Posted in Flash Fiction Fridays | Tagged 100 word story, 100 words, arms of comfort, birth, children, death, fiction, flash fiction, funeral, gone too soon, grief, hush little baby, loss, love, mother's love, mothers, pain, protecting children, saying good-bye, southern writers, totsymae, totsymae writes, writing | 65 Comments

65 Responses

1. on February 15, 2012 at 8:52 pm | Reply Jueseppi B.

   So much talent. Where were you twenty years ago?

   
   
   • on February 15, 2012 at 10:40 pm | Reply totsymae1011

     Thanks.
     In Texas.

     
     
2. on February 15, 2012 at 8:58 pm | Reply Gwen Sears Bullock

   Brevity of labor, and brevity of life….feeling it

   
   
   • on February 15, 2012 at 10:41 pm | Reply totsymae1011

     Hmmm…(Just thinking)

     
     
3. on February 15, 2012 at 8:59 pm | Reply V. Lyn

   Powerful

   
   
   • on February 15, 2012 at 10:44 pm | Reply totsymae1011

     Thank you, V Lyn. Thank you.

     
     
4. on February 15, 2012 at 9:13 pm | Reply Linda Medrano

   The painting and the words are so extraordinarily touching and beautiful. I’m honestly in awe of your talent, Totsy!

   
   
   • on February 15, 2012 at 10:45 pm | Reply totsymae1011

     Thanks, Linda. You make me laugh so much and now, I am smiling.

     
     
5. on February 15, 2012 at 9:13 pm | Reply Phil

   From blissful security to shattered ruins. I agree with V. Lyn – Powerful.

   
   
   • on February 15, 2012 at 10:47 pm | Reply totsymae1011

     Thanks. Fiction imitating life, sadly.

     
     
     • on February 15, 2012 at 11:10 pm | Reply Phil

       Oh Totsy, that is a very sad thing to ponder.

       
       
       • on February 16, 2012 at 12:27 am | Reply totsymae1011

         I know. It’s very sad. I guess it was me getting away from the coarse characters I usually write about. I call them rough-n-ready. Unlike them, Cora isn’t purposeful. Just unfortunate. Still sad, I know.

         
         
6. on February 15, 2012 at 9:42 pm | Reply nadinefeldman

   Hoo, boy. Didn’t see that coming. I had a hushed little baby of my own, a little girl.
   So beautiful and poignant. Wow.

   
   
   • on February 15, 2012 at 10:50 pm | Reply totsymae1011

     I’m sorry for your loss.
     I was trying to understand, so I wrote.

     
     
   • on February 16, 2012 at 7:03 pm | Reply beverlydiehl

     So sorry for your loss, Nadine.

     
     
7. on February 15, 2012 at 11:21 pm | Reply Aurora, HSP

   So poignant. Nice piece of work, Tots.

   
   
   • on February 16, 2012 at 12:17 am | Reply totsymae1011

     Thanks.

     
     
8. on February 15, 2012 at 11:23 pm | Reply My Inner Chick

   –Dear Tots,
   You are what is called “A Triple Threat.”

   You can write your ass off. Paint beautifully. And you’re beautiful.

   Damn you. Xxxx

   
   
   • on February 16, 2012 at 12:18 am | Reply totsymae1011

     Thank you but too much credit you give me. I will accept your support graciously. I appreciate it.

     
     
     • on February 16, 2012 at 12:29 am | Reply Jueseppi B.

       I agree with Twin….you give her too much credit, she is ugly, can’t write or paint and her poop smells like shit.

       
       
       • on February 16, 2012 at 12:32 am | Reply totsymae1011

         Go to bed.

         
         
         • on February 16, 2012 at 12:34 am | Reply Jueseppi B.

           I just woke up mom….can I please have a beer first?

           
           
9. on February 16, 2012 at 12:26 am | Reply Peter Petterson

   A very good post. 100 words.

   
   
   • on February 16, 2012 at 12:33 am | Reply totsymae1011

     Thank you, Peter. Most appreciative of you stopping by.

     
     
10. on February 16, 2012 at 1:03 am | Reply monicastangledweb

    You lulled me into the comfort and love a mother has for her baby. Then I read the last line. So poignant, so sad, so bittersweet. Lovely writing, Totsy!

    
    
    • on February 16, 2012 at 9:25 am | Reply totsymae1011

      Thanks.
      What a cross to bear.

      
      
11. on February 16, 2012 at 1:56 am | Reply Laura

    That’s a lot of emotion for 100 words. Beautiful picture, too.

    
    
    • on February 16, 2012 at 9:27 am | Reply totsymae1011

      Thank you. I almost made it longer but sometimes, it’s not necessary.

      
      
12. on February 16, 2012 at 3:36 am | Reply Jodi

    So beautiful and yet so sad!

    
    
    • on February 16, 2012 at 9:28 am | Reply totsymae1011

      Yes, it is sad.
      Reading some of the comments, I wish I’d not written it now.

      
      
13. on February 16, 2012 at 8:48 am | Reply InsideJourneys

    Totsy, this is searingly beautiful but it stirred up painful memories of my little girl. Hadn’t thought about her in a while and thought I was over it. Had a good little cry.

    
    
    • on February 16, 2012 at 9:29 am | Reply totsymae1011

      So sorry to affect you that way. And for your loss.

      
      
      • on February 19, 2012 at 8:28 pm | Reply InsideJourneys

        Thanks for saying that, but no worries, Girl, you wrote your truth.

        
        
    • on February 16, 2012 at 7:05 pm | Reply beverlydiehl

      So sorry for your loss. Better to cry & remember, IMO, than the way people used to pretend lost children never happened.

      
      
      • on February 19, 2012 at 8:32 pm | Reply InsideJourneys

        Thanks, Beverly. I agree. I can’t even imagine what it must have been like for those people, to pretend.

        
        
14. on February 16, 2012 at 9:01 am | Reply Ariana

    Hey Totsy,
    I prefer when you make me laugh, today you made me cry.

    
    
    • on February 16, 2012 at 9:30 am | Reply totsymae1011

      I tried for something different but it wasn’t working. Sorry, Ariana, I seem to keep doing that.

      
      
      • on February 16, 2012 at 9:56 am | Reply Jueseppi B.

        Don’t change your style of writing Twin…it is spectacular.

        
        
15. on February 16, 2012 at 9:39 am | Reply elmediat

    Wonderful post. Found you by way of She Kept a Parrot.

    
    
    • on February 16, 2012 at 2:38 pm | Reply totsymae1011

      Hello, there. And thanks for stopping in to see me. I’m a regular at Parrot’s and now I think she’s on a break.

      
      
16. on February 16, 2012 at 9:58 am | Reply Jueseppi B.

    Twin, I love your style of writing, don’t change it.

    
    
    • on February 16, 2012 at 2:39 pm | Reply totsymae1011

      Thank you. I’m not changing it.

      
      
17. on February 16, 2012 at 10:11 am | Reply Shary Hover

    Heartbreaking. And I love today’s painting. Your talents amaze me.

    
    
    • on February 16, 2012 at 2:40 pm | Reply totsymae1011

      Thank you, Shary. I now see how heartbreaking it is in real life, as I read a few other comments.

      
      
18. on February 16, 2012 at 12:15 pm | Reply Cara Olsen

    This was a like a ride. I was soaring high on the euphoria of motherhood, and then my stomach fell out from beneath me when death’s drop arrived. You say very much with very little, and you do it well.

    Thank you, Totsy

    
    
    • on February 16, 2012 at 1:16 pm | Reply Jueseppi B.

      Twin….always remember, you write what you write for you. The comments of others come in a distant second….your words and fingers are emptying your soul….helping you to live. Never think you should not write exactly like you write, saying exactly what you need to say, exactly as you say it.

      
      
      • on February 16, 2012 at 2:45 pm | Reply totsymae1011

        Yeah, I do write for me.
        I think others who read this blog feel the same as you, which I appreciate.

        
        
    • on February 16, 2012 at 2:42 pm | Reply totsymae1011

      Thank you, Cara.
      This was not the original story I started with but this is what ultimately came out. I know it’s always sad reading of a child’s death, even in fiction.

      
      
19. on February 16, 2012 at 4:58 pm | Reply solidgoldcreativity

    I salute you, tots, for writing of the sadness of life, as well as the humorous. It takes courage not to simply write something trivial when blogging. Well done.

    
    
    • on February 16, 2012 at 7:49 pm | Reply totsymae1011

      Thank you, Narelle.

      
      
20. on February 16, 2012 at 5:04 pm | Reply granbee

    You broke my heart in 100 words, Tots! The painting is absolutely wonderful. The body postures of mother and child say so much about their relationship. This post is sad and lovely all at once in the way it honors a mother’s never-dying love for her child. Very dear and very heart-breaking. I always knew you had a lot of courage; now you show even more than I suspected!

    
    
    • on February 16, 2012 at 7:55 pm | Reply totsymae1011

      First of all, thank you. At least there are rays of light, as it is in life. You think it was courage? Never thought of it that way. This is inspiring and I must thank you again for your kind and considerate words.

      
      
21. on February 16, 2012 at 5:43 pm | Reply Lorna's Voice

    As a writer, my heart swells at your gift; as a mother, my heart breaks. Wow, Totsy. Just wow on every level,

    
    
    • on February 16, 2012 at 7:59 pm | Reply totsymae1011

      Thank you, Lorna. These snippets have been good writing practice, so I’m surprised at the emotion of the comments.

      
      
22. on February 16, 2012 at 5:48 pm | Reply Carl D'Agostino

    Brought to mind all of America’s Gold Star mothers.

    
    
    • on February 16, 2012 at 8:31 pm | Reply totsymae1011

      I can see that. It’s not indicated when the mother lost her son.

      
      
23. on February 16, 2012 at 6:30 pm | Reply Annie

    You’ve got an incredible way with words. In just a few short sentences you make us feel so much. Well done, Totsy! Beautiful.

    
    
    • on February 16, 2012 at 8:32 pm | Reply totsymae1011

      Thanks, Annie. Where you been? Finishing the last edits on your bestseller?

      
      
24. on February 16, 2012 at 7:06 pm | Reply beverlydiehl

    You take my breath away with this piece – and painting, beautiful and joyful and sad.

    
    
    • on February 16, 2012 at 8:33 pm | Reply totsymae1011

      Thanks. A bit of diversion from the snappy folks I usually write about. My sensitive side is showing, I guess.

      
      
25. on February 16, 2012 at 7:14 pm | Reply souldipper

    If writers couldn’t pull emotion out of people, what would be our point in writing? That’s the sign of a good writer, Totsymae, so let our comments tell you that you have crafted well.

    Having said that, I was lulling comfortably in a hammock, just soaking in the glory of your sunshine, when something came up from beneath and kicked my butt into orbit. I had to come back and make sure it really happened!

    Yep, that’s writing.

    
    
    • on February 16, 2012 at 8:35 pm | Reply totsymae1011

      Thanks for the inspiration, Soul D. One day, you shall have a book I’ve written while chillin’ int he hammock.

      
      
26. on February 16, 2012 at 7:29 pm | Reply Wayside Artist

    Totsy -

    I felt that one deep inside…couldn’t breathe. A stunning, powerful piece of writing. Everyone’s connecting to it.

    
    
    • on February 16, 2012 at 8:36 pm | Reply totsymae1011

      Thank you. I see how everyone is too. You guys are the greatest.

      
      
27. on February 17, 2012 at 5:13 pm | Reply Elyse

    Such beautiful writing and painting. Now, in addition to being heartbroken, I’m out of kleenex.