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.

∞§∞

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 few–the 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:

  1. ElizabethJuly 9, 2011 at 10:14 AM

    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 --

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  2. DeborahJuly 9, 2011 at 10:29 AM

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

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  3. BECKYJuly 9, 2011 at 10:34 AM

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

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  4. MomzaJuly 9, 2011 at 10:47 AM

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

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  5. jfb57July 9, 2011 at 10:53 AM

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

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  6. Brian MillerJuly 9, 2011 at 1:34 PM

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

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  7. larainydaysJuly 9, 2011 at 1:52 PM

    Sniff. That was painfully beautiful.

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  8. karenJuly 9, 2011 at 1:57 PM

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

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  9. AmyJuly 9, 2011 at 2:04 PM

    You are amazing! Really. Amazing.

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  10. JudieJuly 9, 2011 at 3:41 PM

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

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  11. Joy For Your JourneyJuly 9, 2011 at 4:22 PM

    Well, that was certainly sad!

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  12. DarleneJuly 9, 2011 at 4:34 PM

    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!

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  13. Kim LehnhoffJuly 9, 2011 at 4:38 PM

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

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  14. JoJuly 9, 2011 at 6:27 PM

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

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  15. cj SchlottmanJuly 9, 2011 at 7:20 PM

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

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

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  16. UnknownJuly 10, 2011 at 4:26 AM

    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!

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  17. jeff campbellJuly 10, 2011 at 7:15 AM

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

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  18. Dazee DreamerJuly 10, 2011 at 8:01 AM

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

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  19. DaydreamerJuly 10, 2011 at 8:52 AM

    Awww sad but lovely.

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  20. 21 WitsJuly 10, 2011 at 4:38 PM

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

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  21. Simple HomeJuly 10, 2011 at 5:40 PM

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

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  22. Bargain Decorating with LaurieJuly 10, 2011 at 8:33 PM

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

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  23. People Who Know Me Would Say:July 11, 2011 at 3:02 AM

    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.

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  24. UnknownJuly 11, 2011 at 5:23 AM

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

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  25. Grandma HoneyJuly 11, 2011 at 7:32 AM

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

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  26. AmesJuly 11, 2011 at 7:44 AM

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

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  27. CherylJuly 11, 2011 at 9:10 AM

    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.

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  28. JennyJuly 17, 2011 at 8:45 AM

    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?

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