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
Genre: Memoir
Word Count: 100
PUBERTY
We went to Miami Beach the year I turned fourteen.
My first trip to the sea.
I had never seen such a great expanse of water.
The rush of waves crashing against the shore quenched my thirsty ears.
Ultimate peace.
However…
Hormones raged.
Everything went wrong that summer. I didn’t have a Twiggy figure.
My curly hair required constant ironing.
I hated myself and everyone around me.
As the years passed
I worked diligently to make peace with myself.
Water will always be my solace.
Looking back,
I ask myself, if I had it to do over again, would I?
*******************************************
A bit of a sneak preview. Waiting for the blurb for the back cover.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Nice x
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Thanks, Trish. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The thought of having to redo adolescence is already chilling, let alone wondering if the outcome would be the same
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Dear Neil,
My thoughts exactly. 😉 Thank you for understanding.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great trip down the memory lane.
Vitamin Sea always helps 🙂
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Dear Anita,
Vitamin Sea. I love it. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Oh if we could only talk to our younger selves and make us understand that we are wonderful as we are… I have to agree with Anita – the water is your vitamin!
Shalom and lotsa self-loving love to you,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
I often wonder what I’d tell my younger self. I can think of a few things. Okay…more than a few. 😉
I do love the term Vitamin Sea…or, in my case it could be Vitamin C for chlorine. He he.
Thanks for stopping by with encouraging words.
Shalom and lotsa validating hugs,
Rochelle
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I would hope that your words to her would be kind (I’ve no doubt they are). Yeah, Vitamin C but once a year, it is Sea 😉
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Too many kids have poor body image, and this proves it isn’t Tik Tok or Instagram causing it… Glad you got over and found your love of water 🙂
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Dear Trent,
I’m sure social media has done its part in escalating the body image problem. Sadly not every kid…or really hardly any kid matches the magazine model. It’s a tough one to overcome. Not sure I ever will completely. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Time and age teaches us a lot
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Dear Sadje,
Hopefully this is true and we gain wisdom as we age. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yes, some do while others don’t.
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I remember a brief, very brief period in my adolescence where I lived in a bubble of self-confidence and peace with the world. I don’t know what I was on back then, but I wasn’t on it long enough and I’ve never been able to revisit it. So yes, I can empathise with your piece this week, succinctly expressed as always.
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Dear Sandra,
That bubble evaded me completely. I developed into a woman (figure-wise) long before most of my peers. But it seems that no one–at least no one I know personally—emerged from adolescence unscathed. Thank you for your kind words re my piece.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, my. We do have that in common–not a Twiggy figure! Short and round, even before I gained weight. But I had a couple of boyfriends over the years who told me no guy wants to cuddle a twig 🙂
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Dear Linda,
I was short and well endowed by my Creator. 😉 And to have curly hair (for which I’m now grateful) on top of it. My husband seems to have enjoyed my individual traits for the past 52 years. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Twiggy was seriously underweight – even at 14 I recognised that – and now the BMI goal-posts have been moved I am, apparently, overweight! I’m average height and a size 14/16 UK – at my age I’m comfortable with that. Lizy
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Dear Lizy,
Looking back on those photos of Twiggy, I can see how unhealthy and truly unattractive she looked. Sadly the fashion industry has fostered many an eating disorder.
Currently I’m right where I should be BMI wise. I’m content. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, I think everything happens just the way it is supposed to, to lead up to the now. You survived your teenage years and that’s saying something. Good story and a good pic to write to.
So nice you are able to illustrate your own book covers. Looks good!
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Dear Lisa,
I have been blessed to be able to do my own book covers. Although my trilogy changed from my art to old photos with the new publishers. It’s okay. This one was kind of a serendipity. When I showed this publisher, Lia, my old sketch she fell in love with it. Like I should complain? 😉
I can look back on those teenage years and be grateful I survived. And there are some good memories. Even a few friends I’m still close to. Life is good.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, you’re welcome.
Shalom,
Lisa
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I sure know about your need for vitamin “C” or Sea. You are definitely a Mermaid and in your Happy world place when In water whether it is Sea or pool. Body image is a tough one and only viewed by the person who judges themselves. Looking from outside the box, No, you weren’t Twiggy. You were gorgeous. It took time but you overcame with one exception. Water. Good story.
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Awwww, thank you, m’luv. ❤
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Looking back on those teenage years, I always regret how much I let small stuff get in the way of just having a good time. I’m glad you found your solace in the water! 🙂
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Dear Iain,
When you’re a teenager every minor is a major, isn’t it? Thank you for your encouraging comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh yes, not having a body like Twiggy haunted me too. I would be horrified if I had to relive my youth. And I’m with you on water and the sea, that’s where I am happiest.
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Dear Gabi,
There’s a lot to be said about the fashion industry and not much of it is positive. In retrospect Twiggy looked like an advertisement for the concentration camp look.
Happy to know another mermaid. Thank you for your validating comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you for this week’s prompt! I don’t know, but you don’t strike me as the type of person who would go back and do it over or change anything. I’m happy you were able to make peace with yourself. That’s not easy.
Sorry, but I have to ask: who are you yelling at in the first picture and is it because you didn’t want your picture taken?
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Dear Michael,
Oh, I don’t know. There might be a few things I’d change. But for the most part, I’m happy with my lot.
I don’t mind your asking about that picture. That was from my fourteenth summer when nothing was right. My brother, who is six years older than I was the shutterbug. He caught me in the midst of a tantrum which I was pitching over my unruly hair that refused to straighten. Florida is über humid and no amount of ironing…with a clothes iron would work. Pretty sure I was yelling at Jeff to stop taking pictures. As you can see in the picture of us, taken last summer, I’ve made peace with my brother as well. 😉
Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I grew up by the beach. It seems odd when I learn of stories like yours. But puberty — that I relate to. Loved your photo!
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Dear Tannille,
I grew up in the central part of the US and live here still. We have lakes and rivers, but nothing like the sea. I look forward to visiting my brother and the ocean every year.
It seems we can all relate to puberty. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love the ‘thirsty ears’ line. Sounds like you knew deep down what you needed to heal, but wow, puberty is a kicker. I wouldn’t wish those years back for anything. “School days are the best of our lives” is the biggest lie.
Jen
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Dear Jen,
One has to wonder if those who told us our school days were the best of our lives experienced that personally. Thank you for your validating comments. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Let’s hope they did. Most kids certainly take for granted the freedom they have, but I wouldn’t go back for all the tea in Britain.
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I love the sea, but unable to reach it, I swam in the local rivers as often as I could. Puberty certainly challenged me.
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Dear Michael,
It seems the general consensus is that puberty was a difficult time. And it’s hard to be lover of the sea and live in landlocked territory, isn’t it? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I wouldn’t want to go back. I was happy to be out of school. Your hair looks lovely in the first picture of you at 14. It does now, though 🙂 (in the second picture).
And, oh, I know all about humidity and frizzy hair. The place my hubby is from is extremely humid and nothing I do works on my hair there.
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Oh, the angst of adolescence! I always think there are so many things I would do differently if handed a redo, but then I’d end up a totally person…
Water will always be my solace, too!
Angela
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Querida Rochelle,
Oh the woes of growing up and the distress we barely understand at those stages.
I am in the trenches with you, mi amiga. El pelo y las piernas flacas
y los muchachos que se burlan. Es un dolor para seimpre. Buen puesto …
Abrazos y Carino,
Izzy 😎 🤗 ❤️
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Querida Izza,
Kids can be so cruel at that age. Hard to remember that they were having many of the same insecurities then, as well. The teasing sticks with us. It has been amazing to me to get to know some of the “kids” as a result of being on a couple of reunion committees. It seems those girls who had the slim figures and straight hair had the same angst as I. Gracias para tus palabras amables.
Shalom y abrazos,
Rochelle
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I think it’s still the same as before. Kids enjoy inflciting discomfort on those who seem weaker. It’s why I developed Ana.
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Ahh, to be young again. 🤗 Ahh, to go through puberty again. 😱 I grew up on the coast. For years, I ran on the beach every day. I didn’t realize how spoiled I was until I moved to the mountains.
I like your book cover. Did you design and draw it?
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Dear Nobbi,
You were definitely spoiled. The ocean was love at first sight for me.
The book cover is my art work. It’s been edited from a sketch I did back in he day. The layout has been done by some graphics students. Glad you like it. The final will be revealed soon. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Puberty is weird and mean in its own right. And, no matter how much elders try to explain it, you have to live it all on your own. Thank goodness we only have to do it once. I’m glad you found your love of water during this trip. It’s served you well. Cheers, Lish
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Dear Lish,
I remember when my eldest son was around eleven I tried to warn him about puberty. However nothing prepared either of us for those years. It’s no easier on boys than it is on girls. (or their parents).
As for water. I grew up as a pool rat from the age of six but the ocean was the new thing that summer. 😉 I was born to swim. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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those wonderful years! either we learn to swim or die. 🙂
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Dear Plaridel,
It is a sink or swim proposition, isn’t it? thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh yes. the self-doubt, inferiority complexes, emotional turmoil – who’d ever want to relive it? Brilliantly captured here. And what a beautiful girl I see in the picture of the young you. Why were we never content with what we had? Lucky you to have found the solace of swimming.
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Dear Margaret,
Nope, I wouldn’t want to live puberty. Ugh. Thank you for your kind words. As you can probably tell, I didn’t feel very beautiful in that picture. At the same time I’m glad my ornery brother snapped that moment in time.
I am fortunate to have found my happy, watery place…whether ocean or pool. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely story 🙂 Being a teen isn’t for the faint hearted…darn those hormones!
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Dear Fleur,
I learned with my sons that it’s no easier for the boys than for the girls. Oh those darn hormones indeed! Thank you re my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ugh the thought of going through all that again…no thank you. Now if you offered my third decade over, that sounds inviting.
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Dear Dawn,
There are some decades I wouldn’t mind repeating knowing what I know now. However, I think I’d skip puberty. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh I think this retrospection is important but both photos look amazingly lovely. Such a terrific smile!
I hated my wavy hair too!
And fabulous blurb
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Dear Laurie,
Thank you for your lovely comments. The picture of Jeff and me is from last summer. It was a visit to smile about.
As for the cover. I’m looking forward to the actual blurb. One or two of those wonderful reviews will have to go. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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An excellent problem to have!
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Hi Rochelle,
It seems to be a natural feeling at that awkward age, where you think everyone is judging you.
I remember taking my daughter to the seaside for the first time. She paddled into the water, she scream because it was so cold. she then ran away up the beach and refused to come back. She was only two years old.
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Dear James,
I can see where the ocean might be daunting for a two-year-old. 😉
Oh that awkward age…for girls and boys. It’s amazing that we live to tell about it, isn’t it? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You clearly thrive in the water and it suits you wonderfully.
Excellent line … the shore quenched my thirsty ears!
One of my stories a while back was a letter to my younger self; it’s something everyone should try, just to see how much we’ve learned along the way and how well we turned out.
Peace, dear Rochelle
🕊️
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Dear Nancy,
What a great idea. To write a letter to one’s younger self.
Thank you for your sweet comments re my story.
I’ve long been a water baby and it helps retain my sanity.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You are most welcome, Rochelle. I’m all for sanity in this crazy world!
When you have the time (and/or the inclination), my letter to myself can be found here.
Have a wonderful day!
Peace 🕊️
Nancy
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This has really made me think about my own teenage years and what my teenager is going through now. I love it when a piece of writing makes me reflect, so thank you.
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Thank you for such a lovely and validating comment, Heather.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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We are our own worst enemies fueled on by societal ‘norms.’ I grew up hating my curvy body and now girls are getting surgery to get curves. No one ever wins! Nicely told.
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Dear Michele,
Some of the surgeries I see boggle my mind. We never seem to appreciate what we have, do we? I can honestly say I love my curls now. the rest is another story. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I saw you there. I would have said something but was too shy. Ah, those memories.
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Dear Patrick,
I understand. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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fourteen is an interesting age. i think there was a beautiful story by Rabindra Nath Tagore in our school text book about a boy turning fourteen
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Dear Arora,
When each of my boys reached fourteen, I said it was like the terrible twos only they knew more ways to say “No” and “Mine.” 😉 Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely story Rochelle.
We know in part and thus we live in part. Sadly we forget this and try to knowledge our whole lives through the lens of the now we know.
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Dear Chioma,
How many times do we catch ourselves saying, “if I knew then what I know now…” Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A wonderful story! 😀 Well done! I love it!
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