[stylist] Gratitude, a Reflection

[Chris Kuell]

Linda,

This is a powerful piece, and I love the image of the dancing crimson 
butterflies as the holy spirit. I connect with it personally because I had a 
blind friend in WV, and when her son died at 19, she had the image of a 
butterfly in her mind--landing, allowing her to enjoy it for a few seconds, 
and then flying off. Her telling me that will always stick in my mind. The 
best part of all, of course, is the end, meaning Heidi is still alive and 
kicking 5+ years later, which is momentous.

You have a couple of sentence constructions which I found a little clunky, 
and as with Eve's piece, I'm not a fan of the many semi-colons. I find that 
they slow the reading, and I'm not sure that's what you are after. But, it's 
probably just me.

The movement of this dance comes forth in living color;  in Western 
Pennsylvania.- Here, for example, I'd just take the semi-colon out, or 
rewrite the sentence without using 2 'in's. For example--The movement of the 
dance springs forth with bursts of vibrant colors in Western Pennsylvania.

As I watched them, it was the most normal scene I could ever have seen.- 
Here, I fine the double homonym clunky. Plus, and of course you are the 
writer, but I don't find that a normal scene at all! I find it magical, 
entrancing, captivating, emotional...

She actively works at her art, and is in exhibitions including an 
international invitation one that her work is in right now.- In this 
sentence, the 'one' is a real bump in the road for me. I'd suggest reworking 
it.

Last fall was the fifth year that the team and her family walked with her in 
the sunshine at the "Walk to Break the Silence."- I think it would be good 
to say what the 'Walk to break the silence' is for, for us dummies out there 
who haven't heard of it.

Overall, a very nice piece, Linda. Thank you for sharing.

chris