The prosery challenge for dverse was such a hard one I had to try to crack it. It doesn’t work, in the sense that I would not usually use words in this way, but the phrase is all there, unbroken, intact, and the story came out at exactly 144 words.
โwhen it is over said and done
it was a time
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย and there was never enough of it.โ
ย โAllison Adelle Hedge Coke, โA Timeโ
You only appreciate love when it is over, said and done it. Was a time, and there was never enough of it, when love seemed as though it would last forever, when the words we said werenโt platitudes, when what we did and planned seemed utterly exceptional.
Life teaches us different. It isnโt lines pinched from romantic films or silly presents, flowers that wilt and smell rank that guarantee a life of happiness, itโs the things that never need to be spoken, asked or told. Itโs the presents of presence, of doing what needs to be done unbidden, not expecting thanks or praise.
We learned that the hard way, by taking the wrong route, gathering flowers and useless presents that ended up in the bin with the unpaid bills and left our faces with the sour lines about the mouth that never go away.
Jane Dougherty Writes 
I think you did really well in breaking this into a story that happens all too often. We try too hard for the wrong things and forget the simple matters.
I think people have unreasonable expectations, which compared with what they miss completely aren’t worth it.
That is so true, Jane. Who needs flowers and useless presents when spending time together is so much more precious?
If you didn’t pay money for it, too many people think it’s worthless.
Thats so true, Jane! But we shouldn’t be misled by these people. This current crisis shows that not everything can be paid for with money. Michael
It never did ๐
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Such wisdom and depth in this wonderfully woven prose piece, Jane! ๐ Indeed, ” itโs the things that never need to be spoken, asked or told.” ๐
Thank you! I think we try too hard and expect too much often.
I’m glad you persevered, even though you thought this was so difficult. ๐. I knew you could do it–and beautifully. I agree–we look for the shiny, glittery things, when it’s the actual presence and love that matters.
Thank you ๐ These prosery challenges are difficult though!
Hahaha. It’s hard to come up with the line. You can’t use something like Shakespeare or Keats that’s hard to slip into modern prose.
I bet there are some lines though. The phrase this evening might have been modern, but it was still not something most of us would come out with ๐
No, but workable. You did it! ๐
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Wow, so much philosophy and depth to take from this marvelous piece. It is brilliantly and beautifully penned with truth. It’s always about the moments shared with others that is important. โค
Thanks Lucy. It’s true sharing and not just swapping gifts that’s important.
Your closing was a gut-punch, describing my first two failed marriages, so I love your poem, even as I stifle melancholy
I’m glad you could pick something good out of it, even if it brought back bad memories.
I agree there is something about having the rug pulled from under our feet that leaves us longing for the lost times
Happy Monday
Much๐love
Thanks Gillena, you too ๐ We tend to get nostalgic for what’s gone, forget the bad bits.
Love is certainly a gamble, but we still seem to roll the dice.
It’s a gamble but it’s also hard work, a joint effort. If you don’t put in the effort you get nothing out of it.
There are some life lessons here.
We never take them to heart though, always assume it’s going to be different for us.
I think you did more than beautifully, Jane. This was so real.
Thanks Dale. I think it’s our expectations that start off wrong. We watch too many romantic films that end before life together begins, and assume it’s going to be that first kiss over and over for ever.
I think you are so very right
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There is a lot of truth and wisdom in your words. I think life does teach us, unfortunately. sometimes we learn too late.
Yes; learning by experience means you have to have had the experience to learn from it.
Some of us repeat this lesson over and over again…(K)
I wonder sometimes, do we as a species ever learn anything important? We’re great at learning mathematical formulae and dead languages, but the stuff that really matters?
You are right about that.
It was a surprisingly tricky line, wasn’t it? That tense change…
Anyhow, you’ve written a story that’s been lived by millions, I should think. I have a friend who used to work in the wedding industry, and I used to shudder at the stories she told, the money people spent on meaningless fripperies, to have the “perfect day”, when it’s much more important to have the basics right.
It was that tense change that disturbed me most of all. I couldn’t make sense of it.
The big wedding, the huge amounts of money spent on one day, and if it rains? If somebody is sick? There’s a scene? A word out of place? The big day ruined and it was the only ‘perfect day’ you ever expected to have. We do have some pathetic ideas.
Well, there’s a huge amount of pressure from media, marketing etc to buy your way to happiness.
And do people fall for it because they’re afraid to trust their own instincts? I often wonder why some give in to media pressure and others go their own way.
Stupidity? Conformity?
You’d think a bit of both. I’d add insecurity too, and lack of imagination. Most of us need something to hold onto. For some it’s tradition, religion, good manners, fashion, anything that requires not working it out for themselves.
Wonderful! I think you cracked it really well actually. ๐ All the best! ~ Jay
Thank you! I’m pleased you think so.
Love “presents of presence”. So true.
Thank you. I get very tired trying to explain that one to people who think they need to go to a shop and hand over money for something that will please me.
You mastered the prosery form ….. I really enjoyed this.
Thank you! I find it very difficult fitting a line of poetry into a piece of prose. You can usually see the join ๐
We tend to have high expectations but it’s true to be presence is better than any present. It is the ultimate present.
Giving ourselves and our time is the most precious gift of all, you’re right ๐
I love ‘it’s the presents of presence’. Lovely Jane.
Thank you, Linda. Some take that for granted too.
Yes, they do.
So often we lend importance to the wrong things, and time passes by before we realize what was important after all. A good write, sad but true.
Thanks Beverly. I never understand the ‘big wedding’ enthusiasts. As if you can make something permanent by making an expensive splash about it.
A hard truth nicely crafted.
Thank you, Bill. We don’t seem to be able to work this one out, do we?
You’re welcome, Jane. I suppose we don’t.
๐