PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson
Never Again
The parties we used to have! Held on Thursday nights, around the calendar. Everyone knew to bring a dish, a bottle, and a CD of their favorite tunes. Winter time may have been the best of all. Everyone bundled up, rosy-cheeked, snuggling with neighbors, hands over the raised fire pit, keeping warm while laughing. The walls held us safely in their arms.
It was the days before curfews, food restrictions, and hazardous particulates in the air. Before they took you one midnight for criticizing their cruelties.
The soft white lights remain, a painful reminder of what will never be again.
[100 words]
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the host of Friday Fictioneers.
Tao Talk 
A lovely piece tinged with sadness.
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Thanks, Robbie.
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Frightenly close to reality, Lisa
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:(
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Yeah, I remember the restrictions on how many people you could have in your home for the holidays and how all that damaged the very young and the very old.
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I don’t remember that but am guessing it was during Covid. There was a lot of hurtful things going on during that time. My daughter in-law was pregnant during Covid and my son couldn’t go to doctor’s appts with her and only he was allowed at the hospital when she went through her very difficult labor and delivery. All I could do was send flowers :(
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The good old days. Great story, Lisa.
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A lovely story Li.
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And do not think it cannot happen- because it already is! Great write!
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This definitely captures the mood of living in the Trumpocracy.
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Great times gone by are hard to replicate. Nicely told.
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Thanks, James, I agree.
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Great times gone by are hard to replicate. Nicely told.
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Memories….
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Memories to keep us warm <3
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True
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I was smiling at the beginning, thinking, yes! How I would love to participate in such an event… and then, damn… Unfortunately, this is not so farfetched, is it?
Excellent story, Lisa!
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Dale, you always give thoughtful comments, and they are appreciated. I love the image. Will you please say more about it?
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I do try :)
This is in Old Montreal, off St-Paul Street (a wonderful street to walk along, no matter the season). I will have to go back to see where it leads. I am trying to remember if there was a gate that I snapped through!
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Those were the days my friend, we hoped they’d never end. Sadly they did. A bittersweet piece. Lisa.
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Indeed. Thanks for your faithful readership <3
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Dear Lisa,
I ask as I read “is this then or now?” Poignant and grim. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, I ask myself that same question. Thanks so much for being a kindred spirit.
Shalom,
Lisa
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Times are indeed changing, and not for the better. Thankfully we do have our memories. Some will never know how things used to be.
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Sandra, well-stated. It’s that last bit that gets to me.
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So sad… so worrying. Great little story, Li.
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Chris, thanks so much.
p.s. I just sent Jules my chapter.
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Ooh, excellent! Love Fawn…
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Me too, Chris. Hers is a lovely adventure.
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I really was pulled in to imagine the warmth of friendship regularly meeting and loved this part “a dish, a bottle, and a CD of their favorite tunes” – and then after you gave us all that tasty human connection – the twist at the end was a sobering thud!
I also read the comment about your “daughter in-law was pregnant during Covid” and how terrible those restrictions were. That must have been so tough for her and glad those days are behind. us – and enjoyed your story!
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Prior, thank you so much for your thoughtful comment. I remember covid being a thing we thought we’d never get through — but we did <3
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Sad story.
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Thanks, Dawn.
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eerie and hopefully not prophetic.
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