PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson
‘… and this one’s from Aunty Flo.’
Milky eyes squint at the card, hand waving over the pink and white blooms as if trying to waft them away. ‘Never liked chrysanths. Remind me of funerals.’
The words hit Cath square in the chest, but she pushes on. ‘You know Florence. She was Dad’s sister.’
Mum shakes her head, lips puckered tight. ‘Never had a sister. Only a brother.’ She glares across the table at the tributes and sympathy cards. ‘What’s all this rubbish for anyway?’
Cath almost says but it feels kinder not to. ‘Widow’ is such a harsh word.
Written for Rochelle Wisoff-Field’s Friday Fictioneers. See the photogragh and write a tale to go with it. See here to join in and to read the other stories.
Dear Lynn,
Having attended a funeral yesterday, I can’t help think of all the flowers and how much I’d rather get them while I’m alive. so am I to understand that Aunty Flo was a he turned she? Mum’s the widow, right? Love the dialogue and descriptions as always. Forgive any denseness on my part.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sorry to hear you had to attend a funeral. It’s a sad responsibility that seems to happen more frequently as we get older, doesn’t it? To clarify – no, Florence has always been Florence, but Mum’s mind wanders these days and she’s forgotten all about her. Probab;y not you, but me trying to cram too much story into the 100 word limit 🙂 Thanks for reading
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Yes, on my first read I thought the same as Rochelle about Aunt Flo. It was the passage “Mum shakes her head, lips puckered tight. ‘Never had a sister. Only a brother.’” That’s a real trigger phrase for anyone with experience of trans matters (and quite possibly other people too).
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Ah, yes, I see what you mean. Maybe I tried to cram too much story into too few words? Thanks for that Penny
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Very sad. In many ways, both of Cath’s parents are gone…
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Very true, Trent. The woman who was Mum is long gone. Such a sad disease, dementia. Thanks for reading 🙂
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Such a tragedy, especially as I’m sure in lucid moments she will remember that her husband has gone. You have captured the affliction of old age, loneliness and family all in 100 words. Well done Lynn.
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Thanks so much Iain. Yes, that’s the tragedy of dementia, isn’t it? How the personality comes and goes and comes again. Thanks so much for reading and the kind comment
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So much captured in a few words. Left me feeling very sad. Beautiful.
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Ah, thank you so much. That’s really kind of you 🙂
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A brilliant story. Caring for Mum when she’s suffering from dementia must be awful. You make it very vivid, Lynn.
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Thanks so much Penny. I’ve had a few relatives overtaken by dementia and the tales are so sad. Personalities disappearing, verbal and physical violence from people who weren’t like that before. A horrid disease. Thanks so much for reading
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Brilliant in its subtlety . I don’t know why I feel it’s better to have lost one’s spouse at a stage when memories aand life start to evaporate. I hope she has had a happy past with her husband . What a rich last line!
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So much easier if your mind is gone…
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True. But dementia doesn’t wholly do that does it? People have moments of clarity and that must be terrifying. A dreadful disease. Thanks Dale
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Yes. That is a horrid part of the disease…
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Thank you so much. You’re very kind 🙂
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Nicely done with great dialogue, you took me right into their world.
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Ah, thank you so much. Glad you liked it 🙂
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This is beautiful. Widow and widower are very harsh words. Kindness prevails in your story – thank you.
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Ah, thank you. They are harsh words, aren’t they. They bring a lot of baggage with them too, a lot of assumptions about a person. Thank you so much for your kind comment – I always appreciate your feedback
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It’s so painful to lose both parents while one still lives.
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Yes, just awful. To watch someone change from lively and keen minded to confused and befuddled. Watching with a relative of my own now. It’s very sad what time does to us all. Thanks so much for reading Tracey
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It is indeed a harsh word. (And when people find out I am one, they are shocked…)
That said, I so feel for Cath who has basically lost both parents… Flo is just an added layer…
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You’re right about the words widow and widower and people have assumptions, don’t they? They think of elderly men and women, which sadly, many widows and widowers aren’t, as you yourself know. Yes, Cath has lost her Mum. Now she has to wait for her not to be there anymore. Thanks so much Dale
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They do. But then, it should only apply to the elderly! Like losing a child – the “wrong” order of things…
So hard for Cath…
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You’re right – life running in the wrong order. It all feels so unfair.
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But is life…
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Well done. Here we go again with this blank screen! I ca feel for the daughter. It’s easier to leave mom in the forgetful place rather than trying to explain again.
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Sorry about the eternal blank screen, Christine. Just went on my site from ‘outside’ if you know what I mean and my text showed up. I’ll see if anyone else mentions a problem.
Yes, very true about Mum. Sadly, she’ll remember again at some point, but for now … Leave her in peace. Thanks for reading
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Hard-hitting. Brilliant, Lynn.
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Thank you so much Chris 🙂
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A very touching story about old age and loneliness caused. Well written, Lynn.
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Thank so much Neel
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This is brilliant, Lynn.
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Thank you 🙂
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Both parents are gone, one in a physical way and the other not so physically. It’s really tough to deal with. A well done tribute, if I may say so.
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Thanks so much Miles. Glad you liked it
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…A welcome change from stalking (including my own!)
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Haha! Maybe I’ll try stalking next week … 🙂
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Brilliantly different and a welcome change from the common theme that runs through most of our tales.
Click to read my FriFic
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Thanks Keith. Yes, not sure why stalking was so popular this week. Do stalkers send posies and ginger flowers? Thanks for reading 🙂
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Oh! How very sad. Well done.
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Thanks so much 🙂
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Lynn, you really nailed the honesty of emotions here. Death really sucks. Story really good!
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Thanks so much Kent and yes, it does, doesn’t it? Someone really must work out a better system 🙂
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Right!
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My take was that Mum was either in denial, suffering from dementia, or never cared for Florence. Of course, it could have been “all of the above.” My heart also goes out to Cath. Having dealt with aging parents (who are now both gone), I understand exactly what she’s going through.
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You know, I think you might have it there, Russell. Mum might have conveniently ‘forgotten’ Florence. People with dementia can be pretty conniving, so I’m led to believe. Thanks for reading
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Poor lady, having an unreliable memory and to deal with a death like this. Good on her daughter being there for her. Well done, Lynn.
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Thanks so much Varad 🙂
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Sad story, well told.
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Thanks so much 🙂
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What interaction, Lynn, lovely character sketching, makes the reader want to care about Flo despite her early onset dementia, because of the sympathetic way you’ve portrayed her and her daughter. Great tone and mood.
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Thank you so much. So glad it worked for you.
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Yes, it is kinder not to remind her.
I didn’t have any issues with Auntie Flo, just presumed that Mum’s memory was going.
Well done, Lynn. You wrote this with such kindness.
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Ah, thank you so much for the lovely comment. I’m really glad the emotion came through too – painful times for the two fo them to live through. Thanks Sascha
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Mum lives in her own world now. I remember having a similar conversation with one of my dad’s friends after my father passed away. He had totally forgotten that my father was no more. It is tougher for their families. Nicely done.
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So sad, isn’t it? A tragic way to end a life – especially when you remember the younger, vibrant person they once were. Thanks for stopping by and for reading 🙂
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Such a sad situation. I remember reading once that in her later years Margaret Thatcher had to be told every day that her husband was dead. Such a cruel and random affliction.
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It almost sounds like a Greek myth, one of those punishments from the Gods that has to be endured every day, over and over again like Prometheus chained to the rock. It’s a hideous affliction. Thanks so much for reading Sandra.
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Heartbreaking story. My mother asked for my father each time I visited her after her stroke. After a while I stopped saying he was dead and just said he couldn’t come.
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Ah, Gabi, that must have been so awful for you, I’m so sorry, Horrible to watch someone who used to be so in control become so helpless. Thank you for reading
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Yes, it was very sad. At times, my mother had a completely different personality. Very old memories were easier to recall for her than the newer ones.
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That’s very common I hear, recalling the past more clearly than the present. All to do with the way our brain stores memories and makes new ones. A horrible condition, Gabi
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Indeed. And you can’t even say I’d rather be dead, because we don’t really know what’s going on in there.
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Very true
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