I have missed the Friday Fictioneers community in recent weeks, due mainly to lack of inspiration and a lost muse! However, after my previous post, thanks to some very kind messages of support from Erin, Dawn, Ruth and John, that basically told me to ‘just get on and write’ I have a story; a memoir prompted by Sandra’s photo this week.
Thanks as always to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for organising the prompts and supporting all the writers, and this week to Sandra Cook for her lovely photograph.
Genre: Memoir
Word Count: 100
Hayride
I remember.
‘Come on up. You can do it!’
I struggle, balancing on fat bales. My grandfather pulls me up and drops me on the hay. I pick bits of straw from my unruly hair then scramble forward to watch Joe start the tractor.
The sun is warm on my back, the air is still. I feel hot, the straw scratches my legs and they itch. My father waves his shirt to me from the open gate, he is laughing, happy.
At the farmhouse, my mother and grandmother wait with warm scones fresh from the oven…
That summer, long ago.
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To help with my personal reboot, I have also changed the appearance of my blog. There are a few glitches to iron out, but I hope you like the new layout.
40again's Blog 
Yay, you! Nicely done. So happy to see you here. 🙂 In the line about your father, ‘his’ may need to be ‘he’.
Your blog looks great – love the refresh.
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Thank you Erin, glad you like it. I’ve corrected the typo, thanks for pointing it out. Glad you like the refresh – it was about time I think.
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Yes, I like the new look, and it’s good to see you back. Loved your memoir, I felt I could have been there. Nicely done Dee.
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Thank you Sandra, good to hear from you .
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Wonderful story that touched my heart. And I like your new lay out.
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Thank you Dawn, means a lot
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As long as you know that I am sincere. 😉
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Yes I do and I appreciate your honesty.
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🙂
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I hate when I misplace my muse. Sometimes I wish I had multiples laying around the house like reading glasses. Thank you for sharing such a lovely memory.
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That’s such a good idea. Pleased you liked the story
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Nice tale. BTW I almost read the reboot bit as part of the story – perhaps better to change font or something 🙂
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Thanks Paul, I’ll look to alter the last bit somehow. Good to hear from you.
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Very descriptive!
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Thank you Riya.
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Lovely memory….I could feel it.
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Thank you Ruth.
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Nice to have you back, Dee, and the new blog layout looks great. To make it easier to see where the story ends and the personal part begins, you could put some ************* in the center. That’s what I usually do. Works well. I like the story. I have similar memories of the farm only my grandmother made the world’s best cinnamon rolls. I’m the first in my family to make scones. 🙂
janet
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Thank you Janet. Cinnamon rolls are delicious, tasted them for the first time when we visited California years ago. It has taken a while, but we now have them over here too!
I’ll try the ********** it does need something, Paul made a similar comment .
Good to be back
Dee
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Lovely memories…great to see you again!
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Thank you. Good to hear from you too 🙂
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Dee, welcome back; I’ve missed you! Seems you jumped right back in… so much for inspiration and muse. You are a writer, and inevitably, it all comes back. Nice job here!
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Thank you Dawn. Not sure what happened,just felt disconnected for a while (that sounds weird but I’m sure you know what I mean)
Great to be back and in touch with everyone – missed that.
Dee
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I DO know what you mean… but generally, when I feel that way, I try to just push through. These writing communities are soo good for us! Glad you’re back. dawn
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Thanks Dawn.
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Lovely descriptions Dee. I felt I was right there, and reminded me of a tractor ride I went on as a kid (that I’d forgotten about until now… even after staring at Sandra’s photo for an hour last night trying to come up with inspiration!)
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Thank you Jessie, good to hear from you and I’m pleased you liked it. I have spent the last few weeks struggling with lack of inspiration, but as people have kindly reminded me – just get on and write and don’t think too much!. Their advice seems to have worked for me.
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That’s right. I’m someone who prefers to have a story clear in my head before writing, but with exercises like this that’s not always possible. Sometimes you just have to get on with it and write!
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A lovely, evocative reflection on simpler times
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Thank you for reading. Yes they were simpler times.
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Ah, I remember that summer when I was really into nostalgia. (Drum roll, exit stage left.). This was actually a very sweet remembrance, darling, and yes, it’s lovely to see you.
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Nostalgia was good this week. Thanks for reading Helena.
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Lovely ending. Creates in me a sadness for times past that cannot be recovered which as children we always thought would last forever. Very subtly and well done.
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Yes we did think those days would never end, thanks for reading Perry its good to hear from you.
Dee
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This was a lovely memory. Well done. That’s the kind of memory that cheers you up when you need it. Welcome back.
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Thanks for your lovely comment, I feel cheered that you liked it.
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Dear Dee,
Lovely to see you back. I’ve missed you. I enjoyed your memoir. No twists, no horrors, just a pleasant, descriptive story to read.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
I’m glad to be back. I don’t know what happens, but occasionally I doubt that I have anything to say that folks want to read. Thanks for your comment as always.
Dee
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Great memory. Delighted the muse is back.
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Thank you so much. I’m glad too, felt a bit odd not to write.
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I enjoyed the imagery, and the warmth and nostalgia of that memory–very pretty! This is my first time on your site, so I’m not sure what it looked like before, but this is a nice layout. I read your previous post, and agree with those who commented on it. I also grew up loving to write, but just stopped writing creatively for several years. Now I’m getting into it again, 100 words at a time. I’m happy that you’re writing again, because it’s obvious you’re good at it!
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What a lovely comment, thank you so much. I think the redo was necessary and reflected my mood and the need to start again, it seems to have worked.
I’m glad you liked the layout and also that you are writing again, it’s good news!
Dee
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A very nice job at making us “experience” that memory with you, Dee.
I’ve been sort of off-and-on with FF myself. Just too many other jobs to get done, I think. But I agree that, as often as possible, we need to just “keep writing.” I teach creative writing classes, and I always encourage my students to begin blogs and get involved in these kinds of challenges and exercises. It’s some of the best experience they can get.
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Thank you Sandra, I’m pleased you liked my ‘memoir’
I have found that work constantly interferes with my writing, but as you say I just need to keep on writing.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and encouragement, it is much appreciated.
Dee
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Loved this, even though I have Ode To Billie-Joe going round my head now.
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So pleased you liked it – I’m humming the tune now….
Thanks for stopping by
Dee
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