Good Morning, Ripplemakers,

Anniversary Celebration!!

Last week, I said that we're coming up on our Starfish's tenth anniversary and was looking for a way to celebrate the occasion.  Lynne Stevenson came up with a brilliant idea and I'll share it with you here. 

Lynn suggested that I gather stories from writers in each of the US states and possessions, as well as other countries, and then share them with you so you can get an idea of how far we reach. 

So here goes............ Beginning right now, I'm going to ask Starfish subscribers from around the world to submit stories to help us celebrate.  Tell us how Starfish has made a difference to you, or tell about a story you read that caused you to take some action to benefit another.  You don't have to be a writer, just tell us in your own words of an experience you had.  We also welcome stories about something special that you did, you a special event in your life, whether it was related to Starfish or not.

You can send your stories in any format, but it's easiest for us to work with documents prepared in any version of Microsoft Word and sent as attachments to an email.  When you send them, please remember to include the state and/or country you're in.  Depending upon how things go, we can run them in alphabetical order or something.  The important thing is to publish something from every state in the union and as may other countries as possible. 

We have readers in nearly every state and in about 50 other countries.  It will be interesting to see where they come from, and interesting to see what's happening around the world.   No matter where you are in the world, a smile has the same effect on others, but we smile for different reasons.  What makes you smile?

Remember, you don't have to be a pro, you just have to put some thoughts on paper.  We'll take care of the rest. 

When you send you stories, it will be helpful if you include something like "Submission from Iowa" in the subject line.  Mail them to me at my Starfish address:  Starfish@Ripplemaker.com

Lets have some fun with this, as you help us celebrate ten years of making ripples.  We'll begin publishing them on June 1st.

Bob

A Foul Deed
By
Clara Wersterfer

Today I took a life. It wasn't as if she hadn't been warned. I told her to stay out of my car. It was my personal property and she was trespassing. I also told her she was endangering others, but she would not listen.

The following day, I got in the car and saw no evidence that she had been there, and felt safe. The very first traffic light I stopped for, here she comes, dropping down directly in front of my face, a big, black, hairy spider. I lowered the window and tried to push her out; she turned and jumped on me! That's when I grabbed a tissue from the box and squashed her. Just as I placed the tissue in my litter bag, the light changed to green. I sped away from the murder scene. After several blocks remorse crept in.

When you act in haste, you repent at leisure. At first it was just a feeling of guilt, then I started feeling compassion for my victim. My mind said, "You knew she wasn't a black widow, no red spot on her back. She was black, so she wasn't a brown recluse. She probably wasn't poisonous." What had I done? Surely I could have gotten her out the window. Why did I have to act so quickly and smush her?

She could have made a web to trap mosquitoes that could have carried the deadly heart worm to an animal or even worse, several bad viruses to humans. It was too late. The foul deed had been committed. There was no turning back.

To whom should I confess? No judge or jury would believe it was self defense. There's nothing left to do that would help. I expect it will have to remain my secret.

You won't tell, will you?

From the Mailbag

Re: Who Are They?, by Kathy Pippig Harris

Healing as well as training angels for us would be a good description.
Mark Crider

Re: The Bank Robbery, by Roger Dean Kiser

You write the most beautiful stories, but I'm sorry you had to steal.

Julie

*** *** ***

wow!!!! what a story.  sad but happy too.  can't get enough of your stories, Roger.  keep 'em coming. 

Dianne C.

Re: Take Mother to the Ball Game, by Bill Walker

I never played baseball well, but my mom always showed up to watch. We'd always stop by the drugstore as we walked home afterwards for a shake or malt to talk about the game.  How I'd like to back up and have one of those visits again.  Thanks
Mark Crider

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