The following photo is the PHOTO PROMPT and comes from Lauren Moscato by way of Amy Reese. What does it say to you? Watch your step and tell us a story in one hundred words or less.
PHOTO PROMPT © Lauren Moscato
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Word Count: 100
MOVING UP
Bevy was a splash of color on God’s palette. When it came to interior design and giving parties, she was an artist without equal.
Every Monday we met for dinner with Bevy and George. On one such night we compared house-hunting woes.
“You should see the monstrosity George liked,” she said with a pained grimace. “Metal walls and a window air conditioner in every room.”
“Hey,” he said with a shrug, “it’s big enough for entertaining.”
A week later we learned she’d been keeping a secret.
Today heaven’s awash with color and celebration while my world’s become a dingier place.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
What a beautiful tribute…thank you for sharing this slice of life with us.
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Dear Loré,
Some people walk through our lives and leave deep footprints.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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She sounded like one feisty lady. And I agree with Snow’s Fissures and Fractures, this is a wonderful tribute to a person who obviously bought Joy to a lot of people.
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Dear Francesca,
Feisty is a great word for Bevy. Perhaps one day I’ll write a longer piece about her. She was a great support for my writing as well.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a wonderful friend to have! I repeat what others said: a moving tribute and a great memory of love and friendship.
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Dear Gah,
She was an artist extraordinaire in many ways. I miss her. I’m glad you liked it.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Bevy’s smiling (and sprucing up Heaven, I imagine.) Very lovingly written and a tribute to you and to her.
Aloha,
Doug
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Dear Doug,
I can imagine that the walls of her mansion in heaven are filled with paintings and sconces. The candles are burning for her. And I am smiLing at Your comment.
Uoht knay ym dneirf.
Malosh,
Rochelle
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I loved that last line, it spoke volumes about the vitality of your friend, and the space that’s left behind. Beautifully done, Rochelle. A wonderful tribute.
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Dear Sandra,
Once more I’m pleased to see your story among the FF lineup. You give us class and show us how a story should be written.
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on my story. I’m pleased that it spoke to you as Bevy spoke (and still speaks) to me.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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For so few words, Rochelle, you managed to give a lovely triubute to that lady. I sure many, including you, missed her. Lovely and well-written piece as always. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
Bevy was one of a kind. I’m pleased that you liked my story and took the time to say so.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This was warm and lovely.
Went to a college reunion last weekend and discovered whether you’re a judge, a CEO or like me you teach 10 year-olds struggling with their Maths, there’s only one person you can happily be and one person it’s worthwhile trying to be – and that’s yourself.
Your friend sounded very happy in her own skin – a great friend and a great loss.
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Dear MJ,
Bevy did seem to be quite comfortable with herself. And no one threw a party like she did.
Thank you for your warm and lovely comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I was so focussed on the image that I had to read the story three times for it to click. Sometimes one can be “slow” as I was!
Lovely tribute!
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Dear Dale,
I never mind someone reading my story three times. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
What a wonderful tribute to your friend who obviously had a zest for life. My heart goes out to you and others that held her close. A “beautiful splash of colour on God’s palette.”
Hugs to you
Irene
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Dear Irene,
At this point, we’ve had four years to “get used” to her absence. I still miss her, though.
Thank you for your comments and hugs.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Good friends always remain with you.
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Beautiful tribute – I love the idea of heaven celebrating her arrival. I think I will carry that image with me from now on.
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Dear Sue,
To know that you’re left with an image as a result of reading my story makes me smile.
Thank you for such a lovely comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A sad tale this week Rochelle, but positive one as well. When you’re missing someone, it can be hard to remember the brightness they brought with them, but its worth the effort.
As always very well written, the splash of colour brought phrase was a great shortcut for generating an image your friend’s bright character.
Well done.
KT
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Dear KT,
Bevy left a hole and I miss her very much. She was a quirky kindred spirit with a dry wit. I can only remember her in bright colors.
Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, dear Rochelle, my prayers wrap around you in a heavenly hug. Such a beautiful tribute to such a beautiful friend. It’s going to be hard to follow this one…
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Dear Star,
Thank you for the hugs and the kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love your description of Bevy. A very lovely tribute to a colorful woman who enriched your life. I am sorry you lost such a dear friend.
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Dear Emmy,
Many thanks on all counts.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You bring your characters to life with unmatched skill.
A magnificent eulogy.
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Thank you, Elephant,
You have a special way of giving a compliment.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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May we all have a Bevy to color our world. Lovely post…beauty and sentiment in so few words. ☺ Van
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Dear Van,
I was lucky to have known her.
Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very touching and emotional for me. But the sadness was eased by the wonderful memories of a great gal gone to soon from our world.
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Oh Rochelle, what a lovely story! Friends like Bevy really spice up our regular lives, you’re blessed to have known her.
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Dear Rachel,
I am indeed blessed to have known Bevy. She was quite a character.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely story, Rochelle, and a lovely tribute to someone who clearly meant a lot to you. I love the subtle way you tell us so much, without hammering it over our heads at all.
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Dear Jenn,
This might be the nicest comment and compliment I’ve received this week.
Thank you, as always, for taking the time to read.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s a beautiful tribute you have painted with your words…
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Thank you, Ansumani. 😀
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An amazing tribute, beautifully written Rochelle.
Hugs
Heidi
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Dear Heidi,
Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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“Today heaven’s awash with color and celebration while my world’s become a dingier place.” This line left me with a taste of glory and a twinge of sadness. Hugs.
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What a lovely way to remember a good friend. I bet you miss those dinners.
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Dear Liz,
Bevy is definitely missed, but the Monday night dinners have continued with George and then a year ago with his new girlfriend, now fiance.
Thank you for your lovely comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Gosh that’s simply beautiful.
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Thank you, Rosey. 😀
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Such a beautiful tribute. “a splash of color on God’s palette” is priceless!
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Thank you, Karen. 😀
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Dear Rochelle,
It often seems the true stories written for Friday Fictioneers come off even better than the fine fiction tales we write. That’s definitely the case here. You made your friend come to life once again in this excellent flash. The photos at the end add even more to the post.
Peace,
Marie Gail
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Dear Marie Gail,
I did bill it as realistic fiction, but only because I scrunched the time frame. And really, Bevy didn’t know she had cancer until two days before she died. It all happened so suddenly…for all of us.
They say ‘write what you know,’ don’t they?
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I should be so lucky to leave a friend such as you.
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Dear Dawn,
What a sweet thing to say. Smiling now.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A truly lovely tribute. True friends can never be replaced.
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Dear Alicia,
Fortunately, I have more than my fair share of irreplaceable friends.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Let us rejoice when others color our lives. I’m sorry you’ve lost a friend.
Take time to heal, Tracey
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Dear Tracey,
While my thoughts of Bevy will be filled with longing, it’s been four years. Now I rejoice in her memory. George has also moved on and has a new lady love.
Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A moving tribute, beautifully written as always!
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Dear Cheryl,
Sweet of you to say so. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Bevy is a lovely name for a lovely woman who obviously brightened your world with color, laughter and friendship. I picture her in heaven with a paintbrush painting everything with amazing glorious colors that are too “heavenly” for us to see here on earth. Hugs to you Rochelle for sharing your friend with all of us. I’m sorry you had to lose one of your bright spots here on earth.
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Dear Joy,
I have a similar vision of Bevy in heaven. She’s instructing the angels as to where to hang her paintings and odd bits of decoration on her mansion walls. I’m glad I got to know her and miss her terribly.
Thank you for taking the time to read and leave such a nice comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle, Wonderful tribute to your friend. Great story! Nan
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Dear Nan,
As always, your sweet comments are so appreciated.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hey, there it is! I will try, Rochelle. Thanks for including this photo. Great tribute to your friend. You inspire me. 😊
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Dear Amy,
It’s a great picture. Many thanks to you and Lauren for sharing it.
Happy if I inspire ;)…nice of you to say so.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sad ending but your beautiful last line is such a wonderful tribute to someone who obviously brought much colour and joy into people’s lives.
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Dear Ali,
If I could have changed the ending I would have. Bevy was a vibrant woman. I miss her.
Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A very poignant story. So sad that her secret took her from you.
I loved the phrase, “a splash of color on God’s palette.”
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Dear Jan,
In reality, there was no secret keeping. The rest was painful fact, just rearranged for fiction’s sake.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi Rochelle! Your each FF story shows us how to write a story.
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Dear Indira,
Your words humble me.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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nicely done. you had me on the very first sentence.
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Dear Plaridel,
Thank you for the kind of compliment every author wants read.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Mae Westburg,
I think I’ll be more like the little fart that’s stinking up heaven when I get there. Bevy sounds like a lovely soul and a real joy to be around. Thanks for sharing such a lovely and personal memory.
– Biff Scallywag
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Dear Biff,
I think Bevy would’ve liked you. She had a great sense of humor.
Thanks for coming by to see me. 😉
Shalom,
Mae
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Wonderful. There are always people in our lives, for whom we can thank for the color they placed into our lives. Her work is done here. Now it’s heaven’s turn. A beautiful story, Rochelle.
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Dear Eric,
Heaven has been Bevy’s home for four years. No doubt she’s remodeled her mansion at least once in that time.
Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, I love the prose in that opening sentence. I’m sure he’s right too, that heaven is all the brighter for having her.
Anne
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Dear Anne,
Thank you for your lovely comments and compliments. No doubt Bevy’s redecorating her mansion. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautiful. Heartbreaking. A celebration of life and grievance of death. I’m so sorry for your loss.
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Dear Jorbi,
Thank you for your kind words and condolences. Bevy’s been gone now four years. She was such a presence it’s hard to believe it’s been that long.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This was absolutely beautiful, Rochelle. I’m sorry for your loss, but I’m so happy that you had such a wonderful friend.
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Dear Emilie,
I’m indeed the lucky one.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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She sounds and looks like a “tanta” of mine. Randy
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Dear Randy,
Your tanta must be a wonderful lady.
Shalom and Happy Pesach,
Rochelle
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I can’t quite follow this one. She died?
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Yes, she died. 😦
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Dear Rochelle
,
It’s so wonderful if you can remember someone in colour. Often, the colour fades out of people long before they pass on, so it becomes impossible to remember them other than in monochrome.
Bevy sounds as if she was a treasure on earth, long before she ascended to her mansion above. No wonder you miss her so much.
All best wishes,
Sarah
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Dear Sarah,
Bevy never lost her flare for imaginative parties and decorations. I find it amusing, if not ironic, that Doug’s story was about a trompe-l’oei’l and Bevy painted one in her entryway. Right above her front door she painted it to look like there was a huge crack in the wall with the bricks showing through. It fooled me the first time I saw it.
I do miss her.
Thank you for your perceptive comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
I love fun coincidences. That’s hilarious about Bevy’s painting above the front door. I do so love people with imaginative senses of humour.
All best wishes,
Sarah
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Dear Rochelle
What a lovely poignant tribute to you friend, I’m sure she is smiling down on you. Some people touch our lives in such a way that things will never be the same again and we never forget them.
Thank you for sharing
Best wishes
Dee
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Dear Dee,
I’d like to think that Bevy enjoyed my story. She was quite the character.
Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This was a wonderful tribute to a well loved friend, Rochelle. You paint her as such a vibrant and colourful lady who did not want to burden her friends with her health issues. I am so sorry for your loss.
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Dear Millie,
Although the part about her keeping a secret alluding to her cancer is the fictitious part. However she never really let on how much pain she was actually in. So I’d say it’s a fair assessment to say that she didn’t want to burden her friends.
She passed away so suddenly four years ago. The bottom photo was taken less than a week before she passed away.
Thank you for you kind comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The first sentence says all about Bevy… how cheerful she must have been. And the last sentence also shows a kind of vacuum now created after loosing her. Such a wonderful tribute, Rochelle. There are some people who just want to spread joy.
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Dear Anonymous,
Bevy was a unique individual. Definitely not the Pollyanna type, but someone who kept life interesting and fun.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A beautiful tribute to someone who obviously held a special place in your heart.
I love color and feel it rules my life. I would be thrilled if my epitaph contained some mention of color. Friends do leave footprints in our hearts. My condolences to her family and you.
Love and Light
Isadora
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Dear Isadora,
As a fellow artist, I’m sure you could relate well to the color. Bevy passed away four years ago. It was sudden for she really didn’t know the secret herself.(That’s why I can call this piece ‘fiction’. 😉 ) The lower picture was taken less than a week before. There’s a place for her on my palette that no one else can occupy.
Thank you for reading and commenting. (Sorry it’s taken me this long to reply. I’m woefully behind.)
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautifully told. The details about the dinners, the house-hunting and Bevy’s warmth and colour all bring her to life in your story. You must have enjoyed remembering her as you wrote this. Cheers, Marg.
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Dear Margaret,
We always have a laugh over the house with all the air conditioners. The way she told the story made it even more fun. Lots of memories. Bevy was a great supporter of my writing, I’m sure she enjoyed this one.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So sorry for your loss, Rochelle. A loving tribute for sure.
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Dear Dawn,
She passed away four years ago. I still miss her.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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There’s no expiration date on grief. xo
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A moving memory. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you, Louise. 😀
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Dear Rochelle,
From title to ending, a lovely, loving, and stirring tribute to your friend, Bevy. And I’m sorry that the rainbow has now lost vital bits of its brilliance owing to her passing. Great, heart-hitting realistic fiction as ever, Rochelle.
Peaceful wishes to you,
Leigh
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Dear Leigh,
Honestly, the only fiction in this is the time frame. But I guess that still qualifies. 😉 It was four years ago and she’s still as close in my mind and heart as ever.
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Bevy looks silly and happy – great combination 🙂 I’m sorry you’ve lost this friend…
sending a hug,
Ellespeth
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Dear Ellespeth,
You just described Bevy to a T. Thank you for the hug and the comment. Both appreciated.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love the post…..especially love the header: Growing older is inevitable. Growing up is optional. It sounds and looks like Bevy would agree with this. It’s exactly why in my about I write, “I choose rejuvenatement, not retirement”. Enjoy your blog immensely!
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Dear Lillian,
Rejuvenate. I like that. I have six months to go before my time of rejuvenation. My job gets in the way of my career as it is. I’m so pleased that you came by to read and left a comment.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle,
Here’s a question for you. I’d like to publish some of my 100-word stories in a collection for Amazon. Are we able to use the pics too if we give credit to the photographer?
Shirley McCann
Sent from Windows Mail
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Hi Shirley,
Nice to see you here, even if it wasn’t to compliment my story. 😉
In answer to your question, you’d have to ask each individual photographer. I know Madison wanted some remuneration in return for her photos. I can’t speak for each one. Best wishes for your collection. As for any of mine that might be included, feel free to use them with credits.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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