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

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

It was a downer not to find part topics or easy Q&A's that have waited awihle. I needed a good letter. I understand the stress of dysfunctional internet. Try not being near a city. However, a computer day has nothing to do with the internet. Type on Word and paste it. If you didn't feel like it, tell me. This cord keyboard & mouse are not easy. My entire home internet can be called dysfunctional.

DOES YOUR BOOK HAVE CHAPTERS? A twice asked question. It was not about the cover but wanting to know if it lacked chapters like mine does. The first edition is what you admired in the photograph of Petal. The other book she reposed upon is from a New Zealand authoress, I saw in the back pages.

I am at page 318 and will finish this novel after writing this. Write fully and freely. I got up especially to look for e-mail, a text-message, your Gentle Spectrums update, and to type my thoughts before seeing the end of the story. I have to stick to what I said is more fun and avoid that overall book report compression of the whole story's arc. I am still in a place of only discussing pieces of it.

Please write which pages you are on. Thankfully you made a profile update of 200 that looks current but it was always our method to write it here. I hold back from being entirely open if I think you are at earlier pages, even though I made the decision to write everything I want to, to finally have the pleasure of discussing experiences that are fresh.

I enjoyed reading a paragraph of your entire book thoughts. It doesn't mean I am uneager for replies to mine so I hope to look forward to those. It sounds like you had little patience to write any more, off-line or not and the true reason is fine. Besides summarizing my character and plot likes and dislikes, my additions were brief and poignant to me. Your sharing of them is always warm and nice, which is what I need in my days a lot this week.

I think I generally agree with everything you thought, putting more responsability on the Parents than you did. An upset, confused, temporarily neglected, and growing child can be allowed perturbed or desperate reactions.

Anyone who loves us will understand times when we can't be gracious about how we come across and we will see through it and not be offended by it. God knows I have been patient with sick Parents and a hormonally unbalanced, fatigued spouse. It is time more people close to me give the same grace and reading past the lines for me, than you already do. What I have said regarding sharp tones and words not meant from tired and erratic minds is that you lose whatever good point you had if you communicate in any way rude, cold, or cruel.

If we excused anyone's emotion or logic for doing something negative, there would be no prisons or laws. I am on the stronger side from what I see that three of the girls had reason to be pissed off with their families. Lena's Mom wasn't ready to discuss something and did not think it pertained to her Daughter at all. Everyone else really needed to get their acts together. You thought Tibby's Parents were only busy, not neglectful or selfish?

Christina's closed the world around her - I would call it caught up in a whirlwind more than selfish but it was wrong. Women deserve and can have fun without putting loved-ones on hold or forgetting they are there. Christina hated that about her reaction to romance when she saw it and put a stop to it. I would hope no person's world hinged on whether or not a NEW partner didn't phone one day, geeze! Christina, mature, took her overblown disappointment as a sign that her rapport with her beau was unhealthy and she was right.

What happened to dating a little at a time? Even as a spouse, there is ample room for each of us to do things we like that only work solo: my letter writing, reviews, reading. Ron likes some TV channels I don't care to browse, driving to Winnipeg for extensive bike rides (I was capable of it as a kid and could return to it), berry picking, which I happen to dislike.

This was the one time Christina was not a wholly present Mom and it happened to coincide when Carmen needed her. No one should fail to give a phone message and whatnot but that wasn't the end of the world. David could have phoned her back and asked if she got it. I found it pathetic that Christina didn't outright phone and say "Thinking of you. Feel like doing anything or do you prefer being home"? Just a technical plot criticism: if 16 year-old girls had cell phones in 2003, didn't their Parents? Why was David using a landline answering machine, where he knew the child who shared the household phone was uncomfortable with him?

The only Parent I don't fault is Ari (I can't remember her proper name), Lena's Mom. She had a past she could reveal as much of as she wanted if she felt comfortable doing it.

I have a criticism about authors not being careful enough to distinguish uncommon names. "Nana" and "Bapi" might be well known to certain cultures but mainstream English is "Grandma, Grandpa". Kostos talked about flying home to take care of HIS Grandpa. The same word was used later without enough emphasis on WHICH Grandpa, to refer to Lena's "Bapi".

Although Lena was in a pessimissic state of mind when positive news needed to be spoonfed to her clearly, it was stupid of Kostos not to write, phone, make his visit clear to her! Even if he only wanted to be friends and was after all, visiting a Greek family to be polite; phone or write her to warn her! I disagree that her previous reluctance to get too close to fast, was a reasonable excuse for him pretending not to care or thinking she would dare make that assumption. I was pissed off at him and her "take the hint" sister, for not getting the fuck out of the way to let them talk privately. He comes for half an hour, does not draw Lena out in conversation at all, and left without a private word her family would have expected? They would have preferred giving her space to the outdoor cavorting she ended up doing. Carmen wisely knew what youths left alone can be tempted with.

I do have to say that while there is a predictable pat improvement on everyone's parts (except Bridget's Dad and statue like twin), it is occurring at different paces that removes the false, all at once effect. Maybe Tibby could be sullen but she was always sensitive to other people's feelings, including towards her neglectful Parents who sometimes saw her as free labour.

I didn't sense a comedy parodying her Mom was mean; just not what she expected. If it included affection and a hug or loving scene in conclusion; making a bit of fun at lollypops and drier scenes would be funny to most Parents and families. Tibby said the theme was her Mom being busy, not anything negative at all.

It was predictable that Greta knew who her Granddaughter was and I wanted Bridget to own up to it, which Greta likely awaited, however that portion concluded nicely. My heart warmed me all over at the message: "She hadn't had a Mother in a long time". This smart, hardworking, active teenaged girl had plenty of time for her Grandma to pamper her and cuddle her right up!

I was sorry to learn her Mom was seldom able to be that way. She needed hormone and energy balancing badly; drugs and hospitalization are the assumed approaches even at present day. I thought Marly died of cancer. You didn't correct me or perhaps didn't remember what it was. Knowing the story clarifies that her Father had zero excuses for cutting the kids off from them. Marly's Parents merely wanted to visit their Daugher & Grandchildren summer and winter and made suggestions about care that was obviously needed. There was no bad or awkward situation the man wanted to shut out. He just disagreed with their worry that something needed to be done for the kids and their very own child.

I loved that Bridget's beauty with or without her attractive natural haircolour, was assured. She was glad to know her charm for others was not all about hair or a slim physique. That pairs with Lena's caution to not draw too easy, surface value from looks. It was daring in her opinion, to put on a nice outfit or bit of make-up.

This was a good place for me to write. I added my thoughts of the novel I am still reading and enjoying. I replied to yours. I still need to see how things work out, so this was not a finished story that was summarized after the whole contents were capped. This is valuable and easier, even in the last 300 page portion.

I lost respect for Kostos for one saga that turned out as I thought. A story with different characters pleasantly surprised me. Kostos was allowed to move on but not without a frank phone or written conversation assessing how he and Lena both felt realistically. When one wrote something, the other asked for no information. I deem him disloyal and unintelligent. I don't care what old fashioned country he was from. It was 2003, he did not plan to live on his island, and the person this pertains to was from England, a western country entirely. Kostos should have been plain and involved Lena in deciding how to proceed, at least have her input on it.

Two of the girls worried too much about things that could be resolved by asking. Bridget was willing to research the truth, photographs and boxes, question and conversations. As a break, she watched live soccer and reacquainted childhood playmates. Tibby did something about what ate at her and drove all the way home or phoned people outright. A really sullen person would wallow in that but do nothing to change everything for the better.

Bridget is back to first place for me. Lena second this time. Carmen comes next, perhaps because Tibby's less emotional demeanour would unlikely ever be my favourite. They are there for their friends & family with their varied personalities.

I know the value of additional friends and emotional lifenot depending on few people, so I am trying to reopen and make new friendships and family bonds. I love that the girls have someone else they are close to, not boyfriends. I think Lena has a few other pals, certainly relatives even if they aren't shown so far. I wish she & her family had gotten to see her precious Bapi again.

Happy birthday to your wonderful Grandma. If you look at these messages at all in the morning, not all in the evening, please tell her I send her my most loving, warm wishes for a blessed and healthy new year of life for her! You know how happy I am that she is on Earth to be one of your best friends and I am sure, her Son & Daughters' dearest family member too. Love from Carolyn.

I am glad to read this happy book together with you, Kerri. Do you remember it much, being surprised by details, or seeing them in a new light? What year was your reading?

Sigh, unanswered questions (and this sticky keyboard and too loose, rolly mouse). I ask which edition you have to know if it has chapters or not. Does it? Let's state which page numbers we arrived at so we know we can write more freely, even though we should write whatever we wish.

I was almost at page 200 last night but am mainly discussing key aspects of early portions. Gobble reading is the way for me to get books done, not getting out of bed and turning on the internet, or typing on a document, to make midway notes. The next morning is my most natural break and place to reflect. I do the same with review writing: read a bunch, then have a long writing session of a bunch. There is much to enjoy partway but perhaps leaving undiscussed ground for you to comment on, will pave the way for originality for your progress writing.

I ended up writing first and it appears you only replied to that. As gratifying as responses to me are, I would rather read what you think and feel. Lead with your impressions or questions, or don't read mine prior, unless you can separate them. After seeing five stars for the *script* of "The Breakfast Club", I wonder! What is on the page is not great, only arguing dialogue. I was careful about separating the film from the plain page because that is what readers are supposed to review. Some have trouble doing that, so whatever works best to obtain your book reactions.

I wrote yesterday that I cannot likely include quotes because I admire something Ann wrote on every page. I am however, adding an early exhilarating impression that is my favourite description and thought association of all. It is about loyalty of true friends, like you, Kerri. We sure are being genuine friends across the oceans and spans of lands and have built honest joy, care, and trust between us. Tibby first hearing her summer school voicemail account reminds me of loyalty like yours and of my Parents too. You and my folks would do exactly what the girls and one relative did.

Without the authoress explaining how (similar to court in "Blue Lily, Lily Blue"), one relative and Tibby's entire friend group looked up or used the summer school number they noted to keep in touch with Tibby, which is a close family & friend must for both ends. Without Tibby knowing she had voicemail, they discovered she did and passed the word around her closest people. They all had the idea or orchestrated it, to leave comforting words to greet her arrival to a dorm away from home.

The well described and delightful part for me as a writer, as well as the biggest burst of loyalty among loved-ones, is that a welcome was recorded even by the travelling Bridget. I think I will remember her "B" name now after writing it enough and focusing on her as my fluctuating first and second favourite with Lena. By the way, it isn't about the most mature or sensible person. I am going by who moves my heart or whom I relate to most. A traveller on a bus, who could only use pay phones that were available on her stops, through varying time zones, made no excuses of how limited or busy she was any more than anyone else. She calculated when she would need to record it before Tibby arrived and did it.

"There was even a scratchy message from Bridget on her way". I didn't look it up, this is as I recall it. This is the most beautiful thing I have ever read and I have had people in my world who love me enough to be that loyal and caring to me too. Ron might not think of these things but he takes hints. If I said it would be a powerful greeting and surprise, he would do it too in time to greet my destination.

It is an entirely joyous but similar organized warmth to we Falco fans mailing worldwide postcards to comfort his Mom, Frau Hoelzel. In the CDeB internet fan club I was in for two years or so, we wrote "Will you marry me" type postcards at the request of the group leader for his proposal to his wife.

Tibby and Carmen are in weird states of wanting more respect and acknowlegement from their Parents but are in a jaded place where they sulk about everything and nothing they do is right as far as the girls feel. As inappropriate and extreme as Carmen's reactions are, their degree is all I call her out on. It is terrible for a grown woman, no matter how much fun it is to date (I doubt it is her first time since divorcing), to be oblivious to anything else. A kid does that. A grown-up does not, especially with maternal instinct and responsibilities.

Tibby has a reason to be pissed off too but again, has given up hope of them changing and is too cowardly to speak up. Liberal Parents are likelier to listen to what we have to say. Any Parents have to hear feelings if they are expressed with urgency or care. All she does is weakly send a message that she won't be a babysitter. I highly doubt anyone would keep an extra last name on a child that they took off everyone else. Even so, if Tibby didn't like it and was smart enough to foresee or recall schools and other legal places writing it down, she could have asked her Parents how to remove it legally, prior to registering anywhere else, including major ID like her driver's license. Don't bitch: remove the extra name. That is what name change forms are for. Instead, it is a whine about how her Parents used to be silly and are normal for the young Siblings.

Ann Brachares put Tomka to great creative use, another well crafted description and idea I loved reading! Bridget instantly thought of it, something like "She gave the unused name a new home". I just loved the intelligence and wording of that.

I only read at night normally, so it would have halted a good night of progress to come back on the computer in my subsequent break. I had written far enough with an old keyboard and mouse and hoped you would reveal your own pure thoughts to entertain and enlighten me. I like to be surprised too. Since you need a chance to do that, maybe I have written far enough.

I love how Bridget's memories of being in her Grandparents' home and town came back. Her love of soccer, her Grandpa giving that to her, her friend and other acquaintances whom she recognized on the same field.

I need to know if your rereads are forgotten and mainly feel new. I think Lena has a Greek Father but don't tell me, if that is a detail you recall as fact. I hope not because the "Not providing a child's right to their family and biological details" story trope always pissed me off and was outdated far prior to 2003. Not wanting to think about a past relationship is no excuse for keeping blood from its family.

The same goes for what I discovered is Bridget's maternal family. Putting them aside is disgustingly more inappropriate than if the Father had "not been on speaking terms" with his folks. I thought it might be his because the Parents who lost their child would insist, legally, on keeping access to the trace they have left of her. In Canada anyway, Grandparents have rights to Grandchildren, no matter what the adult think. To not try to insist on it past four letters in 6.5 years is maddeningly not trying hard enough. Also, did none of the twins ever get the mail? Whether it was in a box at the front door like most of suburbia, or at a postal box? Most families have a communal key for whomever wants to pick-up postal box mail. If the Grandpa were unwell at the very least, a decent human being was obligated to alert the man's Grandchildren.

Carmen might be immature but part of what she explained about her reactions later is accurate insight on a serious level. She & her Mom counted on each other, the way some people have Siblings to stand up for each other, represent, and balance out families together. Also, a grown lady doesn't gush THAT much about new attraction and romance. We are elated, interest piqued, feel like we are on a cloud of fun but it wasn't Christine's first time.
A little girls like Carmen needed to feel her way around her first meal and simple kiss with a boy.

Ann is doing a trope we disliked the first time, where "each Parent has an honesty or focus problem", then all four kids will probably apologize for handling it angrily and everything will resolve at once. Ann is so good, I wish should would not arrange and close stories in a pat and predictable way. The magic pants (are they?) aren't working for any of the four girls either. Tibby's film exhibition ended terribly pertaining to two close people to her.

The joy and light is wonderful though, a pleasure all the way through. Let's have paragraphs and paragraphs of your thoughts now, pehaps without looking at this; or before answering this if you already did.

I am past page 72. I am doing my best with a sticky space bar. How annoying during our period of writing. Good thing my part of e-mail letters is done! I am on a reading break, wanting to back to writing but had better share something.

I love every page and often feel urged to quote something on them. One sentence made me laugh, on around page 28. A thoughtful quote was around page 27. I memorized the locations to see what they were later. I like the journies of all four kids.

I feel most annoyed with Bridget. Tell your deprived Grandma it is you and enjoy her openly! I was second most annoyed with Carmen. Don't worry about small crap! Even at 16 years-old, I was not insecure or nuts and could laugh things off. Not as well as now but better than this character. Please tell me your first date was more confident and comfortable than she was, Kerri!

I felt for Carmen after her Mom allowed her first date in awhile to shadow her Daughter's first date ever. Shut up and give her a turn to talk. You know why I am a good conversationalist? I love listening as much as speaking and you are the same as me. Do you do this as well? If I see someone not jumping into a group conversation, I make space to draw them in. I halt overly chatty people and get them considering their companions. You have to make space for people who aren't comfortable interrupting, when that is the only way in with some blabbly people. I have no trouble going "Let me add something" and wince if other people don't do that for themselves. A blab is poor manners as it is.

I understand Carmen being young and new enough not to know what to make of her date. She knew she was eager to tell it and hear the reactions nonetheless, to gauge that it was good or nicely neutral with room to explore a person. She was mature about one thing: her Mom losing her focus enough not to see her out merely because she was on the telephone with a suitor and to not be there afterwards to greet her! It was astute that Carmen could have gone as far as she wanted to and it isn't right for Parents not to supervise the private home portions of visits. She knew right from wrong and wanted the traditional treatments in her début experience out in the young field.

Lena bumbing around town is nice. We are reminded that they are in Washington the city, in District Of Columbia. If you don't know, that is the far eastern seaboard in the north of the United States. It is different from Washington state. which is in the north east, under British Columbia, Canada. Did you know there are two? Although a proud Canada, I enjoyed reading about the girls visiting different states (which we call provinces here) in their country, especially Bridget where she has family and remembers spending as long a time as summers there. Whose Parents are those Grandparents isn't clear to me. How about you?

I wish Lena's Mom had let her troll for her own job but perhaps she had no ideas and was not picky. For beginners unless they are fortunate or creative, the selection is usually retail, restaurant, or office work.

Gee, I can't type on this keyboard much. Know what effort this is and how much I yelled at sticking keys. How does wrecking a PC mouse affect a keyboard? It is weird. Yes, I replaced batteries and unplugged USBs off & on. The mouse scroll is too lose. Sigh. Gratitude for having these back-ups at all.

Tibby's personality is my least favourite and relatable but her story is the most normal besides Lena's. Both girls are thinking of a boy too much and should just be themselves and explore the worlds around them. If Tibby didn't LIVE for time off of schedules like I do and doesn't mind studying during her summer because it is something she likes, it is great that she is earning film class experience and probably high school diploma credit too.

You will relate to me through feelings more than actions, so I am having a highly enjoyable time following these four girls. You promised I would meet their families better herein and I am, which I like about this sequel.

Bridget figuring out she is herself after premature sex is believable and honourable. Carmen parting from an overseas, brief crush makes sense. I love her pride in her Dad and friendship with her presumably older stepbrother. I like Tibby having a filming enthusiast guy pal at home and a crush at film school. Just don't make your day, actions, or project about making anyone like you.

Oh, I am glad I remember special observations I want to remark on with you, Kerri. I chose this novel for us, thinking it would be nice to read while it is still summer here. The contents match better than I expected! The last of August to middle of September are the girls' birthdays, so we are reading in the time line of this story!

It occurred to me which I don't remember us remarking last time, that this series is about friends carving ways to be together when they are apart by distance. It is special that for our relationship which has to live long-distance, we already do that, isn't it Kerri? Love, Carolyn.

My first impression is joy, pleasure, fun, fresh vitality for reading a book I enjoy so easily. "Towards" isn't spelled with S but Ann Brachares doesn't overdo the word and hopefully she uses S in "backwards" if it is in it at all. Besides the "towards" that is easy to get by, this experience in entirely positive and peaceful. It is a relief too, to find a book written this well and pleasantly, as it is is made just for me. Problems are not dire or violent, no crazy plots are necessary for compelling stories that hold my emotions and and focus!

I love that without any spoiler for weird people who don't read in order, Ann glides through a smooth, short reminder of the story we came from. The dear hamster went to Heaven, almost the same day as a new young human friend. Tibby made friends with a boy interested in films and she has a little Brother. I couldn't remember "Effie" and reread the introduction until she was called Lena's Sister.

I hate the selfish attitude of Bridget & Perry's Dad right off of the hop. It is also annoying that being called "Bee" some of the time makes it hard for me to remember her real name, which I prefer using. "B something" doesn't help, because "Bridget" especially spelled that way, is never what I think of.

Has Lena been the general narrator, if the friends are discussed as a whole? I think she is my favourite, a title that might have been Bridget's prior, or maybe she always got second place, which stills shows how highly I admire and like her. I don't relate to sports and being highly active, physical or schedule wise. She is impulsive. In every other way, including the sports and active energy for some people, she is a role model for a fantastic person. She examines her thoughts and feelings head on, as described wonderfully by Tibby, when she posed a question of Bridget. She confronts issues, emphatically without hiding how it affects her but still with ample respect. She is honest and fair.

DO NOT HIDE ANYONE'S MAIL OR MESSAGES, EVER! DO NOT PRESUME SOMEONE ELSE SHOULD NOT HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEONE YOU AREN'T SPEAKING TO! In your late teens, you are lucky to have Grandparents living. The two year-old cheques will need to be reissued. That's all I can stand to say about this thoughtless Dad.

I worked with a lady who had a terrible, ganster type ex-husband that she could not stand and feared. He was fine with their Daughter, so visiting or part-time custody sharing on his part was agreed upon. The child appreciated her rapport with her Father and valued him in her life. The Mom avoided the energy of this formerly abusive person so much, her Daughter transferred cars in parking lots so the Mother did not look at or hear him. Do not tell us that woman was open and fair about sharing a child but that this Father had anything to say against a Grandma sharing letters, phone calls, and visits with her Grandchildren. If it is their Mom's Parents, if anything for Pete's sake, their bonds ought to be reinforced and clung to with all their hearts!

Carmen can be immature and quick to jump to conclusions and react emotionally, which are character traits you can see I hate dealing with. I know she is a special person and I certainly love other cultures enough to learn their languages, so I enjoy seeing what she does this summer, if she behaves positively.

My least favourite will likely be Tibby always because I dislike the unemotional, unresponsive, unaffectionate types of people. Being quiet is great when you need a listener but low energy responses are annoying the rest of the time. I especially can't abide sullen or bitter people. If I am sunny despite very shitty days around me once in awhile, there is no excuse for being a crab!

I love Ann's writing of emotions and personalities, so real and clear. She shows us like Anne Perry does, what we should make of what she is telling us. There is too much I feel moved to quote for us here, Kerri. This is how to author books!

Tibby feels so strongly about Bridget's uncomfortable adjustment after trying meaningless sex and going back to being a child, that even she wanted to reach out and hug her. Tibby teared up watching her friend shed her emotions in tears. Tibby knew Bridget chose the least emotional person as the easiest friend to open up to, about the progress of her emotions and return to herself. I like and respect Tibby even if least of these four, for her loyalty and strength in her own style of being who she is.

I love the friends remarking that any return to her normal self, even if it was not Bridget's best trait or quirk, was a relief for these loyal kindred souls.

The joy, relief, and advantage of multiple family members and friends is that there are different Parents, Siblings, or friends to suit our needs. I went to Mom for this and Dad for that. Even Mark & I have a few things in common that Timmy & I do not and they have their own relationships with themselves and both of our Parents uniquely. I hope you have that with your Dad too at a short distance and with a sometimes gloomy Sister. I hope you two have fun and laugh.

There was a scene similar to Tibby's & Bridget's in the Louise Penny series. About in the sixth story, the Quebec police team are injured and lost one of their members in a terrorist trap. They deal with their feelings long after they are out of the hospital. It was shocking afterwards that someone obtained their officers' camera feeds and put the horrifying action on-line.

When one officer was ready to see it, he at at the home of the person in the Three Pines village he liked least. The bitchy poetess whom I like least too, understood his need for someone who would not crumble him with a warm or strong reaction. I always want comfort and affection but I can understand I might sometimes NOT want something to be a big deal and to skate through it.

For eighteen pages, I am full of admiration and pleasure and could probably type a great deal more, especially if I looked for quotes. I won't type any more than I must on this sticky keyboard and loose rolly mouse. If I zoom far through this beautiful, magical novel prior to stops where I would update you, at least I gave you this introduction to soak in. Thank you for reading this wholly pleasant novel with me, Kerri. Love, Carolyn.

I have first editions of most of Ann Brachares' books. This hardcover has no chapters numbered. What about your edition? I forgot until I saw you note "second time" that you already know these stories. If you continue to remember little, that is fun, that you will discover them along withme, Kerri. I am on page 18.

Do not hold back because I am going to read this book now in the daytime after all. My first browse of it was so powerful, fresh, easy, and joyful again that I must keep this feeling going. I might prove unable to stop the pleasure and you understand that I need to fly upon that happy kind of cloud without interruption.

When I take breaks to bathe, dress, eat, and whatnot; I will write progress notes. I hope they suffice to leave small sections for you to peruse when you are ready to.

Another thing that comes to mind is it would be advantageous to get writing my progress done, before I have to clean seriously this week. We are receiving an installation date soon: it had better give us notice but we must have working space free in case the appointment is close.

I did not read last night and will begin this novel today. My reading time is bed and I have a lot to do, so it might not be until then. You haven't posted yet and won't in your time zone, unless it is in the next hour. Everything is peaceful but we need that to continue and to have cleansing bursts of joy and fun at an extra magnitude! This novel will likely be a part of that for my part.

September 1, it is!

There is a beautiful song Dad & I both love by Neil Diamond, its warmth and its meaning, along with an uplifting, soaring melody. It is "September Morn": even the way Neil crafts that old-fashioned word forms an elegant image of good feelings and eras that last, to circle back around and embrace us strongly.

See, I am raising old favourite names, faces, voices, and songs up into conversation that were composed outside of Canada. I have to narrow the number of material I send to you but it is joyous to share old favourites with you that are especially personal to my family or me, universally.

This day is a good day to play "September Morn". It is my four childrens' birthday at the end of its opening week, which I witnessed and will forever cherish. Ron beheld Angel's and knew Marigold's introduction had begun to being a Mom, before leaving for work. My beloved Mom was born a week after you. There is also my dear friend, you! Like me, for yourself, you might welcome September with a joyful song. I know we will miss Stevie very strongly then too. Love always, your friend Carolyn.

I guess we are done the book! I hope you get great secondhand copies by Drs. Gasgoigne and Day, knowing you will love and benefit from that new knowledge and clear lists of information. I am a newcomer not much different from you. Your praise is appreciated by me nonetheless. Thank you for reading Amy Tan with me, dear Kerri! Love, Carolyn.

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.