A Year in Abeyance
I decided to take 2026 off. No social media; no media at all: just me and my sailboat meandering around the Pacific.
I left San Diego on December 31, 2025. “Call if you need anything,” I told my brother as I left. I’d left my phone at home.
365 days.
Warm seas, fiery sunsets, crystal lagoons, white sandy beaches.
I returned on December 31, 2026. The sky looked grey, and I could smell burning. My brother was waiting, looking gaunt, his stare a thousand yards long. I hugged him with well-tanned arms.
“So,” I said brightly. “What did I miss?”
*What do you mean, my daydreams formed themselves into a story? I wouldn’t want to do this. Probably.
** I decided on abeyance since it’s a nice, unusual word. It’s just a happy coincidence it sounds like “a bay”
The Green-Walled Treehouse 
How I LOVE this. First of all, Rochelle, what an AMAZING photograph. The blue mast of the sailboat pops right off the page. One of your best.
And David, once again, your whimsy hits you smack in the eye. I can just see the guy’s brother in a standing coma…the word gaunt telling all. This was great…just great. 🙂
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Thank you so much, my friend. I appreciate your comment. Glad you liked it. I can imagine what the rest of this year might hold, but it’s fun to leave it to the reader’s imagination.
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Yes it is. It awakens our sleepy imaginations that then may be inspired. 🙂
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I love where you went with this!
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Thanks, Violet. So glad you liked it.
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Sounds like he missed the bad stuff
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I think I need to travel and see what it’s like in other places. Living in America has not been great this year.
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Holy Hannah! I was not expecting that. Brilliant, David!
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Thanks, Dale! Glad you liked it. 🙂 Seeing what 2026 has been like so far, it’s kind of scary to think what else it might hold. But I’ll stay optimistic.
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I always like what you write 🙂 And I love the “Abeyance” too
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David, perfect choice of word for several reasons. Great story.
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Thanks, Lisa!
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You’re welcome.
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what terrible twist in the end. well done. 🙂
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well, we’re currently living through this year. We know what he’s missing. 🙂
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It sounds like there is a lot for them to talk about. Really well written. Enjoyed it very much.
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Thanks, Angela. I feel like the first 4 months have already been years long, so yes, lots to catch up on.
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Apparently quite a bit. Might have been worth taking the satellite phone just in case he was shipwrecked somewhere.
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I thought about something like that for emergencies in the story, but decided to make a clean break. Risky but freeing too.
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A year out, marvellous, pity about the forest fires you didn’t miss.
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yeah, the way this year is going, he could be missing out on a lot.
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Well done!
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Thanks, Dawn!
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Dear David,
Oh my. I think he’s about to get an earful. At least he had a year of peace. Wonderful story
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you, Rochelle. Hopefully we’ll all get a bit of a rest sometime this year. 🙂
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Had a great trip. And now for the guilt trip. How often does that happen? Good one, David.
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I liked your story and I am cursious as to what the burning smell was from – and what he came back to. Also, I was pleased his trip was a success and had these great things: “Warm seas, fiery sunsets, crystal lagoons, white sandy beaches.” – ahhhh – –
Also, thaks for the new word – abeyance – because I used it already since I read your story….. (e.g. do not mistake my side trail as abeyance because valuable work is still taking place, even if it’s off the conventional or expected route.”
also, I liked the “bay” overlap with the word sound and enjoyed your story
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some people thought it was a forest fire, which made sense considering it’s California. I really just meant it to convey a metaphorical world-on-fire considering how this year seems to be going. It’s hard to get that across in 100 words without being too specific.
Thanks for reading!
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🙂
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