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As always, please be considerate of your fellow Fictioneers and keep your stories to 100 words. (Title is not included in the word count.) Many thanks.
Note- I am out of town this week so my replies and comments will be delayed. Thank you for understanding. Shalom, Rochelle
The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.
PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Word Count: 100
ANNIVERSARY WALTZ
“Oh how we danced on the night we were wed.”
Charlene remembers the song the band played for their first dance as man and wife. With his wavy blond hair, Larry was her Prince Charming.
His hot breath in her ear gave her shivers when he sang, “Two hearts gently beating were murmuring low.”
An unrestrained belch brings her back to the present. His golden curls are long gone, but his eyes remain as blue as ever. She leans her head on his shoulder.
His hot breath still gives her shivers when he sings “My darling, I love you so.”
****
NOTE ON MY PROCESS
(not required reading. 😉 )
Without a doubt, there are some of you scratching your heads, wondering how I came up with this story from that photo. I understand. As briefly as possible I will try to explain. At first glance the photo said “Dust in the Wind.” (dry leaves, etc) From there my mind took me to crumbling relationships like marriages that end up being anything but “Happily Ever After.” From there I looked up the lyrics to the Anniversary Waltz. Somehow, my muse decided that my story should have a happy ending. So there you have it. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
I love ‘Dust in the wind’ by Kansas. This was such a heartwarming tale, Rochelle. Loved it.
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Dear Varad,
That song did go through my head, too. 😉 Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I really liked that process note, Rochelle. I didn’t feel though that your story was about a crumbling relationship but about love abiding when the trappings of romance have faded
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Dear Neil,
I started out with a crumbling relationship but at the last minute, the muse decided that there was still fire in the relationship. That’s also part of the process…going one way and going another direction instead. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thats so beautiful rochelle.
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Thank you, Deepa. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love hearing the thought process. This is a beautiful tale of enduring love.
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Dear Jenny,
I thought this one might seem to have a tenuous enough connection to the prompt to require some explanation. 😉 I’m rarely one to stick to a literal interpretation. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sweet story about lasting love. I really enjoyed your process notes, insights into how your creative imagination works. Fascinates me where our meandering thoughts take us.
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Dear Francine,
To quote Thoreau, “It’s not what you’re looking at…” 😉 I’m glad you enjoyed my notes in any event. And my story. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love the reassuring note of reality you inserted in the fourth para. Hopefully his “hot breath” didn’t emanate from a bowl of chilli con carne. And thank you for the note on process. I love an oblique take on a prompt, and you did this well.
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Dear Sandra,
Fascinating photo. I really had no idea what it was, glad you explained. It’s always fun to see where people will go with a picture like that. 😉 Well, most of the time.
Okay…sometimes.
You know me…rarely a slave to the prompt. Thank you for your kind words. 😀 And thank you for the photo.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The unrestrained belch made me laugh in the middle of all that romance! Delightfully realistic with just the right touch of enduring love.
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Dear Fatima,
When I first started the story, I had the title and the theme. Originally, I really planned to have her be brought back to the present with the belch with disillusionment. Then it occurred to me that the story would be more effective with a happy ending. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’re right–I was wondering 🙂 Kept checking back to see if I was missing something. Your explanatory note cleared it all up.
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Dear Linda,
I usually am tenuous in my connections to the photo prompts. This time I went so far afield I felt that an explanation might be in order. Hope you enjoyed the story in spite of the confusion. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I certainly did. Never read one of yours yet that I didn’t enjoy 🙂
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The romance doesn’t have to go with the hair 😉 Nice story. Isn’t it funny how the mind goes on those tangents?
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Dear Trent,
I read once that true love isn’t when a couple’s on a date and his car runs out of gas and she says she loves him. It’s years later when they’re sitting on the sofa and he runs out of gas and she still says she loves him. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I liked the note of the writerly process that went into creating this beautiful feel good story, garnished with the appropriate tinge of realism. Rochelle, reading you and the way your mind works . is always one big unadulterated pleasure.
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Dear Neel,
I’m savoring the sweetness of your comment. 😀 Thank you very much.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely story. I am equally circuitous about “process.” I appreciate the photos like this one. Sure beats a picture of a porcelain dragon on a coffee table or a photo that looks like it was snapped by accident.
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Dear Josh,
If it had been a photo of a porcelain dragon there would’ve been at least 50 original stories about talking dragons or poor souls trapped inside the dragon for centuries. Just saying. Thank you re my story and thank you for being one who leaps out of the box and swims against the flow of the masses.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s sweet that she can still love him in spite of the unrestrained belches.
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Isn’t it though? 😉
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Glad you included the explanation – it all makes perfect sense now! Lovely tender story of a life well lived together.
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Dear Iain,
This one seemed to need an explanation, although you know, I’m never a slave to the prompt. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ha ha – thanks for the explanation – now I get it! Lovely story, Rochelle.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thank you for understanding, Susan. 😉 And for the kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Well, well, well. So love can last after the hair color changes? That’s good to know. Lol. Good job and a nice little romanticism can’t be bad.
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Dear Jan,
Love can and does survive a multitude of changes. 😉 ❤
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Dear Rochelle
This was a most lovely – and, let’s face it, quite real – love story!
I love how you went to China to get to Kansas…
Lotsa love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there. 😉 Glad you enjoyed my circuitous route to my story. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That is the ultimate truth right there.
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True love eh? A beautiful thing, warm and fluffy
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Dear Shrawley,
True love goes deeper than outer trappings, doesn’t it? 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yes indeed Rochelle!
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True love has to withstand all those droll, ordinary things, including tacky bodily functions.
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Dear Larry,
That’s the earmarks of true love vs. true lust.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
I hope wherever you are this week, Rochelle, whatsoever you are doing, with whomsoever, your week sparkles like this delightful story.
Shalom
Kelvin
P.S. I, too, loved your explanatory note, and the tone and the wink.
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Dear Kelvin,
Have laptop, will travel, but not a lot of time to spend at the computer. I’m visiting my one and only sibling, my brother in North Carolina. I’m glad you enjoyed not only my story but my explanation of how I got from point A to point B by way of Point R. 😉 Thank you for your lovely comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Nothing like a close dance, lovely.
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Dear Ellen,
“Dear, as I held you so close in my arms…” That song has been a favorite of mine since childhood. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You don’t get many of them to the pound, so capturing them is special. X
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I’m glad you chose to celebrate enduring love in this week’s story. It’s never perfect – the golden curls don’t last – but the underlying deep affection can last a lifetime. Lovely story, Rochelle!
Shalom
Penny
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Dear Penny,
I can’t go dark every week. 😉 I’m glad you enjoyed reading my story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Happily ever after involves a lot of patience and working at it, doesn’t it? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It certainly does, Rochelle – but it’s well worth it!
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Love the story… sometimes love can remain as strong, and it only take that gaze even when the hair is grey. The thought process is very interesting, I started to think about insects when I saw the picture… maybe nesting for butterflies.
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Dear Bjorn,
For love to last it takes a lot of work and understanding. Gold turns to gray. Lithe figures fill out. Adversity either tears us apart of melds us together. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Nice that even when she snaps out of her nostalgia and is ungraciously returned to the present day, everything is just as it was, at least, everything important.
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Dear Andrea,
True love goes deeper than lust, doesn’t it? Thank you for your lovely comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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extremely sweet and also incredibly realistic. Awesome take!
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Thank you for such a generous and affirming comment, Shivam. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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When you’re at the point where you find the unrestrained belch endearing, you’re good. Such a sweet and realistic story, and I love the meandering thoughts that fed the muse.
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Dear Gabi,
Prince Charming has his flat sides. We all do and to expect otherwise is unrealistic, isn’t it? 😉 Glad you enjoyed my meandering explanation. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Fun process, sweet story, I think I saw a little Russell G influence in there. And don’t these writers have anything better to do with their time? I went to add my story and there are 33 stories before mine!!!
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Dear Ted,
I’m always happy to see you here. Speaking of Russell G i haven’t seen the red of his clown nose this week. What’s up with that? And what could be a better use of time than writing flash fiction and sharing it with friends? 😉 Re my story and process, thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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don’t have much time, library only gives 30 min. Just wanted to pop in and say to Sandra Cook…what an AWESOME pic this week. Leaves me with the image of a “hillbilly” wailing wall. And leaves me wondering if I can incorporate such a contraption into the next Hope Ranch book I just started writing…. Rochelle, HAHA, I love it! That happens to be one of our favorite songs and about the only one that I can play on my keyboard with any accuracy. It’s beautiful, and eerie…and, I got your process notes totally. I was thinking about walls…hence, the wailing wall analogy…. well, I’m off… only a few minutes left here.
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Dear Jelli,
As you can see, I’m late getting around to commenting and replying. Having a quiet moment at my brother’s house with laptop on my lap. 😉 I’m glad you found time to write a story…and a darn good one at that.
The Anniversary Song has been a favorite of mine since childhood. ❤ 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’ve seen your pics…. somehow methinks you need more fun with family in your life…it brings a glow to your eyes.
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And that’s the way love should be.
Good job, Rochelle.
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Dear Phyllis,
Enduring love can overlook belches and other functions, can’t it? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, nice thought. Thank you.
Blessings,
Phyllis
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Sad to learn of her disease. Looks like Cancer.
Hope she gets well. Love has great power.
Hope all get to experience such happily ever after love in real-life.
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Dear Anita,
I’m not sure what part of my story you’re commenting on but it doesn’t seem to speak to any part of it.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love transcending belches. Powerful thing love. I enjoyed understanding, ‘I think’ how you got to this piece of flash. The prompt picture has certainly created a diverse range of responses.
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Dear Michael,
It was definitely a unique prompt. I let my muse have her way and that’s where she took me. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This is lovely up to the belch and then it becomes loving. Yes, this is a real relationship when you can stand all of the foibles and still find love.
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Dear Sascha,
No one person can live up to another’s ideals or expectations all the time, can they? 😉 Thank you for such a sweet comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m glad to see I am not the only one who goes where her muse leads her despite what the picture may show. This is why you are our inspiration!
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Dear Dawn,
I’m always happy to see FF’rs see more in the prompt that what’s literally there. I never mind a story that has me scratching my head asking, “how did you get there?” particularly if it’s a good story. 😉 Thank you for such a wonderful comment. You made me blush.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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i love the way the story ended. well done.
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Thank you, Plaridel. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I am so glad you decided on a happy ending. We need more of those.. Beautiful story.
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Dear Lata,
Sometimes I have to cut loose and write a happy ending. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I listened to Andy Williams while I read your story and read the comments. Great start to my day. A tender story of enduring love that, as somebody once wrote, does not alter when it alteration finds.
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Dear Jilly,
What lovely things to say. You made me smile. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Aw, nice, I was worried it would have all gone wrong by the end 🙂
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Dear Ali,
Happy to put your mind at ease. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Loved the transition of being in love to loving. And I also liked your explanation of how your creative process worked its way to your story. 🙂
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Dear Jan,
Every once in a while the muse leads me so far from the prompt it seems like an explanation might be in order. 😉 Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Awwe, that was so sweet.
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Thank you, Anurag. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I can never get tired of sweet romantic tales. It’s a beautiful story with a happy ending, Rochelle.
My take on the prompt 🙂
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Dear Piyali,
Fairy tale romances are hard to come by, aren’t they? Nonetheless, true love can weather the tests of time. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yes, in today’s world fairytale romances are extremely rare. I am on a vacation, therefore, couldn’t respond earlier. Shalom 🙂
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Thanks for explaining how you got from the picture to the story. There have been a few times I’ve read the stories and gone, “huh? How does that fit?” And yes, a good love story is so much better than a breaking of the heart one.
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Dear Stu,
You may have noticed that I’m not a slave to the prompt. 😉 If ever you can’t figure out how I got from a particular prompt to my story, feel free to ask. There’s usually a method to my madness. 😀 Re my story, thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That was definitely a stretch. Nice story, though.
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Thank you, Liz.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I was one of those going ‘huh’ but I get the process. The great thing about photo fiction is everyone sees something different, which gives us a wide variety of stories to read. Inspiration, like beauty, is in the eye of beholder. Or maybe the pen of the ‘holder’. Thanks for sharing your creative process.
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Dear Susan,
As I’ve said before, I never allow myself to be a slave to the prompt. Never fear asking me how I got from here to there. 😉 Hope you enjoyed my story. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very much
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What a heartwarming tale. If only I’d been so lucky – the only thing I have in common is the occasional unintentional belch!
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Dear Keith,
What can I say? 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely to have the notes on your process. And a lovely story too – we all love happy endings.
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Dear Sarah Ann,
It seemed like the time for a happy ending. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A touching story, Rochelle. On the surface of it, your couple has fared better than mine. However, my husband and wife each enjoy their solitude and don’t want to live in each other’s pockets, although there is that evolving sense that maybe her husband is spending too much time in the shed but more out of concern. The big question mark for couples of a certain age is the dreaded A word.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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Thank you for reading and commenting, Rowena.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Reblogged this on All About Writing and more.
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Thanks for the reblog, Henrietta.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You are welcome!
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Hi – I enjoyed the realistic feel to their long-term relations – beautifully done
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Many thanks, Yvette. Glad you enjoyed.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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😉
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The good thing about free-associations is that they can take you on some fascinating rides … so I say to your round-about-ride for this prompt: “You GO girl and why not?!” 🙂
I added my contribution to the linky-froggy but as is my ‘custom’, here it is copied as well … just because.
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Na’ama Y’karah,
I like to give the muse free rein and follow her wherever she leads. 😉 Glad you enjoyed my story. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Indeed it is the best way to amuse the muse! 😉
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Hi,
Your process produced a post of penetrating poignance. Enjoy your travels.
D.
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Hi yourself,
Amid your building bookshelves and braving blustering winds, it’s a bonus that you took the time to read and comment. It’s a bonus to read your voice to brighten my morning. Thank you, my friend.
R.
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Old age can get quite crumbly, so your story does fit. Nice one Rochelle.
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Dear Joyful,
Old age isn’t a privilege granted to everyone, is it? Even better if it’s with a longtime love. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Anyone who can smile through an “unrestrained belch” has got to be in love. Nice story and a great way to run us through your thought process (umm I am going skip explaining mine for this week).
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Dear Subroto,
I usually write my story and let the reader figure out my inspiration. This one seemed like an explanation was the sporting thing to give. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love a good happy ending. Lovely! I needed a smile.
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Dear Laurie,
Your smile is my praise. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A very sweet, romantic story. Liked it very much.
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Dear Lisa,
Glad you enjoyed and took the time to say so. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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