Thursday, August 12, 2010

Mag 27

The esteemed Willow, of Willow Manor, tweaks our minds every week with a photo prompt. She invites her readers to write a poem, an essay or a story based on the photo. Here is this week's photo.


They had been married nearly 60 years. Walter and Agnes had been young at heart when they wed. It was 1952.

Many things happened that year of their marriage.

A pretty young English woman became Queen Elizabeth II when her father died.

In the United States a former general, Dwight Eisenhower, was elected president.

"The Diary of Anne Frank" was published.

In Argentina, Eva Peron died of cancer at the age of 33.

Television debuted in Canada.

Jimmy Boyd’s recording of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" was released.

During the many years of their marriage, history continued to be made as well as the passage of thousands of sillier events.

Walter and Agnes had their losses over the years. They had never had children but had suffered the loss of their parents.

Walter thought of all these things as he struggled to turn the wrench on the old water pipes in the basement. He stopped for a moment, staring at the rust around the pipe fittings.

"That’s what I am," he thought. "Full of rust."

He put the wrench down and walked slowly up the stairs, feeling the aches in his joints with every step. He went into the living room, where Agnes sat reading a book. He bent over and kissed her cheek.

She looked up, surprised, and asked "what was that for?"

Walter smiled and said "for the rust."

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I invite you to visit Magpie Tales to read the submissions of other writers.

35 comments:

  1. I like it!! Just a sweet and kind story, something we need more of!!

    Rick

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  2. There's nothing like a bit of shared and well earned rust! Cheers!

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  3. A lovely story. Hope I grow old enough to rust. (I'm well on the way. lol)

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  4. Stafford, Tattered and Paul - Thank you.

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  5. Oh you smoothie you
    lucky girl to get that rust
    so sweet..good one

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  6. Sweet! I love the thoughtfulness and the tenderness of the words in this piece!

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  7. Suz, Tumblewords and Marilyn - I'm glad you liked it.

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  8. This was lovely, such a thoughtful and understated love the couple share.

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  9. I thought I would find a grizzly murder scene here! Well written, as the others have already said, lovely words

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  10. Loved it! Especially that throwaway but so meaningful line 'for the rust.'

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  11. A poignant tale without sinking into sentimental memory! The kiss for the rust tweaks the moment with a delightful wink!

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  12. so sweet! I hope i can say that to my sweetie when we're old.

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  13. This was a lovely tale, love lives on even in us oldies, well me anyway!LOL

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  14. For the rust. This is so sweet, Mr. C. xx

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  15. Thanks for picking 1952. You gave me some insight on the year I was born!

    Well written and a nice soft ending. Nice job BT

    Hope you're doing well

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  16. Beyond sweet ... what we all yearn for.

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  17. I agree beyond sweet and so very romantic. I love it.

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  18. i also agree - this is beyond sweet - it's just wonderful - and yes - very romantic

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  19. Very touching and, yes, sweet.

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  20. This is lovely and sweet. A tribute to a happy marriage.

    www.angiemuresan.com

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  21. So poignant, and very real.. natural, original..

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  22. Dear Stafford: An amazing story and I definitely relate; my folks 60th this year. Lovely images! Well written piece de la resistance. Is that's what are bodies are doing, rusting! Mre Antioxidants! Maybe we need to pass around some anti-aging meds! Green coconut milk, cat's claw, blueberries anyone? Brought it all back; thanks for the memories!

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  23. Jane - Congratulations to your parents. But . . I'm not Stafford! I'm Catalyst!

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  24. Dear Catalyst,
    How lovely - the comfort of young love remaining true to be old love. Something we all hope for but few actully privileged to have.

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  25. A beautiful love story - we are lucky should we experience this type of rust....bkm

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  26. A sweet one for the mature aged amongst us.

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  27. aww...beautifully sweet...i hope to one day experience just the same...smiles. nice mag!

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  28. this is so wonderful, great tale of love through time! nice magging!

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  29. Ah. I fear Gom is doing it 'for the rust' when he unexpectedly kisses my cheek!

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