Thank you, Rochelle Wisoff Fields for leading dozens and dozens of us from around the world in another round of Friday Fictioneers. This week’s photo prompt is by Dale Rogerson. Thank you for inspiring my memories that inspired this story, Dale!
To read a virtual anthology of this week’s Friday Fictioneers’ stories, click HERE.
Photo courtesty of Dale Rogerson
One at a Time
Its frozen tears inspire me to wonder what the tree might be thinking. But that’s not why I stare. No, memories brought by the word “icicle” hold me there.
When I was a little girl, Christmas tree decorating began with great enthusiasm–until it came time to place the icicles.
“One at a time,” Mom insisted.
But when she wasn’t looking, I’d toss a handful so I could finish and go watch TV.
“One at a time!” she reminded, as I swore she had eyes in back of her head.
What I’d give to hear her words again.
My Mom and Her Icicled Tree
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- Circa 1972 – We’re all icicle-pooped!
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- Icicled even in her later years!
Steve’s Story
Stems and Rests
Hands in his pockets, he walked home from the doctor’s office where once again, the news had not been good. He came upon the tree and thought:
beneath the silence, ice
beneath the ice, music
and in the music
stems and rests
“Tonight,” he said to himself in a state nourishing self pity, “I’ll rest.”
Jan Morrill Writes 
Well done, Jan. Wish I could make those pictures bigger.
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Thank you, Christiane! I made the pictures a little bigger. ❤
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Your mom looked so happy sitting on the floor…
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Koji, my mom could be a drill sergeant at Christmas with her icicle demands, enlisting help to wrap every single little gift in the more than 30 Christmas stockings she put together and setting a dinner table fit for a queen. But she was a happy drill sergeant, because Christmas was the time we all came together. Though as a teenager I often rolled my eyes, it’s Christmas time I miss my mom the most.
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I’m sure, Jan. I’m sure…
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Awwweee. It’s when they are gone that we appreciate them the most. And just love the pictures, thank you so much for sharing them.
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Anuragbakhshi, you are so right! Thank you for visiting and leaving your kind comments! 🙂
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Memories are our most precious gift. They help us appreciate life a little more.
Loads of festive cheer your way.
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It’s true, Natasha, how memories can make us appreciate the life we have now a little more. Hope your holidays are full of cheer, too! 🙂
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Thank you Jan. Holiday cheer for you too. 🌲
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Lovely story – I think all Mums are like this when it comes to tree decorating, wishing the kids would do it right!
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I think you may be right about all moms having the desire for the perfect Christmas tree, Iain. Thank you and happy holidays! 🙂
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And Happy Holidays to you too 🙂
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Christmas is a time for remembering, wishing for times long gone. Your Christmas tree looks lovely.
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Thank you, Sandra. Yes, lots and lots of memories over the holidays, and we’re making plenty of new ones, too! Happy holidays to you and yours! 🙂
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Dear Jan and Steve,
Two good stories for the price of one. Jan, I hear your longing. So much said in few words. Steve, not a good time for a bad diagnosis (never is). Well done to both.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, I’m so happy to return to the challenge of saying a lot in a few words, and Steve is enjoying (mostly) the challenge, too. (“Does it really have to be only 100 words? But it sounds so much better with just a few more.”–I’ve heard that a few times.) 🙂 Thank you once again for leading this great group! Happy Hannukah to you, Jan and your family! ❤
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Yeah, it really does need to be 100 words. There are other challenges that offer more. 😉 I hope that doesn’t sound crass or mean. This isn’t to say that a person can’t take that short piece and use it as the foundation of a longer piece.
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I think he’s coming around to our way of thinking. 🙂
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😘😜
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This brought back memories. I remember those icicles. My mother had a love/hate relationship with them. They looked great on the tree, but not so good on her floor. Sometimes I would get one or two stuck to my Keds and broadcast the tiny strands throughout the rest of the house. Guess who got to sweep them up?
As for Steve’s story, I really loved the line “in a state nourishing self pity.” The sadness and emotion really came through strong. Well done.
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Russell, I think we ALL had a love/hate relationship with icicles. But I wouldn’t mind placing a few in memory of my mom. I wonder if I can find them anymore. Maybe Amazon! Yeah, Amazon!
I’ll pass along your compliment to Steve, too.
Happy holidays to you, Connie and your family! 🙂
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So many good memories. I loved the tinsel we always put on our tree but it’s gone out of style and I don’t know anyone who uses it now. My kids informed long ago that it was ugly. Little do they know.
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Now that I’m an adult (and a grandma!) I’ll agree . . . what do kids know about tinsel, anyway? 🙂 Happy holidays to you! 🙂
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Love this, especially the pictures.
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The pictures bring back fond, fond memories. Thank you for visiting! 🙂
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when I grew up, Christmas was spent in a country house without a television, and decorating the tree which we went out and cut ourselves was a great tradition… the night before Christmas eve was always busy when we decorated everything… not only the tree but also a very elaborate nativity landscape… yes there are some memories of rather doing something else, but I do miss it now. I do.
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Ahh… the tinsel debate! I miss those days! Lovely stories from both of you again!
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But tensile just begs to be tossed.
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