Time for another hundred words, despite being a bit distracted today by the news that my mom’s in the hospital for a few days with a UTI and blood infection. Thankfully, the former caused her to go for testing, which discovered the latter, making it much easier to treat. An IV antibiotic should kick them both out on their not-so-merry ways. Fortunately, the story more or less wrote itself in my mind while on the way home from work the other day.
Thanks to David Stewart of The Greenwalled Tower for the photo prompt and to Rochelle for hostessing the menagerie of writers each week.
Memories may be beautiful and yet…*
“Wow! The houses look so small. I remember them as big.”
“The tree we used to climb is gone. Wonder if the creek’s still there?”
“Oh, man, looks like Love Canal or something. There’s that spiky gate Jimmy almost impaled himself on.”
“Remember when…” and we were off and story-telling. Joe’s hands shaped paper boats like the ones we used to float in the creek. Jimmy, Joe, and Jenny. Inseparable. Until they left.
I launched every boat, one for each year. “Ooh Rah, Jimmy,” we both said softly. Joe saluted, then turned the wheelchair around and headed for the car.
*Thanks to Alan and Marilyn Bergman for the line from their song, “The Way We Were.”
This, that and the other thing 
While Thomas Wolfe may have been right, that was still a bittersweet story about ‘going home.’ 🙂
Going home isn’t always what it’s meant to be, is it? Whether it is or not, everything does seem to be smaller. 🙂
janet
Best wishes for a speedy recovery for your Mum. I recognize that feelings of thins being big in one’s old memories yet small in reality.
As of last night, Mom was doing well. She’s on an IV drip for antibiotics for a few days, but since they caught it early, things look good. Thanks.
janet
Nicely told. Life’s ironies and bittersweet realities tucked away in the ending lines of our stories and the stories of our lives. Randy
Very true, Randy. Off to work shortly. I hope your day’s begun well and continues to go that way.
janet
What a sad story. I hope your mum recovers quickly.
Thanks very much, Suzanne.
janet
I absolutely loved this. Great job
Thanks! I’m glad you loved it and thanks for not only reading but commenting as well.
janet
I hope your mom has a good day filled with continued recovery, Janet.
Thanks, Lisa. I just talked with her and she’s doing great. She’ll probably have to be in the hospital for a few more days because of the IV anitibiotics. But she feels good, which is great.
janet
Wow, so little says so much. Good job, Janet.
I hope your mom gets well soon,
Ω
Glad you like the story, Allan. Mom’s doing great. Thanks.
janet
Janet,
Sorry to hear about your mother and wish her a speedy recovery!
Thanks, Lucile. She’s doing well and feeling good. She’ll probably be in hospital for a few more days because of the IV antibiotics, but she’s reading and resting, which isn’t all bad. 🙂
janet
You’re welcome, Janet. I’m very happy to hear that. My best wishes to her speedy recovery.
Lucile
You can never go home I’m afraid. It’s all water under the bridge. Good piece.
Tracey
I remember going to my grandparent’s farm after they were both dead and thinking how small that house was in reality compared to my memories. That was a springboard for this story. Glad you liked it.
janet
The best tales are always those that appear from nowhere, and this is so poignant.
Visit Keith’s Ramblings!
Thanks very much, Keith. I’ll be working on reading stories tomorrow when I have some time.
janet
A tale of vets, one who made, the other didn’t? Poignant stuff. Deer Hunters?
Good luck, fruit and flowers for your mum.
Spot on , Patrick. Haven’t seen “Deer Hunter” since it came out. May have to see it again. Mom’s doing well, thanks.
janet
Childhood memories can be so bittersweet.
I hope your mum gets better soon.
Glad you like the story. Mom’s doing well, so thanks.
janet
Dear Janet,
Beautifully crafted story. Oo-rah and wheelchair told us the rest of the story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Too much of this going on, Rochelle. Glad you liked it. I’ll be reading stories tomorrow, which will be fun.
janet
Keep writing — you do it well, it is one of the great natural healers.
I really like this one.
Thinking of you and your mom.
Sad and nostalgic Janet, but beautifully done. Glad to hear your mother is taking a turn for the better.
Any return to childhood homes and haunts always find them so much smaller than they used to be. It was a lovely trip down memory lane becoming sadder as we find Jimmy has died and Joe probably paralyzed. Still I didn’t get the impression that it the characters were sad but simply remembering happily.
Hope your Mum continues to improve. Good to catch it early.
Youth and age have such different oerspectives, but the constant–if we’re lucky–is love and friendship. You’ve captured that essence so well.
Hope your mom does well on the IV antibiotics. Glad they caught it early!
Perspectives!
Oh, where is autocorrect when I need it?
wasn’t until i read it again until i realized how important “saluted” was. very impactful. is that a word? let’s go with “much impact” instead.
Dear Janet,
You’ve evoked the beautiful and strange way time shapes memories and memory frames time. This is a marvelous piece, full of love and loss and change, just like life. Well done.
My good wishes go out to you and your mom with the hopes that the miracle drugs of the fifties still have the punch required to help her kick the bugs out of her system.
Best of luck.
Aloha,
Doug
Praise from the praiseworthy is doubly appreciated. Mom’s doing well and the antibiotics seem to be doing the job. I appreciate your concern.
janet
A powerful last line 🙂
I’m glad you thought so, Helen. I always try to close my stories well. Looking forward to reading yours soon.
janet
I love the way Doug worded his comment. Exactly what I wanted to say, but much more eloquent.
Glad to hear your mom is doing better. I will mention her in my prayers.
I (and my family) appreciate the prayers, Russ. I also appreciate the comment on my story. 🙂
janet
when we grow old nothing would be left but memories. so, they better be goog.
I mean, they better be good.
If we get too old, they maybe goog. 🙂 I knew what you meant. I think we need to try to let go of bad memories as much as possible. Learn from them and then let them go.
janet
Clever, subtle, well-written, excellent.
Thanks, C.E., and thanks for your time. Have a great weekend.
janet
We both revisited childhood and loss this week. Lovely story, Janet. Hope your mom is well.
Thanks and thanks, Erin. Mom went home last night and is doing well.
janet
Beautiful and true. The home of memories never can be found quite as it was. I’m glad your mother is recovering. All the best.
Touching story, Janet. I’m glad to hear your mom is doing better. My prayers are with you and your family.
Nothing like some rust to evoke the passage of time and loss. This story is beautifully told and exquisitely tender, Janet.
From your updates, it sounds like your mom has turned the corner? I’m hoping this is true, but keeping her in my thoughts. 😉
I’m happy you liked the story, Dawn. Memories can be sweet or bittersweet or, sometimes, both.
My mom’s doing well. She’s home and still feeling good. I’m so thankful for the UTI that got her blood tested, thus discovering the potentially much more serious blood infection. Thanks for asking.
janet
Many people don’t realize how many people die of septic shock, from basic things like UTIs… particularly in the elderly. This is exactly how my MIL died. An undetected UTI that led to septic shock. Horrible. I’m so glad your mom is ok, Janet.
Thanks, Dawn. We are, too!
Sweet memories of childhood days can be both jouyful and sad.
You wove a heart touching story, Janet, in so few words. Loved it.
Izzy 😎
I’m so glad you loved it, Izzy.
Many-layered, nostalgic and touching. Lovely sweet-sad story!
Thanks very much.
janet
I’m late calling round this week, but glad I stopped by. Your story is so touching and heart warming at the same time. You have a lovely touch with stories like this Janet, I really liked this one. And so glad your mom is feeling better after such a worrying time.
Dee
Dee, your visits are always appreciated, no matter when. I have more stories to try to read before Wednesday, but we’ll see how that goes. 🙂 Thanks for your lovely words.
janet
Lovely story, Janet. You can go home in some ways, but not others. Well written. (Server trouble wouldn’t let me put a “Like.” —- Suzanne
Those pesky servers, Suzanne. 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to read and comment.