Home » Friday Fictioneers » This Train Don’t Stop Here Anymore – Friday Fictioneers

This Train Don’t Stop Here Anymore – Friday Fictioneers

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It’s Wednesday – just barely, a mere hour left! Busy morning, loooong shift (where I wrote most of this… Shhhh. don’t tell my boss!) and finally, after applying the right amount of spit and polish, I finally can share. Thank you, always, to Rochelle, for hosting this bunch of riff-raff. And this week, thank you to Sandra Crook for the use of her lovely photo!

Looking for inspiration, I Googled “train” songs and landed on this Elton John one and the idea was born.

Click me to ride this train!

This Train Don’t Stop Here Anymore

“I used to be the main express.

All steam and whistles heading west.”

There was a time when they stopped, wanting to get closer to her exuberant youthful beauty.

Today, she barely garners a second glance, her charms less dazzling perhaps.

A more subtle type of lovely only to be noticed by those willing to slow down long enough to see it.

“You don’t need to hear it
But I’m dried-up and sick to death of love”

Was this true? Was she truly fed up? Or worse, had she given up?

She needed to find a new song to sing!

113 thoughts on “This Train Don’t Stop Here Anymore – Friday Fictioneers”

  1. Like it, Dale. And I’d agree, she probably she does need to find a new song. Happens to us all. That same old song seldom sees us through our entire life. And some point our life changes tracks, and the song no longer fits.
    BTW nice video. Love his suit

    Liked by 2 people

  3. Sometimes, just because we know all the words, we think it’s still our favourite song. And sometimes it is. But it never hurts to give it some thought. Lovely, Dale.

    Liked by 3 people

  6. Are you passing review on your life, quietly, discreetly, with a tiny wink of your beautiful eyes….? I’m at an age where I have to rely heavily on the beauty INSIDE, lol.
    btw, love that song and am always thankful for those hints, as – at the time – I didn’t have the possibility to ‘read’ the lyrics – that was one heck of a fine song ….. at THAT time!

    Liked by 3 people

    • You are ever the astute one, Kiki. There may have been moments of reflection involved…
      Somehow, I don’t believe you!
      I can’t believe I had never heard the song until I Googled it! It was a fine song, indeed.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Dear Dale,

    Perfect song to go with your story. The blush of beauty in youth does fade, doesn’t it? It doesn’t mean we lay down and stop living, does it? Times change and we can choose to either grow and change which definitely beats the alternative. Wonderful story with depth. Well done, my friend.

    Shalom and lotsa hugs,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 4 people

    • Dear Rochelle,

      Thank you, my friend. Actually, the story went with the song 😉 The blush of youth most definitely fades. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t transform and no, never stop living! I could not agree more. We must make that choice (I could not fathom, not!)
      Thank you. So very glad it worked and touched.

      Shalom and lotsa love,

      Dale

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Q,

    You borrowed the third rail for this challenge. As in, you made lightning out of the storm called growing older. As in, it becomes much less daunting when you see beauty for what it is, and for what it never really was. Skin deep.

    I wouldn’t trade up for my younger look, not for anything. Because it wasn’t me in the first place. Not the me I would become. I like the new iteration too much to change it.

    And that’s your 100 word ride right there. To love the you that happens, rather than pine over the you that is gone. If we’re on the right course, it’s well worth it.

    Lovely train ride from then to now.

    B

    Liked by 4 people

  15. What a perfect combo of word and song! Nice one, Dale. Want me to tell your boss you should do more of your writing at work? 😉
    I do like what you did with this, and the metaphorical aspect of this ‘stop’ and life traveling by and us on it …
    Lovely!
    Na’ama

    Liked by 3 people

        • Well, I was at work and we are not allowed our cells so…
          But you know, I think there is something to be said for writing with pen and paper. I feel the creativity goes up a notch…
          And I thank you, lemme see… I shall name you Na’ama Brachiosaurus cause you’re tall and slim… at least, I picture you as tall… I dunno why…

          Like

          • LOL!!! Me as a loping, striding Brachiosaurus! LOL!!! It is especially funny considering them beasties were rather on the weighted-step side, it is hilarious to me (whose step is … well … not particularly weighted …). As for the tall-factor, I’m not especially tall … but I do have a rather spaghetti-like physique, so there’s that … 😉 so perhaps I’m Braciosaurus-neckous (for the long skinny neck of them dinos with their heads in the clouds. … ;))

            Liked by 1 person

  16. Great idea in looking up a song for a story idea. I’ll have to try that. And, the story was very moving. I like the line, “A more subtle type of lovely only to be noticed by those willing to slow down long enough to see it.” Nicely done! =)

    Liked by 2 people

  18. I like it that you picked a train song. There are so many good ones. One of my favorites goes . . .

    I was drunk the day my Mama got out of prison
    and I went to pick up her in the rain
    but before I could get to the station in my pick-up truck
    she got run over by a damned old train

    Liked by 3 people

    • I think change is necessary – and not for the sake of change, as you said. But for growth.
      Neither did I! And it never showed up in your concert, to boot…

      Like

  22. Many times the old train stops, reinvents itself and becomes an icon. Just because the “train” becomes old doesn’t mean it can’t stop there anymore. On the other hand, if a train stops, gives up and doesn’t try to get on down the tracks, it quickly becomes a pile of rusted junk. Food for thought. Nice piece Dale.

    Liked by 5 people

  26. I was completely unaware of how much Justin Timberlake looks like a young Elton John. Is that the reaction you were hoping to get.

    Your story was heartwrenching. It’s something to which everyone can or will be able to relate.

    Liked by 3 people

  28. A good story based on life and well written, Dale. Changing circumstances and physical ability seem to force me to change before I decide to. Just moving from place to place takes effort these days. 😀 — Suzanne

    Liked by 3 people

  32. Ahh… the bittersweet nature of aging. Love the metaphor of singing different songs at different points in our lives. It’s a lifelong lesson of letting go and embracing change. Nicely done, Dale.

    Liked by 3 people

  37. Change is part of life. Wise step aside when they realise their time is over. Most of us humans are not wise. And she is a mere train engine. She will be forcibly set aside, if not already done, for a new and shiny one.

    Liked by 3 people

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