Date: December 20, 2007 06:55 pm Title: Chapter 8 - Just One Look at Her Face is Good Enough for Me
I wanted to mention how much I loved the parallels in this chapter between Steve and Mel's story and Jim and Pam's. Right down to the "he's so wrong for her" and the "I'm in love with you." As well as both women being artists and wearing rings on their left ring fingers upon the first meeting. Hurray for thunderbolts!
I also loved how Pam, despite her own funk, was able to encourage another budding artist and that it made Pam happy to do so. Reminded me of Michael's encouragement to her at the art show and how it helped Pam at a very low period in her growth toward FNB.
Author's Response:
EH, it's so gratifying to read this...man, you always know just what to say. Your comments never fail to point to the heart of what I'm trying to convey, and I appreciate that so much. The thunderbolt...from one of my favorite movie scenes ever! When Michael Corleone sees Appolonia for the first time in The Godfather. It's a ridiculously romantic notion that I can't get enough of. I love that you drew the parallel between Pam's moment and Michael's - something I hadn't even thought of, but is totally the same kind of feeling.
What an awesome review and thank you so much for all your kind words!
Date: December 17, 2007 07:36 am Title: Chapter 8 - Just One Look at Her Face is Good Enough for Me
WOOT! I'm finally caught up now! :)
Sweetpea, this is an amazing story. In fact, "amazing" seems like such a lame word to use in describing it. I think there needs to be some sort of mutli-sensory thesaurus that can more accurately convey in words and sights and smells and sounds and feelings just how great this is. :)
I can't wait for the next chapter!
Author's Response:
Mose, thank God Catholic school permanently damaged my ego or else these reviews would have swelled my head to massive proportions. You've been too kind and I appreciate it so much.
The next chapter is giving me fits, but usually when that happens, I get a bit of an epiphery, so I'm trying not to force it and let it come naturally. And that's the biggest TWSS setup you're ever going to get from me. :-D
Another virtual smooch and a hug for you for being so great. Mrs. Mose is one lucky woman.
10 [Report This]Date: December 16, 2007 04:42 pm Title: Chapter 8 - Just One Look at Her Face is Good Enough for Me
Simply gorgeous, Sweetpea.
Author's Response: Aw, Nan, thank you so much. I hope you're well. Can I send some virtual Christmas cookies your way? Mint chocolate chip ice cream cake? Bottle of vodka? Okay, I'll stop. Just a virtual hug and a thank you.
Date: December 16, 2007 03:17 pm Title: Chapter 8 - Just One Look at Her Face is Good Enough for Me
Are you kidding me Sweepea! <andy> This is AMAZING. I didn't think you could top the last chapter for me, but you've gone and done it. Every bit of history you've created here is SO beautifully fleshed out. I feel like I have a better feel for who Jim is, based on who his parents are. And gosh what a nuturing environment for Pam to have been welcomed into. This story is like a good, warm, winter sweater...without the cheesy sequins and fur. Thank you!
Author's Response: No sequins and fur and no puffy teddy bears or snowmen either! Always such a treat to get some love from you and I can't tell you how glad I am that you're enjoying the history. I've enjoyed creating that more than I ever thought I would. It's made me very nostalgic and when I called a friend back home to verify a detail for the story, she got all excited and said, "Are you coming home for Allentown?" And, yeah, I think I am. Thank you so much for always being so encouraging and enthusiastic. :-*
Date: December 16, 2007 06:11 am Title: Chapter 8 - Just One Look at Her Face is Good Enough for Me
Finally had a chance to read this chapter...loving Jim's parents' history for several reasons. First, it gives provenance to Jim's intuitive, immediate sense of connection to Pam. Second, it's a great, romantic story in itself. I love how Jim's dad so simply says, after just meeting his wife: 'I'm just totally in love with her...' If Jim's not available, I'll take Papa Halpert ;-)
It also resonated with me cause my father was a painter, and my parents were very politically active in the 60's/70's (my mom ran a McGovern headquarters, in fact)...so I feel like I know these characters, and you've portrayed them so well. Great details.
Oh, and Jim sitting on the floor, putting together a crib? Kill me now. ;-)
Author's Response:
Oh, Colette, this review was so wonderful to read. I love these parallels! It's almost a little eerie, but so fun for me to read. Papa Halpert...sigh. Such old-fashioned romance gets me every time and Jim has that air about him, I think. It had to come from somewhere! My folks were high school sweethearts and I always loved to hear my father talk about how crazy he was about my mother when they first met. My mother's father, he was a pretty stern and strict old man, straight from the old country and he did NOT make it easy on my dad at all! The hoops he jumped through to be with my mother!
And what IS it about handy!Jim that makes me go a little weak in the knees, too? Geez, smudge a little dirt on the boy, put a power tool in his hand and call 911, cause that would kill me dead. Thank you for being so kind. This has been such a big challenge for me...that vignette-stuff is looking pretty good right about now! ;-)
10 [Report This]Date: December 15, 2007 08:30 am Title: Chapter 8 - Just One Look at Her Face is Good Enough for Me
Chapter after chapter is just so, so great. You put so much heart into this story, just incredible.
More please!! :)
Author's Response: PBS, thank you for all the encouragement! Writing this story has been a huge challenge and even when I'm not writing, I'm thinking about it almost all the time. More soon!
Date: December 14, 2007 09:46 pm Title: Chapter 8 - Just One Look at Her Face is Good Enough for Me
Maybe Pam should be an art teacher, too! Haha. Or just be inspired by the joy of creating. That was very sweet. And I've totally been to Santasiero's before. Yum. If I only knew then that I was at the restaurant where Jim's parents had their first date. I really liked Melinda and Steve's story, you can tell where Jim gets his charm from. I really can't wait for Jim and Pam to go to Allentown themselves!
Author's Response:
So weird! I can't believe you've been to Santasiero's! It's one of the first restaurants I remember my parents taking us kids to and when I was older I lived on Lafayette, so I'd walk down there a lot to have a glass of wine (in a jelly jar) and sit and listen to the old men at the bar. Such a great place. I can't wait for Jim and Pam to go there, too, but I'm taking my time with that chapter, so stay tuned! Thank you so much for the great review.
Date: December 14, 2007 07:51 pm Title: Chapter 8 - Just One Look at Her Face is Good Enough for Me
beautiful story - I absolutely love that Pam is given an artistic storyline... It's wonderful that you pursued this venue for Pam! Thanks for the update! Can't wait to read more!
Author's Response: contif, thank you so much for your encouragement with Pam's storyline here. I have not a single artistic bone in my body, but I've definitely experienced writer's block and had a long, long dry spell where I wrote nothing more than my grocery list. Pam (especially post-Roy, FNB) self-identifies as an artist, I think, and I can only imagine what it might feel like to lose that. Thank you for the review!
10 [Report This]Date: December 14, 2007 07:20 pm Title: Chapter 8 - Just One Look at Her Face is Good Enough for Me
hey, i just wanted to tell you again how much i love this. your characterization of jim and pam is perfect and their interaction is adorable. it makes my day when i get an email that you've updated. please update again soon!
Author's Response: Sunday, this review made my day! Thank you so much. Next chapter? A lot going on in that one, so I'm taking my time with it, but I promise not to leave you hanging for too long. So stay tuned and I hope I see you here again, soon!
Date: December 14, 2007 07:12 pm Title: Chapter 8 - Just One Look at Her Face is Good Enough for Me
Amazing chapter. I love how you jumped around in the timeline, but it made perfect sense.
Author's Response: lisahoo, I could have (and probably should have) made this two chapters instead of one. It's so crazy how I can spend so much time with a chapter and yet only see things after I post that I wish I'd done differently. Arrrghh!! Thanks so much for reading and reviewing!