Saturday, July 9, 2011

Grow Old with Me


Jenny made a few threats about rocking our boats today with the Saturday Centus. Happily, she relented and offered the usual 100 words and a prompt (in red, below) that will raise no eyebrows.

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Grow Old with Me
©2011 Susan Noyes Anderson

Mornings were brutal. He woke up half of a pair, then remembered all over again that part of his fraction had vanished.

Nights were worse. Spending long days picking up shards and shavings of misery (as he did) made it hard to put them down again. Too hard. So he took the lot to bed, sorting with bare hands, hoping to discard at least a fewthe ones that pierced and made him bleed. Ragged ones, with unforgiving edges.

Above the headboad, a sign of the times (other, better times) mocked him. And the sign read, “Grow old with me; the best is yet to be.”

She hadn’t.

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28 comments:

Elizabeth said...

Thank you so much for visiting my blog and for all the kind comments! I look forward to reading yours -- and adding you to my list of treasured blog friends --

Deborah said...

Oh my, just unbearably sad ... brilliantly written!

BECKY said...

Wow, Sue...you've reminded me once again why I love your writing. You're truly brilliant!

Momza said...

well that's just sad. you told it perfectly tho'...perfectly sad.

jfb57 said...

Really moving. It took me a while to realise where the music was coming from!!

Brian Miller said...

what a sad tale...losing half the fraction and continuing on...think i would ditch the sign....

larainydays said...

Sniff. That was painfully beautiful.

karen said...

Having lived through that, it really hits home. Very sad.

Amy said...

You are amazing! Really. Amazing.

Judie said...

Sue, I am just blown away by your words. The pain of loss is so vivid here.

Joy For Your Journey said...

Well, that was certainly sad!

Darlene said...

That hits a little too close for comfort. It's a sad one and as usual I am tearing up, or I should say down, as they are falling. Darn! All of my friends are experiencing wondering which of our "half of a whole " will go first and however the surving one will be able to make it on their own. We all talk about it(at least the wives do, Why is it husbands are so loathe to think or plan for this eventual actuality?} I know I don't want to be left alone, but I hate for Dick to be alone too.

I agree with Brian.....That sign should definitely be removed!

Kim Lehnhoff said...

I loved this, the despair is palpable. You described it perfectly!

Jo said...

brilliantly done! oh the pain that loss can cause ...

cj Schlottman said...

Excruciating, beautiful and heart-touching, Sue. I always look forward to your posts, and I am never disappointed.

Namaste..........cj

Unknown said...

Reading thru tears ...AGAIN! So many are commenting on the what if; some of us know only too well, it's the little things that linger the longest or maybe forever. You are a word crafter and this was expertly done!

jeff campbell said...

"shards and shavings of misery"...visceral...so well written Sue...Peace and blessings

Dazee Dreamer said...

oh my gosh. That was sooooo good. And sad, and touching. wow.

Daydreamer said...

Awww sad but lovely.

21 Wits said...

Oh so sad...but on the bright side, lovely written!

Simple Home said...

Oh, such a sad reality, but so well written. You are truly gifted.
Blessings,
Marcia

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

How sad this was Sue. I love those opening lines about half and fractions. Beautifully written. laurie

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

You're a very old soul, Sue, as evidenced by the way you can plug into emotion when you write and make us feel it. At my age, reading this one was a little scary. Honestly.

Unknown said...

Oh my.... this is so well written that you have me in tears just thinking about how sad he must be!

Grandma Honey said...

I think this is a lesson to us not to take anything or anyone for granted. To treasure and appreciate each and every day.

Ames said...

Either she left him or died. Either way I don't want to be alone in old age.~Ames

Cheryl said...

Lovingly cross-stitched by my mom, this hung on the wall behind my parents' bed until they finally went their separate ways. Too late for both either of them to seriously begin anew.

Beautifully done.

Jenny said...

That's it. I'm done. I shall never write again after reading this masterpiece.

Geez, Sue.

You are astonishing.

Can I please, please, please have a few brain cells so I can implant them in my head?

Pretty please?