All Comments on 'Ornaments'

I don't like this 750 challenge. It's a silly idea. But this is a genuinely moving if sad piece of writing. Well done.

Thanks. 5 stars

My mum had dementia - its a fucked up disease.

Flash fiction can concentrate the mind to get the message across, and this achieves that quite brilliantly. Thank you.

My wife had dementia and later past away from it.

Beautiful and so true. THANK YOU! You surely have suffered this in your life to be able to put it so distinctly. Bless you

If only

it were fantasy. Brilliant, but so painful.

We are dealing with the early stages of dementia and my 93 yr old Mom daily. She asks me how I am related to her daily and my name most days and calls me Mommy.We have "school" on current events (very similar to these ornaments) as we work in the kitchen or at sewing. Sorry if I get maudlin, folks. Thank you.

Occasionally someone pulls out a story full of emotion that is wonderful to read, even though this one is sad.

Thanks for sharing.

What a sad but beautifully-presented tale, perfect for the 750-word project. Congrats on an excellent job.

Unquestionable brilliance

Very very difficult topic.

Especially for those of us who have born witness.

Only someone who has known the deepest and truest love could have written this piece. Kudos!

Sad but unfortunately true. Good job on a difficult subject.

They don’t always die sometimes they just drift away and don’t come back.

Effective flash story.

Top ratings from me.

my dad died of alzheimers. It's hell, and oh so sad. Good story about the loss and hopelessness you feel.

I’ve been diagnosed with dementia/ Alzheimer’s. I’m in the early stages and most people don’t notice anything. My wife of 50 years has pledged her willingness to care for me until my last breath. I have said, that as soon as I get abusive or I can’t recognize her, then it’s time to put me in a rest home. The thought of how this illness will hurt her is heartbreaking to me.

Even in a body with diminished memory the soul and love come through. And, in turn, is loved.

You have a real, solid grasp on writing.

I especially enjoy that you know how to use the correct form of 'to' as opposed to 'too', as you did in your story "First at Last".

I could not comment on that one immediately after reading, as you had created a tragedy with a dilemma that fuelled the action, but to me, a tragedy no less. I could not see a happy ending there, there will always be an element of separateness between them, even if she took her secret to her grave.

But this story spoke of nothing but love and honour. Another tragedy, and one I have experience of, seeing my father slip away like that.

Even though it's a tragedy, the actors were honourable, and with that, in the end their lives will signify nothing but love and grace.

Your talent is very apparent, and for me, used much better in this story, and in "Art of Deception".

I look forward to reading the one remaining offering.

Though I am just a lowly commentator, and my opinion is subjective at best, this is clearly a 5 star effort.

Thank you.

We went through this with my mother-in-law and much later I went through it with my wife. Luckily my wife's dementia didn't progress full blown, as in the story, before she passed away. Sometimes life sucks but there are still good parts that bring comfort. Thanks

This is a very compelling story. Dementia runs in my family, since I´m widowed I told my kids that as soon as I didn´t recognize them I wanted to be put away. You should have heard the protest especially from my sonś in law. I don´t want any of my kids to give up their lives to care for me, And since I won´t know who you are, what difference will it make? I have two on my side now I only need to work on two more. But I really do believe that if you don´t know your kids, what difference does it makes where you are?

Even if fictional these stories are always so hard to read. As anyone who’s ever had to deal with a friend or loved one with dementia knows it is incredibly painful to watch the regression.

Its difficult to leave loved ones alone. TK U MLJ LV NV

My father displayed signs and symptoms of dimentia to the point where he did not recognize his family. At some point the doctor connected his signs to the aggressive cancer treat he was on. We stopped that and we enjoyed more than one more of clear lucidity. Thank God for that year. He's been gone six years, I miss him every day but I cherish all his memories.

Thank you for this wonderful story.

Both my Mother and Father developed Alzheimer’s and I ended up having a stroke trying to deal with them. I have no siblings and my wife had parents who had life changing illnesses themselves. I am starting to struggle to remember words, dates and history. I’ve been tested several times as I’m so afraid that I will end up like my parents. Not afraid, more like terrified.

What a wonderful heartfelt story. Well done. 5*

Wow talk about a poignant 850 words. So sad that life often ends like this.

Beautiful story🤧🤧

So very poignant, there must b pollen in here, my eyes are watering.

THANK YOU!! I I, like so many others, had to deal this this issue. You KNOW what you need to do, but it is just so hard. In my experience, my mother took to her care facility very well. It's a load off my mind to know she is being taken care of properly and has the care she needs.

that you go thru when this happens. The death of the person you have known up till then, & later, the body of that person finally gives up its life.

But on the plus side, I will make new friends every day, & I'll be able to hide my own Easter eggs!

Hey, it's only life & we all get thru it. Some fast, some slow but we all go.

It has been a few years since my dad died.

It was difficult decision to make even when I knew it was past time even with in home help.

I remember him asking "when can I go home". I could only think to reply with a "you are home". He looked around the room and said "it doesn't look like home to me!"

Superb!

Short but one of the most powerful stories I have ever had the pleasure to read.

Thank you.

Brilliant! And really hitting close to home, alas...

Just discovered. Five stars. Bastard.

Captcha

Heartbreakingly beautiful! Thank you.

Sad, heartbreaking, beautiful. Real. Great writing.

Charming!

5

So few words to convey such love. Kudos to you!

Tears could not help but flow. Very well done 5

I look at your stories again and saw this one, so I read it. At the end I saw I gave you 5 stars in the past. You are scary good and I thank you for sharing.

Sad and real. My father died from this and it brings back memories.

Short but very hard hitting. Thank you.

Concise, accurate, and a personal snapshot.

Damn...5*

Thank you.

Damn you!

It’s soo bitter sweet, so sad, so lovely, god, I‘m… damn

Five stars, don’t do this again.

Captcha

Sad and beautiful all in one. Great writing.

Woah. Well, that is a beautiful but sad one. Good short story.

Beautiful.

You are a very talented writer.

This hits too close to home.

Wonderful!

Sometimes, when you've finished a story, you just have to stare inwardly at the thoughts and memories that it has provoked. Happy, sad, exciting or dull, the thoughts are always stored away to be brought out when prompted. Sometimes, like now, they're deeply sad.

Thank you.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I always wonder how some families can abandon their parents to an old folks home. My wife got sick and lasted a year in our new usd home we bought together. There was no way I would abandon her. I would have to put her in bed the get her up and into her chair in the living room. Get her on the potty and clean her I never thought not to or even about putting her in a home. They gave her 6 months but she lasted over 8 and passed away in bed next to me. That's the promise you make with the marriage vows. 5 stars.

my father-in-law. a wonderful man, cared for my MIL, a wonderful woman, cared for her until the end. sooo LOVING but so sad for him. sometimes she knew him sometimes not. Heart wrenching, sad but what a man does for his life long loving WIFE. he taught me how to be a man and take responsibility, even when feeling like you were carrying the world on you shoulders. my wife and still miss them even after almost a quarter century

Tears!

Jim

Heartbreaking and lovely in so few words. 5*s. You are a truly gifted writer. Another reader with tears in her eyes.

What elizaloo said! I think you have experienced this horrible condition before in your life.

Lovely story, thank you.

After more than a year here, I got used to skimming – a necessary habit in order to save precious time on excess unorganized words.

Here I had to read really slowly. Sometimes I paused to read the same sentence again. Sometimes on the third because it rang pleasantly. I whispered the words as I read because I needed to hear them.

Thank you for reminding me what real literature is – where every syllable has meaning and every word has its place.

A story enacted the world over, a proper story, sad but enlightening, 5* every day of the week

*****That was a wonderful read. Thanks for sharing.

so sad to see. a normal happy loving spouse disappears into blank nothingness. all the wonderful memories gone. a life time of experiences just GONE. have family members on both sides of this experience. so Grief ridden so sad. very well written sad but thanks anyway

My heart....

Too well done. 5*

someone close to me is in a memory care unit.

So sad, but such a fine story.

My grandfather was an alzheimers patient. It crushed my soul to visit him in the alzheimers unit.

A very heartwarming way to remember!

Dementia is absolutely tragic with no hope, just crushing despair for the afflicted's loved ones. Sadly I know from experience.

Very good, sad, but true story. It is terrible to see your parents, slowly succumb to Alzheimer’s .

5 stars.

Almost tears, I saw my mother once in an adult care home and couldn't take it. She had been so strong, I never remember her ever being sick. I didn't even cry when I'd heard she passed, it was a good thing and a better place went to. Great story.........

Nicely done. Thanks.

Love the courage it took to write this

Sad, but realistic look at Alzheimer’s . 5 stars..

A beautifully rendered heartbreaking vignette. I didn’t realize until I finished that it was part of the 750 challenge, and thought “what the hell.” But honestly it was just right, had it been longer the heartache would have just been drawn out. Another fine piece of writing.

5 stars - this could be me any day now - either me or my wife - after 56 years together.

I am not looking forward to that day, but if it is me - I won't remember anything.

Damn brother, you are good! That was succinct but powerful, delivering a body blow to those of us familiar with memory loss loved ones. Wow!

Think of Glen Campbell “ I’m not gonna miss you when I’m gone”.

You jerk, now I cannot see my screen

There, but for the grace of God, go I. Thanks for posting. 5 stars.

I am saddened to think of what level of autism someone must be suffering to give this story less than 5 stars…(fyi… I’m on the spectrum myself).

I wish I hadn’t read that./ I’m so glad I read that.

Now, I’ll remember my mom.

I just came from reading "Full circle" because I was so impressed with that story. ThatNewGuy has been creating masterpieces for a number of years. I have a huge amount of testosterone running through my system, nothing like rhe cum sucking cuck subjects of such a high percentage of stories on this site. TNG used 750 words to gut me and reduce me to tears. I don't know if I have ever seen the work of such a masterful wordsmith. Tomorrow I take on another of his works.

My mother had Alzheimer's, I took care of her until the end. This really resonates with me. 5 stars.

Unfortunately it brings back very vivid memories of my girlfriend who passed away in early November from Early Stage Dementia. Sad time, but happy that it wasn’t prolonged with suffering

Poignant and real. My father passed19 years ago due to dementia. Rest in peace, Dad! Five stars for this one.

There's a lot of emotion packed into those 750 words. Well done.

ThatNewGuy... You're a fine craftsman. Using words to humor, sway, cajole, enrapture and capture us mere readers. Thanks for sharing your creations!