about. Does no one see the 'Christmas spirit' of the
neighbors who watch this little old lady doing everything, but never make
contact with her? They are inspired 'by' her, but still she is alone.
People these days never make an effort to get close and often those alone
stay alone. The sad thing is that just like it is not recognized in the
story, it is rarely recognized by the sanctimonious... never mind. It's just
something I see often and can't put into the words I would like as
there are children in this discussion group. hahaha      Eve

On Sat, Dec 10, 2011 at 9:31 AM, Robert Leslie Newman
<newmanrl at cox.net>wrote:

> Eve 2 things:
>
> #1 I'm wondering this --- Using the main character's name as many 
> times as you did, almost at the beginning of each sentence, was that on
purpose?
> Mrs.
> Haderly, Mrs. Haderly, Mrs. Haderly!!! For a story, that was super 
> annoying!
> I'm thinking you use it at the beginning of a new paragraph, a new 
> thought and from there, within that same paragraph, you then would 
> refer to her doing something with "her," "she" and like that. If the 
> repeating of her name was a purposeful ---- mmm, gimmick  to create 
> something --- mmm, an accepted writing/reading style --- what was it? 
> (I'm not trying to be mean spirited in saying and/or asking all this. 
> We on this list truly need to be straight, yet respectful  in our 
> questioning of one another.)
>
> #2 I did like the sentiment of the story. Much of what we show on the 
> outside is not what we show behind closed doors. (Holidays sure can be 
> a time for mixed emotions.)
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
> On Behalf Of Eve Sanchez
> Sent: Friday, December 09, 2011 8:31 PM
> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
> Subject: [stylist] Christmas story assignment try again
>
> Here it is I attached and pasted. Curious of what your guys' readers 
> read 'Mrs'. Mine says letter by letter rather than the word that 
> sounds like Missus. Drives me nuts. Is it just my crappy stuff or do they
all do this?
> Eve
>
>
>
>
> Christmas Spirit
>
> by Eve Sanchez
>
>
> The neighbors all agreed that Mrs Haderly had the most Christmas 
> spirit of all of them. They often said she was an inspiration during the
holidays.
> Mrs Haderly had to be in her eighties and she lived alone. Every year 
> Mrs Haderly opened up her garage and took out her rickety wooden 
> ladder. With many impressed on lookers Mrs Haderly would climb up and 
> down that ladder hanging lights and moving the ladder along as she went.
>
> The neighbors were impressed when they saw Mrs Haderly pull into her 
> drive-way every year with a fresh cut tree that was purchased at the 
> local charity tree lot strapped to the roof of her car. Many neighbors 
> watched with wonder as Mrs Haderly cut the twine holding the tree in 
> place so that it fell to the ground. Mrs Haderly would then drag that 
> tree into her house and set it up near the front window for all to 
> see. Mrs Haderly used her antique Christmas tree stand that caused the 
> tree to lean to one side, but this did not bother her. Mrs Haderly 
> would be seen stringing lights around the tree before carefully 
> hanging the most beautiful glass ornaments you would ever see.
>
> Mrs Haderly would wrap the posts of her porch with garlands and holly. 
> A wreath of green and gold with silver bells would hang from Mrs 
> Haderly's door to greet visitors. Mrs Haderly would always bake small 
> fruit cakes for the mail man and the paper boy. Mrs Haderly would wrap 
> these loaves with foil and ribbon. The neighbors saw her leaving these 
> in the boxes and smile at Mrs Haderly's generosity.
>
> When walking by Mrs Haderly's house, Christmas classics sung by Bing 
> Crosby, Burl Ives, and Nat King Cole could be heard playing. The 
> neighbors would smile at Mrs Haderly's Christmas spirit. "She's an 
> inspiration to all of us." they would say. In the front yard, to go 
> with the carols being played was a plastic trio of carolers that Mrs 
> Haderly had placed out every year since 1968. It would stay there 
> until the end of the holiday season when Mrs Haderly would take down 
> the Christmas lights.
>
> The neighbors were impressed by Mrs Haderly and her devotion to Christmas.
> Every night Mrs Haderly would turn on the outside lights as well as 
> the twinkling lights of her Christmas tree. Mrs Haderly would then sit 
> down in her recliner admiring the beauty of her tree topped with a 
> porcelain and satin angel with feathery wings. As Christmas approached 
> and the nights got chillier, Mrs Haderly still ventured out to turn on 
> her Christmas lights and inspired the neighbors with her spirit.
>
> On Christmas Eve Mrs Haderly would bake cookies of many types. When 
> evening came she would take the prettiest of these cookies and place 
> them on a plate with a golden ribbon trimming it's scalloped edge. Mrs 
> Haderly would place these cookies on a small table next to her 
> recliner facing the tree.
> Mrs Haderly would sit and look at the tree with the colored lights and 
> the ornaments from years past and fall asleep.
>
> On Christmas morning the tree would be the first thing Mrs Haderly 
> would see when she woke. The neighbors would be coming and going 
> outside and seeing Mrs Haderly's lights still on, they would smile 
> about her Christmas spirit.
> "Mrs Haderly is an inspiration to us all." they would say. Inside, 
> sitting alone in her recliner, looking at her decorated tree, Mrs 
> Haderly would silently cry.
>
>
>
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