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 © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
This week in the USA we celebrate the holiday known as Thanksgiving, which is usually characterized by watching parades, football and eating oneself into a coma. On that note, I want you all to know how thankful I am for you who participate in Friday Fictioneers. Some of you were part of the challenge before I joined. Some of you are newbies and others fall somewhere in between. A hearty THANK YOU, MUCHAS GRACIAS, DANKE SCHÖN, MERCI, MARAMING SALAMAT, TODAH RABBAH to all of you.
Genre: Anecdotal Fiction
Word Count: 100
DAUGHTER OF VOICE
For two years I saved to travel to the Holy Land where I dreamt of walking in the footsteps of the great Bible prophets.
After five days of touring ancient ruins and being dragged into schlock shops, I’d had no transcendent revelations and didn’t feel any closer to heaven.
On the sixth day I encountered the violinist. No crowds gathered around her, yet she performed with captivating passion that would’ve humbled Paganini. I dropped several coins into her open case. And there…
…in Jerusalem’s Cardo, amid patrons and peddlers, I came face to face with the unpretentious countenance of God.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
You define God so beautifully.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a lovely thing to say. Thank you, Reena.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful, Rochelle. Captivating. (2nd attempt at posting a comment)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Sandra,
Thank you so much. (both times 😉 )
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
May we all find “the unpretentious countenance of God”. Beautiful tale of the Holy Land.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for shuch a lovely comment, Frank.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Rochelle,
I am thankful to have become part of the group, even if I participate less often than I used to 🙂
This is a beautiful piece. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Shalom and lotsa thankful love,
Dale
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Dale,
It goes without saying, but I’ll say it, I’m so glad you joined the group. I’ve enjoyed your stories, your encouragement and your friendship from the beginning. Thank you re my story.
Shalom and lotsa thankful hugs,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely mutual! 🙂 xo
LikeLike
😘💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
🧡😘
LikeLike
Music can lay bare the soul and show us a glimpse of heaven… Great story. Hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving 🙂
LikeLike
I hate WP some days.. Anyway, that is my comment (and if I don’t show up again, Trent’s comment).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Trent,
Thank you for delaring yourself. WP is frustrating all of us on so many levels. That moment in Israel in 2006 is still one of the most memorable. Nothing lays my soul bare like a well-played violin. Thank you re my story. Hope your thanksgiving is filled with good things.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Music is, in my opinion, is the most moving force there is for changing and molding us into a different space in time than we were before we hear it. That can be good and bad. For me every piece of music can change my mood, mindset and how I interact with everyone and the 3 closest to me. Me, myself & I. Good story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Anonymous Jan,
Music has charms that soothe savage breast. 😉 Thank you for chiming in.
LikeLike
Beautiful. Happy Thanksgiving may you be blessed with plenty.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Michele. ❤
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love this. God created music, and I believe He takes great joy in beautiful music–especially when it is raised in worship of Him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen to that, Linda. Violin is my favorite instrument in any event. And I do love good classical music. (especially in a minor key 😉 )The highest form of praise Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
She was heaven-sent. A lovely story, Rochelle.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do believe she was, Keith. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
So many visit the Holy Land looking for illumination. However, we only see if we are willing to open our eyes (and ears) to the Divine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautifully said, James. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
A fine moment of revelation, and I like that it was simple music that took her there. Thankful for your continued leadership in FriFic Rochelle 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Iain,
Nothing takes me there like a well-played violin. Thank you for your kind comments and participation.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful story, Rochelle. God can be found even in the expected places 😉
You are welcome and may I offer my ongoing appreciation for your being at the helm of The Starship Friday Fictioneers ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Lisa,
Startship Friday Fictioneers…:D As a Trekkie, I love it. Thank you for your kind comments.
Engage!
And shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rochelle, glad my comment pleased you. You are very welcome.
Affectionately,
Shalom,
Lisa
LikeLike
Beautiful, Rochelle. Those transcendental experiences (Gods, universe, spirit or whatever) can always be found in the most unexpected places. I’m glad you found yours, and in a place that meant so much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Jen,
It’s truly a moment I won’t forget and it’s been a privilege to travel to the land. Thank you for your comments and compliments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful, Rochelle. I fully understand the transcendental and spiritual magnificence of the violin in good hands. I was walking through the Queen Victoria Building right near Sydney’s Town Hall station many years ago and I heard a violinist playing Minuet by Massinet. I was spellbound. Here’s a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTBsVBXaUh4
I ended up taking up the violin but I never quite got far enough to play it although I did get through the first page. Then covid hit and that was the end of my violin lessons and despite my desire to pick it up again, it’s been rare.
I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving despite the awful situation in Israel. We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving here in Australia, but I am very thankful for everyone who contributes to my medical team. There are many.
Best wishes and blessings,
Rowena
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Rowena,
I’m listening to Minuet as I write. It is mezmerizing. Thank you. I’ve never been able to play but I’m definitely a fan. Thank you for your kind words and for participating in Friday Fictioneers….my link with the world. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you looked up Minuet.
I know what you mean about Friday Fictioneers being your link to the world. It’s the same for me and keeps me writing fiction most weeks.
Best wishes,
Rowena
LikeLike
It’s the unexpected things that make a journey memorable. Happy Thanksgiving!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Anonymous,
Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Those moments that transport us are often encountered in the most unexpected ways. I’m not surprised this memory has stayed with you, and now you’ve shared it with us, beautifully. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. I’m thankful for FriFic too. And I thank you for keeping it going and for keeping the door open with a ‘welcome back’ for writers such as I who disappear periodically.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Margaret,
Friday Fictioneers is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. My husband thinks so, too. How else could I have made some great friends in faraway places? Thank you for being a part of it now and again. 😉
Glad you took the time to read and comment on my story. Reciprocation really is the life blood of this challenge. It’s why I joined and why I’ve stayed for eleven years. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
A stunning piece, Rochelle. How lovely it would be for everyone to see the “unpretentious countenance of God” in each other. Maybe then the fighting will stop.
Thank you for these inspiring photos week after week that keep us writing and meeting new friends. That is a wonderful bonus of a site such as this!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Nancy,
Wouldn’t it be grand if we could see each other as our Creator sees us? Thank you for your sweet comments.
I’ve kept Friday Fictioneers going (although not alone) for eleven years for the reasons you share—to meet new friends and share writing. I’ve made some forever friends over the years. Some I’ve had the privilege of meeting in person and others through the miracle of face to face technology.
Thank you ou being a part of it.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is truly my pleasure, Rochelle!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend. 🩶 🕊️
LikeLike
PS – I’m having difficulty commenting on some of the posts; my comment keeps loading and doesn’t seem to be going through. My apologies to those I cannot reach.
LikeLike
😦 Nancy, I’m afraid we’re all having difficulties with Word Press of one sort or another. Many of my commentors are coming across as anonymous and others are having trouble leaving comments at all. I wish I could help but haven’t a clue how.
Shalom again,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s the WP Gremlins! It was my hope that some of the commenters would see what I wrote to you and understand why I didn’t comment on their posts. The WP “Happiness Engineers” must be out on a long coffee break! 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A beautiful story Rochelle, thankful for you, as well.
LikeLike
Dammit…forgot to log in (on every single flipping page!)
~ Dawn
LikeLike
Dear Anonymous Dawn,
WP is being a thorn in everyone’s flesh. Thank you for identifying yourself. LOL And thank you for the lovely comment re my story. 😀 And, most of all, thank you for being an active participant in FF. Hope your Thanksgiving was a happy one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Oh this is so beautiful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Laurie. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Querida Rochelle,
A touching account of an inspiring event experienced in a foreign land.
I adore the violin playing and hope that the video is of that encounter.
The simplicity of people come upon while visiting another country is
significant to our memory. A beautiful laid out visual of a divine providence.
Abrazos y Carino, mi amiga
Izzy 😎 ❤️ 🙏🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
Querida Izzy,
God shows up in many different ways, doesn’t He? Music is one of the greatest gifts…of course I’m partial to violin. I wish I’d taken a video of the moment but that particular trip was before I had an iPhone. Sigh. Gracias para tus dulces comentarios, mi amiga.
Shalom y abrazos,
Rochelle
PS my story is also a revisited and a bit reworked story from the past. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can relate to the violinist. It doesn’t matter if there are thousands of readers or one, I still show up and put everything into creating.
Many thanks to you, Rochelle, for giving us a place to congregate and a weekly adventure in which to participate.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Nobbin,
I do look forward to your stories and recordings each week…oh, and your doggy icons. 😉
I have to admire street performers who put themselves out there for a large audience or even and audience of one.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Your FF is absolutely spot on and so very topical. Hopefully, better sense prevails and man learns to live alongside man. Though i missed the past month and a half due to certain personal reasons, for me FF is the writing platform where i go to find some of the best writings and even better writers and human beings. I am indebted to you as all others are for the yeaoman service FF provides week after week. Heartiest congratulations and a huge salutation for you, dear Rochelle.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Dear Neel,
I have felt your absence. I realize that life does indeed throw us some curve balls. 😉 Thank you for your sweet words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike