Our Mantra
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 © Lisa Fox
Good news! I finished the recent round of edits for my upcoming novel, LAST DANCE WITH ANNIE. Not so good news. I really couldn’t come up with anything new this week. So, as not to leave a blank spot on my blog, I repeated a story from 2017. Thank you for your understanding. 😉 BTWm this week marks my eleventh year as FFFacillitator. 😀
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
DREAM A LITTLE DREAM OF ME
“No, Poppa, don’t fence me-e-e-e i-i-in,” sang Ellen Cohen, her pudgy hands on her swaying hips.
Bess marveled at her seven-year-old daughter who looked at home under the bright lights. “Imagine, Phillip, our little girl at the Hippodrome.”
“Kate Smith couldn’t sing it better.” He grinned. “Today Baltimore, tomorrow Hollywood.”
After the show, anger drilled Bess when a stranger pinched Ellen’s cheek and said, “What a voice. Too bad she’s,” the woman lowered her voice, “on the zoftig side.”
The future Cass Elliot stuck out her tongue. “Someday I’m going to be the most famous fat girl in the world.”
*****************
September 19, 1941-July 29, 1974
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
As usual your stories are very inspiring. Great news on the book. Congratulations
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Thank you so much, Sadje.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’re most welcome!
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In Brazil, gordinha (little fatty) is a compliment
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Well, there you go, Neil. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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When talentless strangers say things just to express some form of superiority and the comments hurt, I think it is sad as they exhibit pure envy.
Good news on your book.
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Dear Anonymous,
It is human nature to put someone down that we envy, isn’t it? A true sign of feelings of inferiority. Thank you re the book. A step closer. ;D
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi Rochelle, I have not read this story before. I think that many strangers are deliberately hurtful as they are envious of other peoples’ ambitions and talents. So sad.
Great news about your book.
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Dear James,
It seems to be human nature to cover our own inadequacies with put downs, doesn’t it? Thank you re the book. A step closer.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A very talented lady who we lost far too young. And, yeah, even in death they teased her about her weight. Great story.
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Dear Trent,
What a voice she had. I’ve listened and relistened to Dream a Little Dream of Me. What a talent. Definitely taken too soon. People can be so thoughtless. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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For some reason I always think of this: https://youtu.be/vZPmZ64m3_4?si=1zLDszWklyQQuyGN
lol, OK, as a 5 year old kid I knew Smothers Brothers more than Mama Cass… I’m sure in 1968 this was very controversial.
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What did the Smothers Brothers do on their show that wasn’t controversial? 😉 😀
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Exactly!
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The skit is slightly silly, but they treated Cass Elliot with respect
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Inspiring story. Great that she won.
Congrats & best wishes for “Last Dance with Annie”. Looks interesting.
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Dear Anita,
Thank you for declaring yourself. 😉 WP has been such a pain lately. Thank you for the kudos and kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
A worthy repeat 🙂 Always lovely to have you bring history (no matter how recent) to life.
Shalom and lotsa wide open love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
Some days the magic works and some days it doesn’t. Thank you. 😀
Shalom and lotsa nostalgic hugs,
Rochelle
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It happens to the best of us. Most of us just don’t participate when that happens… then again, we are not the boss!
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Still, one of these days I just might leave my story blank. 😉
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You don’t have to participate, yanno. Sammi rarely does. She puts up the challenge and doesn’t even bother to read the participants’ entries, never mind participate herself. Weird, but hey.
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Hmmm. Where’s the fun in that? It was the global participation that hooked me in Friday Fictioneers. 😉 I made some great friends that way.
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Oh, I agree. Not that I’m judging… much.
I hear ya, friend!
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Momma Cass. What a voice she had. Apparently, it did not stop her from singing. People can be so cruel in their comments whether intentional or not. We can all learn a lesson about speaking before thinking. Good story.
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Dear Jan ,
So true. Oh that voice. Thank you, m’luv.
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Congrats on the book, and on you 11 years of so capably corralling all of us here on FF!
Cass Elliot is a favorite of mine. One thing I know for sure–being told you’re a “little pudgy” as a child will NOT help you become slim. Ever.
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Thank you, whoever you are. 😉
Cass Elliot had an amazing voice, didn’t she?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Congrats are in order on multiple fronts! 🙂 Gonna have to come back to write this week. I’m scurrying trying to find a doctor to call in a script to the pharmacy for an antibiotic for an ear infection… nearly impossible without health insurance, I tell you.
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Thank you so much, Bear. Hope you were able to get the meds you need.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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No, I wasn’t. but the home remedies are working to a point. If my tubes would just unplug I’d be perfect. Praying for you and your family. Shalom, Bear
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Glad you are in the final stages before publishing your newest book, Rochelle. Happy 11th Anniversary of being Our Fearless Friday Fictioneer Facilitator. Love where you took the story. So sad to see Mama Cass lived only 33 years on this earth. What a voice and light spirit she brought while she was here ❤
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Dear Lisa,
For someone to pass away so young is a tragedy…and what a gift she had. Thank you for your kind words. Being FFFFacilitator has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, you’re the best Facilitator we could ever ask for ❤ You're welcome.
Shalom,
Lisa
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How sweet of you to say, Lisa. Thank you. ❤
Shalom,
Rochelle
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❤
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Good for her! The world needs role models of all shapes and sizes!
Funnily enough, I’m planning for an 11th birthday in a couple of weeks, so I remember well the timing of Madison’s retirement and your taking the reins. You’ve steered our ship expertly – I hope you’ll stick around until the 22nd birthday!
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Dear Jen,
Wow. It is his 11th birthday! The time certainly has flown by. I just couldn’t let FF go and I’m glad I didn’t. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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She had a lovely voice – maybe being big gave her that resonance? What a shame she died so young.
Congratulations on reaching 11 years, and on completing whichever draft this is of your next book. I’m about to embark on the first edit of mine.
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Dear Anonymous,
She did have a lovely voice. Thank you for your kind words. All the best on your book.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Congratulations times 3. Your book, your 11 years taking care of FF and this story. I’ve always loved her voice, and your story shows very movingly how she must have suffered because of the way people judged her.
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Dear Margaret,
Thank you for your kind words. FF is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
What an inspiring story. I admire Ellen’s self-confidence. In spite of the woman’s remarks, she was determined to fulfill her dream and she did. Too often people try to discourage others from reaching their potential. Ellen rose above the criticism and achieved her success.
Great tribute to a talented lady who left this world way too soon.
Shalom,
Adele
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Dear Adele,
Cass certainly did rise above criticism. So sad that she left us so soon. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Congratulations on the book edits, Rochelle. As I am repeatedly being reminded, you usually can’t tick all the boxes at once. Also congratulation on 11 years of hosting FF. That’s an impressive commitment and a lot of hard work and inspiration. Thank you for that as it has been a great encouragement to my writing.
Great story too.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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Dear Rowena,
Friday Fictioneers has become such an integral part of my life, I can’t imagine not doing it. 😉 But I keep in mind that I don’t do it alone. Thank you for your participation.
Thank you re my story, too.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’re welcome, Rochelle. I try to keep up and it’s a good discipline for me to keep writing and also have some routine.
I managed to enter three poems in a poetry competition yesterday. I had to cut them back to fit the length and reworked them quite a bit and what with my daughter’s formal and graduation last week and my son returning from LA on Tuesday and renovating his room, I left it til yesterday but so pleased to get them in, joining the arena and making some progress.
I have been thinking of you with events in Israel etc. I don’t watch the news very often and am not keeping up with what’s going on but it’s heartbreaking and the people there have already experienced so much war and hardship.
Shalom and best wishes,
Rowena
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Being overweight didn’t hold her back, she even sang about it – ‘and no one’s getting fat except Mama Cass’.
Great news about your book, and well done on inspiring the Friday Fictioneers for eleven years! (that rhymes!)
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Dear Keith,
Perhaps Cass would’ve lived longer had she not been overweight. Of course there were other variables in the health equation.
Thank you re my book and Friday Fictioneers. You are one of the ones who keeps it going, my friend. Thank you for that.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautiful piece
And yay on the edits! Well done!
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Thank you and thank you, Laurie.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Cass Eliot was reported to be one of the kindest people in show business in addition to having enormous talent. Too bad she died so young.
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Dear Liam,
Mama Cass’s premature death was indeed a tragedy. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such an amazing talent!
11 years, that’s a labour of love. Here’s to the next 11. 🥂
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Dear Tannille,
Cass made her mark in a short time, didn’t she? Thank you for making eleven years of FF possible.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi Rochelle congrats on that step closer to your book! And also 11 years fo FFeering wITH many many more to come 😀 I loved your story and the song, wonderful voice. I really wish we could do something about this early age conditioning and body shaming that just doesnt go away, no matter how hard one tries to rise above it.
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Dear Dahlia,
If only we could accept people for who they are inside. But we don’t, do we? I’m as guilty as the next person.
Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Querida Rochelle,
I remember reading this one. It’s still a great story. I always enjoyed Momma Cass. I thought she made the group. Nice tribute to her.
CONGRATILATIONS on your book and on being such a gracious hostess week after week. You rock !!!!
Abrazos y Carino,
Izzy 😎💜🤗
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Querida Izzy,
It’s always nice to have a rerun or two to fall back on. 😉 Glad you enjoyed it the second time around. 😀
Mil gracias for your kind words. (and for being an important part of Friday Fictioneers).
Shalom y abrazos,
Rochelle
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good for her. i think it was sinatra who said that the best revenge is to be successful or something like that. congrats on the new book and for hosting this site that long. we can’t live without you. 🙂
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Dear Plaridel,
No matter who said it, it’s a great saying. Thank you for your sweet words and for being an important part of Friday Fictioneers. ❤ 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wonderful, Shalom!
And it’s new to me!
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Thank you, Nancy. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Excellent story, Rochelle. And so it was. 🙂
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Many thanks, Bill 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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32 is way too young for anyone to die, especially one who brings joy to so many through entertainment.
Congratulations on finishing your edits! That’s huge. I always get stuck and nitpick forever. Another congratulations on your FF milestone, or were you just stuttering? Thank you for hosting. I’m sure I can safely speak for the others when I say we appreciate you.
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Dear Nobbin,
No stuttering here. 😉 Taking the helm of Friday Fictioneers from the originator was one of the best life decisions I’ve ever made. Thank you for your words of encouragement.
Cass Elliot was a terrible loss, among so many talents who died young.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great story. I look forward to your next book.
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Thank you, whoever you are.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Congrats on the final edits of your upcoming novel and 11 years as FF facilitator. 👏 I wasn’t around for FF in 2017, so I’m glad to be reading some of your older writing. So sad that’s all someone can come up with and to a child. Good story.
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Dear Brit,
I guess people think that children don’t have feelings or won’t remember the offense. Thank you for your kind words. I still can’t believe I’ve been at FF for this long. I joined as one of the gang in April 2012. I made some good friends around the world and, when Madison, FF’s creator wanted to step down I just had to step up. I never dreamed I would still be doing it eleven years latere.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I agree.
Time goes so fast when you enjoy what you do, and you’re doing a wonderful job. 👌
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