Flash, Short Story

The Fundamental Things

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Our gracious host, Rochelle, at Friday Fictioneers
asks us to use the photo below as inspiration
to write creatively in 100 words or less while
making every word count. This is my story.

Photo Prompt © Ted Strutz

It seems like yesterday but you realize eight years have gone by since you retired. You think about playing golf but your rotator cuff has been acting up and your wife isn’t quite ready to hit the links after her hip replacement. There will still be plenty of time for golf. So you pour yourself another cup of coffee and work on a crossword puzzle while your wife knits a blanket for your first great-grand baby. Maybe after dinner you’ll set up a board game and listen to a few old LPs on the stereo. Yeah, that’s a good idea.

NAR©2025
100 Words

This is “As Time Goes By” by Billie Holiday

30 May 2025

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for Nancy’s Notes 🖊️🎶, The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk, The Rhythm Section, et al., and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.

59 thoughts on “The Fundamental Things”

  2. This was succinct and powerful – as you gave us a realistic snapshot of retirement – and on a side note, I know someone who is a couple months away from retiring and just had a hip injury – on one hand, they are glad it did not happen sooner and interfere with work, but then on the other hand – it is a terrible way to start retirement.

    The Billie Holiday song was smooth and perfect addition to the story – maybe the couple got up for a second – put down the knitting and puzzles – and danced slowly for a moment as this song played…. then they had an early dinner

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  5. I took early retirement. Until recently it has been nothing like you describe in your piece so I’m grateful for the 20 odd years of active retirement and will buckle up for the next part.

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  11. Easy to slip into “I’ll do that later” when one is retired and hss the time. But maybe that’s not so bad…interests change and sweetness can still be found. 💐😉

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    1. D, I’m glad you could relate to the photo; cribbage is a game I never played and I didn’t know what the image was until other people started referring to it. Before our older grands got so busy with school, activities and work, Friday night was always game night. We love our board games and play something whenever we’re together for a holiday.

      Thanks for a great comment, mon amie.

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  13. I’m feeling old and worn out right now. It’s 11.30 pm and I’m just back from the Friday evening Market … to bed now for an early start to the Saturday Market session …

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  14. Dear Nancy,

    This is my tenth year of retirement. Can’t say I’ve been knitting blankets. 😉 Love the story and the song. Play it once more, Sam. I’ve never heard the Billie Holiday verion. I always enjoy my visits to the Elephant’s Trunk.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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