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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>My apologies for missing our meeting. Perhaps Leonard shared my computer woes with you. Also, I gifted myself with a swim spa thanks to my inheritance and was consumed with its delivery and set-up etc. Also, my grandson is visiting – was supposed to be after New Years but the date changed and I totally lost track of time…wasn’t prepared…thanks for understanding!!! Happy New Year to everyone.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Deanna Scarlet Ribbons<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You continue to develop this tale and touch our hearts.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>First sentence not complete, use comma instead of first period: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Many years ago, when I was a kitten living my first life. My mother resided in an alley behind a dumpster.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>Try: Many years ago, when I was a kitten living my first life, my mother resided in an alley behind a dumpster.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Capitalize mother like a name: mother told me it was time<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Try: mother told me it was time<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(if you wrote my mother, it would not require a capital “M”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Requires hyphen: hard pressed<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Try: hard-pressed<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>next to the rickety steps of a small rundown house<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>try: run-down<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Rundown versus run down versus run-down<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://kddidit.com/2014/01/13/word-confusion-run_down-vs-run-down-vs-rundown/">https://kddidit.com/2014/01/13/word-confusion-run_down-vs-run-down-vs-rundown/</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>delete comma: a small rundown house near the edge of town<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Try: a small rundown house near the edge of town <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Insert comma: Even though I was crouched and kept very still she spotted me.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Try: Even though I was crouched and kept very still, she spotted me.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Insert comma: You look cold and hungry KitKat.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Try: You look cold and hungry, KitKat.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Capitalize mama: “Look mama,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Try: “Look mama,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>“my mama doesn’t require capital “M”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Use hypen: Her work worn hand<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Try: Her work-worn hand<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Insert comma: Only Tasha, queen of cats might be able to help.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Try: Only Tasha, queen of cats, might be able to help.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Insert comma: Nearing the end of my 8<sup>th</sup> life I have no regrets.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Try: Nearing the end of my 8<sup>th</sup> life, I have no regrets.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cleora Dusty’s Christmas Wish<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This is sweet and clever.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>My comments have to do with cadence – and I’m not sure how Dusty dropped down the chimney. Here’s a suggested rewrite, rough to give you the idea:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>twas the night before Christmas<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>when all through the yard,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>not a cat stirred,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>not even one dog, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>(or not one dog barked,)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Dusty perched by the chimney <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>to keep watch for Santa.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>(or to watch out for Santa.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>He chirped and whistled <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>he whistled and sang.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>but no Santa came.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Dusty dropped from the chimney,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>and flew to his cage.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>I’ve been a bad pet<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>The little bird mourned.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>I should have known <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>I'd not get my wish.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>then the sad bird <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>looked in his dish,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>and to his delight,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>he found a real treat<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>3 El Paso Nutriberries.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>His wish for all <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>is that Christmas be merry.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sally Tamsin’s Prayer<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Fun to see how this versatile verse works both for Tamsin and Dusty!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I like how aquiver and a cold one sound similar yet they are different<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sentiment Tugs on my heart<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Leonard Where Did That Word Go<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>You captured a familiar frustration<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Reminds me of “I dropped my poor meatball, it rolled off the table, and onto the floor…”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Example of how a comma could change the meaning: <span style='color:black'>More and more familiar words slip away. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Or<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:black'>More and more, familiar words slip away. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>(meaning - more and more words slip away versus more and more often, words slip away)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Like this analogy: <span style='color:black'>Somewhere in time they will come back to rest, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:black'>like wayward birds returning to nest. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>