Each December, we’d unpack the tree decorations, laughing as we sang “Well hello, how are you…?”
And when we put them away in January, we’d croon “I’ll be seeing you…”
When the first bulb-tips pierced the winter-packed soil, you’d sing “When it’s spring again…” and as we later tied down the drooping leaves, I’d rock out “See you later, alligator…”
Every summer, we’d drive from the log-cabin, punching each other in the ribs, screeching “Another one bites the dust…”
Deep inside, unspoken, I’d wonder what would have changed when these milestones came around again.
You’ve gone.
I wasn’t expecting that…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-lI_tgQMMk – (Jamie Lawson)
Thanks to The Reclining Gentleman for his photo of my favourite spring flower – daffodils have been on my mind for several weeks now, but not on sale here sadly, where I’m still nursing a Poinsettia that refuses to be killed off. Thanks also to Rochelle, the multi-talented leader of our accomplished band of Friday Fictioneers, and congratulations to Margaret Leggatt, our Australian member, on her recent success.
Oh Sandra,
That last line was a punch in the gut. I love the idea of singing to greet and bid farewell to the seasons. Not to mention I could hear the songs. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks for visiting Rochelle. I hope “I wasn’t expecting that” doesn’t become the ear-worm it has for me.. 🙂
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Very different from you, Sandra, but cleverly woven and powerfully poignant.
I never follow links but, because it is you, I did.
Never again, I am wrecked now!
Quite a song, I didn’t know it, so thank you for that too.
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Aw thanks CE. I’ve had this song on this mind 24 hours a day for weeks now. I thought if I wrote about it I might exorcise it. Not yet though … 😦
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I think I might be living with it too.
It is powerful, almost hypnotic.
All that it lacks is bagpipes in the fade out…
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That’s it. I’m over it now and off to bleach my ears…
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Oh how touching. We’re both emotional this week! The daffodil should inspire some joy I hope.
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🙂 I’m always pleased to get my first bunch of daffs on the dining room table. Thanks for reading.
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A powerful collision of happy memories and sad realities.
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Thank you!
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I loved this and now wish I hadn’t read it before writing my own (I usually try to avoid it) as I was sort of going to go down the same path. That song and video were gorgeous, thanks for sharing.
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You’ve uncovered the reason why I try to get in first! 🙂
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Indeed! Normally I try to resist… wasn’t able to this week!
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What a moving story, Sandra! I loved how a soundless soundtrack accompanies your main character’s familiar and joyful events through the seasons. Lovely memories with her/his loved one. And that ending! (I actually expected that, but dreaded it.)
Nice song! Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks for reading. 🙂
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Wow!
DJ
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I love the idea of a song for every occasion, so sad what life throws at you in the end though.
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Inevitable I guess All the more reason to live for the moment. 🙂
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Ah. A life filled with love now all alone. May there another to sing new songs and bring new love.
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I hope so too. 🙂
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;0)
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Such a sad tale beautifully told.
I love the song.
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Thanks for reading. 🙂
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From the earth and to the earth, so live and yet so sad.
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There’s no stopping the cycle, I’m afraid. 🙂
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The cycle of life – it keeps turning. The certainty of milestones take our eyes off the uncertainty of what may be.
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So true Patrick.
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There is a sense of refrains repeated over and over… and then suddenly the record is broken.. what a great way to select those tunes to weave a story.
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I guess we’ve all got our story songs.
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Ah the memories….disrupted by the loss of someone….forever changed. I enjoyed this very much.
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Thank you Lillian. 🙂
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expressively eloquent and sadly true, Sandra. So well written, my friend.
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Thank you Penny. 🙂
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I too am still contemplating the implications of that final poinsettia that simply refuses to “bite the dust.” As we haven’t had much cold weather here to date, I’m not particularly chomping at the bit for spring to come. I did thoroughly enjoy your story–although I expected the ending. Sometimes the expected ending still works.
All my best,
MG
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I actually have a 15 month old one back in the UK, Marie-Gail. I board her out with friends whilst we’re away but she refused to expire. Not a pretty sight though.
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A bit straightforward for you, but powerful as always. I think life always seems to turn out to be what “I wasn’t expecting” …
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I don’t know whether to be flattered or not. 🙂 You must live an exciting life, Perry.
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What can I say…I wasn’t expecting that 🙂
Well done Sandra.
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Thanks for reading Ansumani.
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but in the end we always manage to move on and wait for the new flowers to bloom
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Strong survival instincts, I think. 🙂
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Oh Lord! That’s just how I felt when Pa died – never to be able to share those moments again.
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Fleeting moments, I guess, Liz.
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Such a sad ending to a happy joyful piece. The possibility that this might be the last time rarely occurs to people.
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I think you’re right. But it doesn’t do to dwell on the possibility. 😦
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Lovely how you tie happy lives to songs. But the end–that song is played up and down in the radio where I live (and I can’t hear it any more, sorry). Great punchline for your story though.
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Yes, I was surprised to find it was released several months ago. It’s got staying power. 🙂
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Something about the everyday nature of this story makes the last line a stronger punch, Sandra. I like it!
No daffs here either, and our poinsettia is putting out a bunch of new growth too. I always saw them as a sort of extended life cut flower arrangement, but this one is determined to live beyond its season!
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I was saying to MG above, that I still have one from the Christmas before last! Not exactly a pretty sight but I feel obliged to keep up with it. I’m really soft like that. Thanks for reading Jen.
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Beautiful, poignant and very resonant for me this year. It’s just as well that we never know what changes the year will bring.
‘I wasn’t expecting that’ gets a lot of airplay here in Ireland and it gets me every time, even before it took on such a personal meaning.
A beautifully written piece as always
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I hope this didn’t stir up too many unhappy memories for you Siobhan. Stay strong.
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Sandra,
you did a beautiful job tying this together with songs, especially with the little details, like “punching each other in the ribs” that make it so much more vivid. Hopefully she’ll keep singing or maybe the songs will keep going in her head.
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Thanks for reading David. 🙂
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Like Rochelle said, that last line was a real punch in the gut. It really got me. I could just hear all the songs and feel the joy between them as they shared them. What a way to bring in the seasons and experience the passing of time. I would feel pretty lost if that went away all of sudden. Very well done, Sandra.
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Thanks Amy, glad you liked it.
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Depth is your forte and so are the twists in the end! 🙂
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Thank you! 🙂
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Sad ending but beautifully written as usual.
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Thank you Indira. 🙂
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All things must pass they say, but boy, how we hate to let some of them go.
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Don’t we just. Thanks for reading Russell.
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So many shared memories, a lifetime packed in just few words. Such a poignant story, told in the most simple way, as is the way of a true love.
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Thank you! 🙂
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It is a sad ending but she has all those great memories.
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Thanks for reading Deborah. 🙂
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i guess in life the only constant is change.
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So true. 🙂
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Beautifully told… love how the cheeriness goes to somber by the end, creating a powerful ending!
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Thank you, Lori. 🙂
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My pleasure, Sandra 🙂
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Oh. That was a shock ending – but brilliantly set up and delivered. I love how you used the songs.
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Thanks Margaret. 🙂
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I don’t think we can ever fully prepare ourselves.
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Great story, Sandra, with a hard-hitting twist at the end. It’s a lovely and original idea to sing at each event. Well done as always. —- Suzanne
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This is a wonderful weeper Sandra. It stirred something deep at my own losses and changes over the years.
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A sad ending to a paragraph that ended with such joy. Unexpected.
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Always having a song in one’s heart… awesome. Then the emptiness at the end! Well done!!!!
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