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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.

This was my fifth annual visit with my brother and sister-in-law. As always it was hard to leave, but good to come back home. The ocean was rough this year and dangerous for swimming most of the time. Still great beach times. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. 😉
Genre: Histrionic Fiction
Word Count: 100
ANNUAL HOLIDAY
“You take separate vacations?”
Rochelle grinned at the tanned woman beside her as the plane made its ascent. “Every year for the past five. He goes to South Dakota for the bike rally and texts me pictures of the most gorgeous scenery.”
The North Carolina landscape dwindled below. Rochelle turned from the window. Ten days of sightseeing and beachcombing with her brother zipped by. They’d laughed at punchlines without telling the jokes and reminisced about things only siblings would remember.
“Wouldn’t you like to go with your husband sometime?”
“Nah.” Rochelle wrinkled her nose. “It’s way too peopley for me.”





Way too peoply is a lovely way to put it
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Thank you, Neil. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think it’s a superb idea to have separate vacations.
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Dear Sadje,
This is the fifth year we’ve taken separate vacations like this. We both look forward to it. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’re welcome! 🤩
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😁
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😀
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It would be an idyllic state. Great idea!
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Dear Reena,
Nothing is better for a relationship than spouses who allow the other their own space. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Separate vacations sounds like a great idea!
You shared the secret of happy married life.😊
Indeed “it’s way too peoply outside”
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Dear Vartika,
Allowing the other spouse space is, I believe, one of the keys to a successful marriage. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A lovely moment of family time. Yes, we do need a break from our constant companions once in a while, just to remind them who we are.
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Dear James,
It’s good to remember that even married people are individuals. Allowing the other autonomy breathes life into a relationship. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Fantastic idea. I’ve always found it odd couples who do everything together, even things one of the parties hates. I think you bond with your brother better this way?
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Dear Tannille,
We’ve found this works for us. And, yes, it does make for a great bonding time with my brother. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Histrionic Fiction? Lol. No fiction here. Yes, it’s great that we allow each other our own space. That and, separate bathrooms does help make a marriage better. Although, I really look forward to getting home and back to you. The love of my life.
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Dear Jan,
The fiction part is the tanned woman on the plane. On the way back I sat between two guys who never said a word. In fact the guy by the window slept the whole time with the shutter down. Grrrrr.
Always nice to return to each other, isn’t it? ❤
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Nothing wrong with separate paths on vacations, done for the right reasons. Renews affections and the desire to be together again. I loved seeing Jan’s response 🙂
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Dear Linda,
I’m fortunate to have a husband who gives me my space. He loves Sturgis and understands I wouldn’t. It gives me the opportunity to enjoy my one and only sibling. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Terry despises the beach, gets bored in five minutes or less. I crave the solitude provided by the umbrella and my sunglasses, and I love watching the surf and the horizon. And I love being able to read without interruption. He bikes off to see the wildlife and whatever else is out there 🙂
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New word to try to use somewhere! “peopley”
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Dear Frank,
It’s funny how I thought I made it up and then we found it on a T-shirt. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Nice way for both of you to continue to enjoy your likes. I understand the peopley part. Good story, Rochelle.
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Dear Lisa,
I’ll confess to being a cockeyed introvert. Hoards of people are not my thing. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle,
You are most welcome.
Shalom,
Lisa
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What a beautiful beach, the dilemma for me is that I love both the idea of visiting the beach and riding a Harley on the old Route 66
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Dear Micheal,
Route 66 ends in California at Santa Momica Pier. You could catch the beach there. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Ain’t nuthin’ wrong with this whole scenario. Vacations are meant to be enjoyed and if you each enjoy something different, then hey, all the better to go out, come back and regale each other with your stories.
Shalom and lotsa happy-to-see-you love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
I see other couples where one smothers the other. At some point the smothered escapes in one way or the other. At this stage, Jan and I are still regaling each other with our stories. Thank you for your input. Looking forward to hearing your stories. 😉
Shalom and lotsa free-to-be-me hugs,
Rochelle
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Yes. And no thank you. Mick and I liked the same things so it never became an issue. I wonder what would have happened regarding Italy… Something tells me I would have ended up being screwed in the end. I don’t like to say it but…
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Perhaps if my ex and I had given ourselves more me-time, we’d still be together. Who knows?
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Dear Keith,
Who can say? I do know it’s important to both my husband and me to have the space to do the things we both like to do.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wonderful story, Rochelle,
Three good things, or is it four? You each enjoyed your vacation time and you’re both happy to be safely back home.
It’s interesting to me how often comments so often become part of the flash FF story.
Peace,
Bill
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Dear Bill,
The comments do become a part of the story at times. I’d never really thought about it. I know I repeat some version of this stoy every year, but I can’t help myself. 😉 Besides the last one was a Weekender piece. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I like that…too peoply! I’m not a “peoply” kind of person by nature. Love your story. It sounds like a wonderful trip to be with your brother. I worked for a summer at Mount Rushmore 40+ years ago. The Black Hills of South Dakota rumbled with the bikers came to town! (haha) It was actually quite amazing to see and everyone were very friendly!!
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A lot of typos in my previous response (haha) but anyway I wanted to say your painting is beautifully done, Rochelle.
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Dear Brenda,
My husband is the quintessential extrovert. There’s no such thing as a stranger. He loves the crowds and all the goings on at the bike rallies. Just not my cuppa tea. I feel like I’m suffocating in large crowds. I like meeting new people…one on one.
I thought it was funny I’d made the comment to my brother that Saturday the beach was too peopley. He hates crowds, too. The next day we found those T-shirts in a gift shop in Myrtle Beach.
Re my painting, thank you very much. I’ve never sold a print of that (and of course the original is for sale. 😉 ) So I thought it deserved air time since it’s one of my faves. Maybe it’s because I’m showing it in Missouri.
Shalom,
Rochelle
PS Not to worry I read fluent typo. 😉
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It is very peoply out there.
I like indoors more… less peoply and all that.
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Dear Chioma,
Some of us enjoy our own company or the company of others…one or two at a time. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Querida Rochelle,
The perfect word “Peopley” for large crowds. I’m not a fan of crowds. I get knocked around a lot. Short people thing … lol
I’m so happy you had a grand time with your brother and his wife. These are the memories that will linger in your heart forever. Bravo for taking a vacation that you enjoy. El amor de familia 💜
Carino y Abrazos, mi amiga
Isadora 😎
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Querida Isadora,
I’m more of a water baby than Jan although with 28 years in the Navy he loves the ocean, too. Crowds are more his thing.
It’s amazing how tall people in crowds are, isn’t it? It’s like they grow out of the ground. 😉
It as a lovely time with my brother and sister in law. I just adore them…and their three dogs. No dogs here so I get my fur fix there.
Gracias y Paz,
Rochelle
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I think that’s a great idea sometimes you just need to do what’s good for both of you 🙂
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Dear Angela,
We do both enjoy our space. As he said in a comment earlier, it’s why we have separate bathrooms. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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“Way to peopley for me” is definitely the feel around my house lately haha. Though we’re going on vacation soon while summer’s still out.
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Dear Lilac,
Enjoy your vacation. Welcome back and thank you for your comments. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beaches over bikes sounds peaceful.
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