WELCOME TO FRIDAY FICTIONEERS.
As always, writers are encouraged to be as innovative as possible with the prompt and 100 word constraints.
Henry David Thoreau said it best.
“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”
THE CHALLENGE:
Write a one hundred word story that has a beginning, middle and end. (No one will be ostracized for going a few words over the count.)
THE KEY:
Make every word count.
THE RULES:
- Copy your URL to the Linkz collection. You’ll find the tab following the photo prompt. It’s the little white box to the left with the blue froggy guy. Click on it and follow directions. This is the best way to get the most reads and comments.
- MAKE SURE YOUR LINK IS SPECIFIC TO YOUR FLASH. (Should you find that you’ve made an error you can delete by clicking the little red ‘x’ that should appear under your icon. Then re-enter your URL. (If there’s no red x email me at Runtshell@aol.com. I can delete the wrong link for you).
- While our name implies “fiction only” it’s perfectly Kosher to write a non-fiction piece as long as it meets the challenge of being a complete story in 100 words.
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- ***PLEASE MAKE NOTE IN YOUR BLOG IF YOU PREFER NOT TO RECEIVE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM.***
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**Please exercise DISCRETION when commenting on a story! Be RESPECTFUL.**
Should someone have severe or hostile differences of opinion with another person it’s my hope that the involved parties would settle their disputes in private.
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My story follows the photo and link tool. I enjoy honest comments and welcome constructive criticism.
- Shalom,
Rochelle

Copyright – Rich Voza
As we pass through life we walk through many doors. One is the unavoidable door that opens onto puberty.
Today it’s 1968. The Vietnam War, protests , civil rights marches and assassinations dominate the news. Peace signs, love-ins and psychedelic rock make the scene. Beehive hairdos and feminine curves are out. Ultra thin boyish figures and straight hair are in.
Submitted for your approval: one adolescent’s story.
Genre: Literary Fiction
Word Count: 99
LEAVE IT LIKE IT IS
“Hurry, you’ll be late for school!” Mom called from downstairs. “And your breakfast is getting cold.”
“Give it to the dog!”
“Don’t make me call your dad.”
“Go ahead.”
Jolene spread her long curly hair on the ironing board, laid a damp towel over it and then pressed it straight with the iron on the hottest setting.
Then, to hide what Mother Nature had too generously endowed, she donned her brother’s sweater. Other girls her age had stick figures, like Twiggy. She tugged her jeans over her hips and scowled at her reflection in the full-length mirror.
“Hello, Ugly.”
___________________
As an epilogue to my story, I urge you to listen to the videoed song that follows. I think you’ll understand why.
Remember when…?
Oh that takes me back! The agony of it all, especially when Twiggy was at the peak of her fame. Nicely done Rochelle. I’d tend to say “laid a damp towel over it” but maybe that’s just another Anglo-American thing?
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Dear Sandra,
Actually I wrestle with lay vs laid so I think you’re probably correct. I’ll see if anyone else weighs in. I’m always willing to change. Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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“Laid” wins. I checked the grammar sources online. Thanks for the catch, Sandra.
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Great story. I never heard of ironing your hair. Does it work?
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Dear Patricia,
Yes, it did work unless it was a humid day. It was just one of the many tortures those of us blessed with natural curl endured. Suffice it to say, that when spiral perms came into vogue i felt vindicated. 😉
Glad you liked the story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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AnElephant is happy he is a chap and does not worry about such things.
Clever tale, sadly too true to be funny.
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Dear Elephant,
Glad you liked my story. I’m sure guys went through their own adolescent insecurities.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I liked this a lot…
The protagonist is behaving like any other teenager…
That makes this interesting
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I remember when you did that. You always manage to wind a bit of real history into your fiction. Good job.
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Thank you. Since you’re coming across as “Anonymous” I’m curious to know who you are.
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Oh the pains we endure as teens in any era. I refused to iron my hair though I beat myself up running 5-10 miles a day to have the no shape Twiggy body that I never achieved
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Dear Leslie,
I just beat myself up and ironed my hair. 45 years later I still remember that time of life as the worst time of life.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This is cute and so true to life. Every young girl struggles with wanting what she doesn’t have.
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Dear Lisa,
Yes, puberty is a universal struggle I’m afraid. I don’t know anyone who comes through it unscathed. Thanks for liking and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, although it’s sad, I like the stark portrayal of the differences in perceptions of beauty. Today, long, curly hair and an ample bosom would be something highly sought after. It reminds me of Anne of Green Gables hating her red hair.
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Dear David,
Thank you for your perceptive comments. It does seem that our perception of beauty change from decade to decade. In the 80’s when women started shelling out $100 for spiral perms I felt vindicated. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle,
I LOVE this. Love is a many splendid thing. Self love is divine. I have always been marveled at the verse “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” Clearly it means we should express great kindness and generosity to our neighbor. It is implied that we behave likewise to ourselves.
Honie
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…always marveled at, not been marveled at. Gaaahhh! 🙂
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Dear Honie,
You made me smile. Self love is the toughest of all, isn’t it? Again, I’m happy to have shared the puberty theme with you. Thank you for your stellar writing and comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I can remember hearing stories about ironing your hair like this from my older cousins. I have fairly curly hair (but nothing like it was in my youth) and so I always found it intriguing, but i never tried it.
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Dear Dawn,
I’m sure you saved many a follicle by not ironing your curls. I had split ends that were longer than some girls’ hair. Funny, mine has gotten curlier over the years, the difference is that I like it.
Thanks for commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I remember I once snuck out to see my boyfriend and my parents found out. They knew how to hurt me most. They took my straighteners and hid them. I cried, I begged, I pleaded… I had to pin my fringe back for month, not the most flattering look for me.
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Dear MissKZebra,
That’s what I call cruel and unusual punishment. Thanks for commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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hi Rochelle! Sorry to be a pain but my first attempt at linking seems to have failed and won’t let me delete it. Could you remove it for me – it’s #20 on the list and has Rich’s photo as the icon. Cheers!
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So let it be said, so let it be done. 😉
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Thanks. Don’t know how I managed to break it!!
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I’ve just read your story – wow, so true to life. Why is it that adolescence is the cruelest of times? You’d think we would have evolved away from it, and yet the troubles endure, generation to generation: too fat, too thin, too curly, too straight… it’s all the same really.
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Dear Jennifer,
You couldn’t give me a better compliment than “true to life”. Does anyone emerge from puberty unscathed? Thanks for dropping by.
shalom,
Rochelle
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I think it sorrowful that beauty is based on fads. I’m always telling my children how smart and beautiful they are, and how lucky I am.
Thanks for sharing.
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Dear JK,
Kudos to you for giving your children positive affirmations. Fashion is cruel and only applies to a certain few. The rest of us try to cram our nonconforming physiques into them.
Thanks for stopping by with your kind words.
shalom,
Rochelle
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I loved this so much – the prologue and the epilogue are stunning. And your artwork! I am so impressed and inspired. 😍
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Dear Janine,
You’ll turn my curly head with such flattery. Thank you for your lovely comments. Glad you liked my story.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Even though times have changed, the message is still as relevant today.
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And evermore shall be, I’m afraid. Thanks for commenting, Steve.
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No No No Helllloooo Beautiful! We have all moved in and out of fashion over our lifetimes. It is a sad phenomenon really. Marilyn one decade, Twiggy the next. Women desperately trying to mold themselves to fit. I loved this story and how succinctly you captured teenage angst.
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Dear Dana,
Strange that the fashion industry has remained “true” to the anorexically thin models. So we spawn generation after generation of eating disorders. I knew a young model who said that her employers encouraged her starvation. Good for business.
Thanks for commenting. Glad you liked my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle,
This is a topic you don’t want to get me started on. I used to model and then taught fashion design. I have a lot to unload here. 😉
I don’t believe the industry itself is the devil. In the end we are all responsible for our choices. And that means there were jobs I never got.
Dana
P.S have you seen Dove’s real Beauty campaign and sketches?
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Dear Dana,
I take this to mean that you chose not to fit the pencil thin mold. This makes me happy to hear if this is the case.
Seems to me I’ve seen the Dove campaigns but I’ll have to look them up to refresh my memory.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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No pencil thin mold here. I am 6’1″ and curvy.
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No doubt you’ve heard all the tall jokes, as I at 5′ nothing, have heard all the short ones. 😉
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I use to designs clothing for tall women and realized petite woman have similar fitting issues. So I wanted to open a store called David & Goliath dedicated to our particular needs. No short or tall jokes will be permitted. 😉
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That sounds like a terrific idea, Dana.
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lucky girl! i’d sometimes use a curling iron on my hair. and Mother Nature was pretty stingy when it came to me. i love the message in your story and i love the artwork, really lovely 🙂
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Dear KZ,
Thanks for your lovely compliments. .Seems we’re never happy with what we’ve been given. Why is that?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautiful piece, Rochelle. So sharp and real. I can see the scene, and imagine this girl… wonderful interpretation of the photo.
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Dear Dawn,
Thank you for your lovely words. Always nice to hear.,,er…read.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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we should help our kids to go through the door that says “I love myself” – but puberty is really a hard time, I remember well. This interpretation of the foto is really special!
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I just realized that you did the wonderful portrait of Twiggy – wow, du bist eine Künstlerin, Rochelle!
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Dear Carmen,
Thank you so much for your lovely compliments in English and German. I had to look up künstlerin. 😉
Puberty was a nightmare time for a lot of us. Does anyone come through it without scars? Glad you like my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Never heard about ironing your hair.. and just imagine how it would be a in your teen as a girl (boys had other problems..)
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Dear Björn,
You’re probably too young to have heard of hair ironing. When I was a teenager it was a pretty common practice for the those of us blessed with curls. If we didn’t iron, we set our hair on cut out orange juice or soup cans.
As I raised three sons, I’m familiar with boy puberty problems.
Thanks for commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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When I was a kid my sister with straight hair fought desperately to make it curly 🙂
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I would be afraid of ironing my hair! I’m sure I would have burned my ears 🙂 Curling irons and straighteners are scary enough 🙂 Of course, I’ve been “blessed” with mainly straight hair so I guess I would have been one of the “cool kids”
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Dear Carrie,
Yep, straight hair was most desired in those days and I would’ve been insanely jealous of you. However after those years of frying my hair and burning my fingers I’ve made peace with my curls and even like them.
Thanks for commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This brings back so many memories. I had the naturally straight hair. However, I remember only allowing myself what I could fit on a saucer to each each day in a vain effort to look like twiggy… I didn’t help. My bones are too big so I just looked gaunt. 😛
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Dear Lynda,
I believe a lot of anorexia seeds were sewn back then. The irony is that Twiggy was one of those girls who couldn’t keep the weight on.
This story seems to have triggered a lot of memories. Thanks for commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Just now getting back, to comment on the story earlier. I think you portrayed ‘yourself’ (?) well in the story as I know how you struggled once with anorexia didn’t you? I think that was a time long after Wayne and i left Kansas City perhaps. It is so sad to see young women suffer with their self image and low self esteem. Although I never had anorexia I did have problems with my own self image and low self esteem. remember Twiggy well. And Karen Carpenter (a popular singer in the sixties with her brother) with a lot of great hits. She died from anorexia.
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Dear Joyce,
You nailed me. Actually, my anorexic days lasted off and on for twenty years or more. It started before I had Travis. I still remember you making a comment that my legs were like toothpicks. The worst years of it, though, were after you and Wayne left. In any case, those days are behind me and it’s all grist for the mill.
Unfortunately, the fashion industry does little for the average woman’s self esteem.
Thanks for commenting. Nice to have you back this week. I know it’s a challenge to keep up with a novel and Friday Fictioneers. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle. I had no idea how long your problem went on. I am very glad that is behind you. I agree, that the fashion and trends of today’s young woman does little to make one feel as if they are beautiful, unique and just the way God created them. I had to deal with that as a teenager too, and so did our daughter, Steph when she became a teen.
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Sometimes I look back and realize that I was blessed to have sons. I didn’t have to deal with estrogen and female puberty. The boys were challenge enough, particularly my eldest.
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Believe me, I can understand that, more than you know. We had a sad chapter in our lives too as parents that tested our faith and perseverance like none other. It is our faith in Jesus Christ that healed, restored and helped us in rebuilding our broken relationship with Steph during a very dark time in our lives when she was a teen, when she did not know him personally Today, she is a totally different woman, was a wonderful mother, and one who herself is stronger spiritually, and in every way.
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Well done! This brings back all kinds of memories as this is my era! I used to spend hours trying to get my eye makeup to look like Twiggy’s! And I love the drawing of her! You’re a talented girl, Rochelle!
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Dear Linda,
I bet you were cute with all those tons of eye make-up. I was just too short, small eyed and curvy to ever hope to look like her. In fact one girl in my whole class actually did.
Glad you liked my story which seems to be a memory jogger for a few of us. Thank you for the compliments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The sad and unhealthy things done for style — ugh! Reminds me of the stories and movies I’ve read/seen of further back in history, when women wore tight corsets to force their bodies into a shape trendy for the times. Also — great illustration to go with the story. As Linda wrote, you’re talented!
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Dear Dave,
It seems that every era has seen its tortures for the sake of “beauty”. Corsets were very close to Chinese foot-binding IMHO. At least hair ironing wasn’t disfiguring unless you burned yourself on the iron. 😉
Thank you for the compliments.
shalom,
Rochelle.
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Rochelle, I remember watching a show of ‘Little Women’ and seeing the girls wrapping their hair around iron heated rods to get curls. Oh to be satisfied with what we have.
Nicely done. I remember Twiggy too. I think I just heard about her in the news a bit ago in one of those what ever happened to them type of stories. I don’t remember it all, but I think she was happy…
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Dear Jules,
We do torture ourselves in the name of Beauty, don’t we?
As for Twiggy, she’s alive and well. http://www.twiggylawson.co.uk/biography.html
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yup, that’s growing up. It seems to start with poor body image. Someday she’ll be thankful for those “endowments.” A great story.
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Dear E. A.
I wonder if there’s anyone who’s come through puberty with a good body image? Glad you liked my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Good point!
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Dear Francine,
The media made stick girls popular. Personally, I never found that look sexy or attractive. My angst was long hair as girls showed no interest whatsoever in boys with crew cuts. By the time I gained the freedom to grow it long the fad was starting pass. Aint that the way life goes.
Tastefully chic, Vlad.
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Dear Vlad,
I never really stopped to think back in the day what the boys liked. Like other girls I bought into what the media dictated and tried (unsuccessfully to fit the mold. I was never so happy as when women started spending $100 a pop for a spiral perm. Vindication!
I did, and still do, like long hair on guys. My husband’s hair is longer than mine and he wears it in a long ponytail. So it’s never too late to let your locks grow. 😉
Shalom,
Francine
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Dear Rochelle,
Or, should I call you Francine?! What trouble one had to go through to straighten the hair! What an intriguing take on the prompt. I really enjoyed it. I do recall Twiggy. She had a big impact.
Amy
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Dear Amy,
You may call me Francine if you like. I think it’s my favorite so far…”Francine Loyd Write” .
I think they make better hair straighteners now but I no longer feel the need to use them. 😉 I haven’t had a Twiggy figure since I was ten so that’s not an option.
Glad you liked and commented on my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Good capture of the trials of the teenage years, Rochelle. And nice pen-and-ink of Twiggy.
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Many thanks on both counts, VB.
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Oh yes, I remember it well. My sister inherited the Jewfro – and she and cousin Richard ironed their hair, before realising that their curly locks were nothing to be ashamed of. I was saftig and no twiggy – but I later starved myself for years (not anorexic – just lived on salads and yogurt for 20 years) in order to be the thin and beautiful woman I was in all those photos I keep posting to my site. Once I left rock and roll, I let the rolls back into my life so I am saftig once again.
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Dear Lindaura,
Jewfro? I like that. I never quite had that, although I knew guys who did. It used to make me giggle to see some of the teenage boys back then clip a teeny tiny Yarmulke somewhere in the midst of a hair bush.
Saftig…there’s another word you don’t hear much anymore. Someday, perhaps, we can share more tales from the Yiddish side. 😉 .
Thanks for commenting,
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh the angst of trying to fit in! The fact that I now couldn’t care less, indeed embrace my peculiarities …. gosh, that must make me a grown-up? 😮
Great story, Rochelle. My teenage years were spent making sure I had the right colour leg-warmers!
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Dear Joanna,
A couple of years ago I was on the planning committee for my 40 year class reunion. The most fun we had was sharing those teenage angst stories and enjoying one another as the adults we’ve grown to be.
Thanks for commenting.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, puberty! The agony of it! This is me! I used to iron my hair. I also had a ‘beatle’ hair cut once. I hated my ‘feminine curves’. I had a black and white ‘Mondrian’ dress with a big daisy attached to the front and massive daisy earrings. I wore white face make-up and white lipstick and painted black rings round my eyes. Black patterned hold-up stockings under disgracefully short dresses. I had block-heeled shoes with square toes. What a ghoul! You certainly re-opened a door for me! I will now firmly shut it again! Great writing. Ann
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Dear Ann,
I have similar memories. They make great story fodder. I never could pull off a Beatle haircut, my hair was way too curly. And feminine curves were the bane of my existence. White lipstick, white go-go boots, and huge earrings. Yup…I remember those and more.
Thanks for sharing your memories.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I forgot the white go-go boots … PVC of course! 🙂
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I’ve never been brave enough to iron my hair. And Twiggy was never much of a role model for me. I never understood models 😉 Wonderful story and I really can understand it as many of my friends did the same thing. I knew I would never fit it so didn’t try. I was and still am a loner and always myself. Great writing as usual.
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Dear Jackie,
You were probably better off being a loner. 😉
Glad you liked the story.
shalom,
Rochelle
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The story was excellent, and it was clear enough, didn’t need the song. I never could understand Twiggy’s appeal. I think teens have those “gee, I wish I fit in” blues in all eras. Personally, I’m glad I never fit in. I was too far outside the box to even try.
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Dear Stephen,
I’m finding the feedback from the guys in the group interesting and amusing. I never stopped to think about how boys saw Twiggy. Maybe I wouldn’t have wasted so much time trying to fit an impossible mold.Happily by the time I hit my later teens I found that I didn’t want to fit in. I was much happier.;)
Glad you liked my story, even without the song. 😉
shalom,
Rochelle
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I used to wrap my wet hair around my head in a swirl which got rid of the waves. I knew if I tried to iron my hair I would burn myself! I was tall and thin years after Twiggy was the in thing. I was given the nickname Olive Oyl in junior high…
Thanks for the challenge! I tried this today for the first time. My gravatar did not show up when I clicked the next button after entering my info… 😦
Thanks again! This gave me something different to do on my blog which I was looking for. Thanks to Penny Howe to for sending me your way! – B
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Dear Barbara,
Again, welcome to “Our Gang”.
Seems to me I tried wrapping my hair around my head, too. Not sure there’s anything I didn’t try. Then when curls came back into vogue I accepted my hair as a gift and quit putting it through such torture.
Thanks for dropping by and commenting. See you next prompt.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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good one Rochelle – it takes me back to when shape magazine would arrive in the mail for Jan and I would tell the girls – look at that – no meat on those bones, too skinny to be pretty, too weak for adventures….
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Dear Bill,
You’re a wise dad. I hope the girls listened. Thanks for dropping by after your travels.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Awesome story! Makes me wish I had been a teen in that era, honestly. I often thought I missed my true calling by a couple of generations as Led Zeppelin roadie/fan! …If only…
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Excellent Rochelle, the one time in my life that I fit. Long straight hair, and well I preferred to think of myself as lithe as opposed to skinny! Great story brought back a bazillion memories (much loved ones)! Thanks for that! 🙂
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