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PHOPTO PROMPT © Ronda Del Boccio
Genre: Personal Musing
Word Count: 100
MISHPOCHA
When I was a small child, we all went to the same synagogue. Passover seders and bar mitzvah receptions were epic events.
I remember how excited I was to be the flower girl at my cousin Marshall’s wedding. So nervous, walking down the aisle, I forgot to throw the petals.
We grew up, married and went our separate ways. My parents, aunts, uncles, and most of my cousins succumbed to the inevitable.
Time has scattered the rest of us to the wind. Fewer invitations, cards, or even texts are sent.
Recently I learned of Marshall’s passing—in a Facebook post.
- Mishpocha is Yiddish for family. L’chaim! To Life!
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
My advice: turn off Facebook. That way, they live forever
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Dear Neil,
It’s okay. I’d rather know. Thanks.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m sorry for your loss Rochelle. Although I’m not close to most of my family, they are still family.
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Dear Di,
Exactly. Marshall leaves a void. Thank you for understanding.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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And, there lies the cunundrum. We can simultaneously hate & love social media. It has been a blessing and a curse. With families and friends being so distant anymore, it is, unfortunately, sometimes the only communication we have. Sad but reality.
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Dear Jan,
So true. I’ve found family members on social media I never knew I had. Most of the time that’s been a blessing. 😉 Cunundrum indeed. Thanks, m’luv.
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It seems that this is the way we learn of these things these days. I remember when my mum’s brother passed away many years ago, my mum spent many hours phoning everyone she could think of to let them know. While I think there are many positives to Facebook, the fact that the algorithm doesn’t let you see all of your friends in your feed means these messages are easily missed. A sad tale but a modern truth.
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Dear James,
And if I weren’t on Facebook every day…several times a day, on desktop, iPad and iPhone I wouldn’t have known. So there are advantages and disadvantages. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I keep Facebook mostly for just that – staying in touch even loosely, with those I would rather not forget. It’s enough to feel that I know how they are doing, even when we are no longer close.
Sorry for your loss, Rochelle. We certainly don’t live in those forever communities any more, do we?
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Dear Jen,
Facebook has its drawbacks, but there are good things about it. Yes, keeping in touch is one of them. I’ve reconnected with some significant people from my past and have met a few who’ve become significant in my present. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sad how families drift apart like that. Beautifully told story, dear Rochelle. So very sorry for your loss.
Shalom,
🕊️
~ Nancy
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Dear Nancy,
Thank you so much for your comforting comments. Much appreciated.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi Rochelle, In my experience families and friends tend to carry on regardless unless you make a defined effort to keep in touch.
I have helped my elderly mother addressing her Christmas cards for her. (over sixty).
She has then listed in her address book, I am not sure if recalls who all of them are.
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Dear James,
I’m as guilty of not staying in touch as the next family member. It was a just a bit jarring this time.
I also send out physical holiday cards. I figure if I’m going to sell them, I should also use them. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
You said the link was tenuous… you weren’t kidding! I love this story, however. We lose touch but that Facebook can be a blessing – even if it is to share sad news.
My father’s best friend died and I heard about it from a friend (why my mother was not contacted directly, leaves me dumbfounded). Well, his widow didn’t post anything on FB and I do not have the newspaper so we never learned when the funeral was. (Don’t get me started on the friend who gave me the first news but said nothing for the second.)
So yes, FB can be a PITA but at the same time, it’s a link to people we wouldn’t otherwise have.
Shalom and lotsa love and condolences on the loss of Marshall,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
I did say tenuous. 😉 We have become such a fractured society. Thank you for sharing your similar story and your kind words re Marshall. Without FB I’d never have know. So it’s not all bad…just sad.
Shalom and lotsa intuitive hugs,
Rochelle
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That you did. I love it. And yes, I cannot diss Facebook. We don’t have to pay attention to the crap.
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That’s for sure and certain. 😜😎
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Haven’t heard that I w in a while!!
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*one
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I’m so sorry for your loss. I completely understand that Marshall leaves a void even though you weren’t close anymore. I don’t have any birth family I’m close to, not even my own parents or sister and it pains me to think I’ll one day find out about their passing through a text message if even that. I mean, when my father broke his hip about a month ago, my mother texted me a week later to let me know.
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Dear Astrid,
I’m sorry for your situation. There are no guarantees in life, are there? Thank you for your comforting comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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it’s a sad fact of life that nothing lasts forever. may he rest in peace.
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Thank you, Plaridel.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This was a really sad story 😢. It’s odd how life changes as we age. I try not to think of that stuff. My condolences on Marshall. May his memory be for a blessing.
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Dear Michael,
Sad and true. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I say I don’t like social media, but I use it to stay in touch with family and friends. It doesn’t matter how the news is received; it is still sad and sobering when we lose family. So sorry for your loss, Rochelle.
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Dear Brenda,
There are so many people I would never have met had it not been for social media. As a matter of fact I first learned about Friday Fictioneers on Facebook. Madison, the creator of FF, posted on our writers group page that it was time for Friday Fictioneers. I asked how to join and here we are.
Thank you for your kind comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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cant live without facebook…its an integral part of our lives…these days..thanks for the prompt..am joining since last week after almost 8 years….hoping to read many more fabulous stories..
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Dear Nandini,
Eight years is a long time. Welcome back!
Shalom,
Rochjelle
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I grieve with you. I’ve lost soo many in recent years it’s hard to believe I’m still alive… the one no one expected to live… is still alive! I’ve gotten moved into my tiny place finally, broken foot and all. Been sitting and waiting for it to heal so I could get back out. We had our first snow of the year last eve. Soo, pretty, like little whitecaps across the ocean. Happy Thanksgiving, Rochelle! Happy Shabbot tomorroow! Shalom~ Bear.
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Happy Thanksgiving, Bear. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great use of the prompt, Rochelle, time scatters us all.
Back in the day we had letters and the phone to keep in touch, and holiday cards instead of posts, and that was more personal and social than reading about what X or Y had for breakfast. I’m sorry for the impersonal way you had to learn about your cousin’s passing. It also shows how sneaky and successful FB operates, gluing people to its service, because… friends and family.
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Dear Gabi,
I’m glad you made the connection between my story and the prompt. 😉 Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, that’s so sad. And yes, through time and age we all move onto other things and family spread and then… it all ends and sometimes we find out and sometimes we don’t until later. Lovely piece, Rochelle
Laurie
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Dear Laurie,
I appreciate your kind words. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautiful and heart wrenching piece, Rochelle. I suspect this touches a cord for many of us, myself certainly included. -Angela
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Dear Angela,
Some families drift apart, don’t they? Mine, my children included, is scattered to the four winds. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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They certainly do. And it’s especially hard at the holidays <3.
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