Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

September 24, 2006

Today’s announcements

Hello Everyone,

Over my years on having the use of a computer, I have met some very

nice people and Harry & Dixie are a part of this scenario.

Harry is in his mid-sixties and needs a hip replacement but his dr wants

him to have some testing done prior to this surgery as a safe guard.

Since he has the hip problem, he is unable to take the stress test as

normal so he did it through a different method.  Yesterday when Dixie

checked with the dr in charge of the stress test, he said that he had

found a problem which requirest that Harry have a heart catheter on

the 27th, one day after his 67th birthday.If there is a blockage, the dr

plans to implant the stint after opening the blocked area.

Please keep them in your prayers as they are very close to each other

and they are putting this issue in the hands of the Master, Our Lord.

If you feel the need to send a virtual greeting to keep them uplifted, please

feel free to do so at Dixie's email address: dshmm@webtv.net

Love in Christ and a huge THANK YOU for your prayers. Normie: hoopla214@yahoo.com

p.s. My son-in-law is doing very well!

Now onto the good stuff!

Today’s Queue Stories

~**~**~

~**~**~

Chris-T-Fur

Michael T. Smith

            The litter of puppies snuggled close to their protective mother. With her

nourishment, they grew quickly. In a few weeks, they were waddling around, exploring

their new home. They were healthy and happy, but one little guy was different. He was

smaller and was developing at a much slower rate. We called him Chris-T-Fur.

            Chris-T-Fur tried to keep up with his brothers and sisters, but always fell behind

the pack. He’d run in their direction, but would slam into the walls and furniture. We

grew concerned and had him examined. The vet said, “I’m sorry, Tom. Chris-T-Fur is

blind. His left eye is totally defective, and he has a juvenile cataract in his right. He

may have a little vision in his right eye, but it isn’t much. You need to make a decision.”

            My wife and I both work with people who have disabilities. She is a physical

education teacher for severely disabled children. I work with adults with hearing loss.

Our little Chris-T-Fur deserved as much of a chance as anyone. “Doc, we’ll take him

home and love him as much as our other dogs.” Chris quickly worked his way into our

hearts - a special kinship was formed. Later, Chris-T-Fur developed a seizure disorder.

After a seizure, he has to walk it off. He walks all over the house, bumping into

everything.

            Chris-T-Fur soon learned the sound of my car. He hears me coming and runs

down the driveway - headfirst into the metal gate. It’s a wonder he still has a nose. “Go

back to the house, Chris.” I’ll tell him. He turns and runs back up the driveway, bouncing

off the brick wall, using it as his guide.

            On outings, he runs with the other dogs, barking at things he cannot see. He runs

into fences, bushes, trees, and even over banks. Does it slow him down? No! Chris-T-Fur

gets up - a little dazed - shakes it off, and continues the pursuit. He wants to be part of the

pack.

            The other dogs have become intolerant of him lately, especially when they are

settled down with a bone or treat. When he walks by, they growl or snap at him. They

don’t understand, he can’t see their bone. He has his own treat and is looking for it.

            At night, I sit to work at my computer. Within a few minutes, I hear Chris-T-Fur

enter the room. He sniffs the air, detects where I am, and soon I’ll hear the familiar thud,

as he bumps into my chair. I turn, scratch him behind his ears; give him a couple of pats

on his head, and show him all the love I feel for him. He then wanders off to another part

of the house.

            At dinner, I purposely drop a few “Kibbles©” on the floor. Chris-T-Fur is quick

to hear the sound. With a few sniffs of his over sensitive nose, he can locate his treat.

            In spite of all his disabilities, Chris-T-Fur is a happy dog. He is friendly and

always ready to be my companion. He’s my hero. He doesn’t have a pedigree, but he’s

top dog in my books. One day, I know I’ll have a void in my life, where Chris-T-Fur used

to be. Until then, I have a daily reminder that the struggles I face are insignificant

compared to what others deal with.

            Chris-T-Fur knows, if you get knocked down, pick yourself up, and brush

yourself off. He’s taught me how important it is to keep a positive attitude.

Michael T. Smith

mtsmith@qwestonline.com

To read my stories or to sign up
to receive my weekly story, go to:
http://archives.zinester.com/86758/

~**~**~

 Sabrina A dog’s Tail

Mike Firesmith

Sherry, Holly and I were walking Sabrina one night. It was fun to watch Sabrina cut a swath through people in the parking lot. A lot of people would get he hell out of the way of a big black fuzzy dog who growled a lot. Holly was just commenting on what a mild mannered puppy Sabrina was when Sabrina saw a frog. Before any of us could say or do anything she picked the frog up, chewed it a few times and swallowed it. " Frog Breath" was a nickname that made Holly wince when I used it. It really grossed her out.


I took Sabrina to Drexel Park to chase squirrels. It was the only place that I would take her off the leash and let her run. If you own a dog, and you have a yard with squirrels in it, you know the game that goes on between the two species. The dog will chase the squirrels, the squirrels will scamper just out of reach, and no one gets hurt. Very rarely does a dog ever catch a squirrel. I don't think Sabrina ever got very close. She would chase them up the trees and then leap up in the air on the trunk of the tree yelping at them. Sabrina, who was normally a very dignified person, made a fool out of herself chasing squirrels. But after an hour of squirrel chasing we didn't have to worry about walking her again that day. Sometimes I would go over and say very loudly, " Sabrina, PARK! SQUIRREL!" And those two words would really set her off. Holly would have to take her out then, if I didn't, and it was all part of the fun.


One day I had turned Sabrina loose in the park and she treed a squirrel and was doing her very best to launch herself up the side of the tree. I was half watching Sabrina do her thing, but I was really looking for wildlife in the creek. That's the same creek the Amphiuma had been found. As long as I could hear Sabrina yelping at the squirrels I knew she was okay. All of a sudden I heard a woman yelling.


She was a young woman who had a little l girl with her, and she was yelling at me. They were on the other side of the creek, which is only a few feet wide and not knee deep, and they were both standing on top of a picnic table. I don't know a lot about humans and know even less about female humans, but I could tell they were both very unhappy about something. Sabrina was a good fifty yards away, on the other side of the creek, and terribly preoccupied with trying to fly. It wasn't her, was it? The little girl was wrapped around the woman's legs and the woman was pointing at Sabrina. Sabrina was leaping up in the air, yelping, trying to get to a squirrel that quite possibly had already left the county.

I called her back anyway, just in case I was missing something. Sabrina always came back when I called her, no matter what she was doing. She knew something was wrong. It couldn't be time to go. She sat down to be leashed and we walked over to where the woman and child were still standing on the picnic table.


The woman yelled at me to keep away. We stopped. She was really upset about something. I looked around. There were other people around, but I didn't see anything worth getting uptight about. I asked her what was wrong and she told me that my dog was terrifying her daughter. I looked down at Sabrina. She was panting heavily and seemed confused. Me too. Why is my dog terrifying your daughter? My dog was on the other side of the creek. My dog hasn't gotten near you, or your daughter. What's wrong?

It seems that the little girl has a thing about squirrels. She loved squirrels. They would come to the park and the little girl would name all the squirrels she saw. She would invent squirrels families and stories about them. Sabrina arrived on the scene like a black furred demon bent on killing every squirrel in sight. Because her daughter was to the point of near hysterics, the woman was at the point of near hysterics. Meanwhile, Sabrina sat at my side, panting, oblivious to it all.


The last thing I needed, or wanted, or could allow to happen is for Sabrina to get into any sort of conflict involving a kid. She, and I, would lose that one eight days a week and twice on Sundays. Sabrina lived for her time in the park and if we got banned, or she got banned from running loose, it would have been devastating for her. It was time for some creativity.


First I asked the little girl her name (I cannot remember it right now) and how old she was. The little girl was five and I told her that Sabrina was five too. ( That was a lie, Sabrina was just two at the time). I asked the little girl if five years was a long time, and the little girl said, yes, that five years was a very long time. I told her that ever since Sabrina had been a little puppy she had come to the park to me to play with the squirrels. In fact, Sabrina and the squirrels were the very best of friends, and they played chase every time we came to the park. I knelt down in front of the little girl and became very serious, " If Sabrina had really wanted to catch a squirrel, don't you think in five years, in five whole years, she would have caught one by now?" She seemed to like this idea now.


Sabrina has a series of tricks that she would do. The first was sit. This was followed by sit-up. Then either Holly, or myself would point a finger at her and say, "Bang! Dead Dog!" and Sabrina would fall over on her back. So I ran her up to where I was suppose to go "bang" but instead I said, ' Sabrina would you rather hurt a squirrel or be a DEAD DOG?" At the " dead dog" cue Sabrina fell over on her back. Even the girl's mother was impressed.

I turned Sabrina loose and she went after a squirrel and I had this brief but intense imagine in my mind of her finally caching one and tearing it into pieces. But the squirrel ran up the tree and even stopped to torment Sabrina a little (See! See! They're the best of friends!)


I was just happy the kid didn't try to pet the pretty puppy.

Take Care,
Mike Firesmith

~**~**~

Poetry Section

~**~**~

Embrace

Mary Dees 

Seasoned with shyness,

He instills his care,

Accented with kindness,

A love is prepared.

Knowing emotions,

See through to her pain,

Unmentioned tenderness,

Reveals her refrain.

Silhouetted in motion,

Two hearts collide;

A shelter for sorrow,

And beaten pride.

Imprisoned loyalty,

His crime was pure.

Permitted by acceptance,

She dealt and endured.

By Mary M. Dees

marlena7694@yahoo.com

~**~**~

Helping

 Mary Dees

Don’t look at me that way,

Because I’m vulnerable.

Don’t dare keep pushing me,

Because I’m tolerable.

There you go again!

Don’t hold me that way,

Because I’m sensitive.

Don’t touch me that way,

Because I’m primitive.

There you go again!

Don’t stop me,

Because I’m furious.

Don’t help me,

Because you’re curious.

Damn, there you go again!

Don’t fix me,

Because I’m broken.

My record may always skip.

Don’t hate me,

Because I remember,

Your wrong and clenching grip.

Here I go again!

Don’t reach for me,

Because you think I’m lonely.

I’m crowded, don’t you see?

Don’t drown me with what compels you.

 It's my turn now to breath.

By Mary M. Dees

marlena7694@yahoo.com 

~**~**~

 Me

 Mary Dees

On my face,

And on my lips,

Remember this,

My smile.

In your life,

Is the sound,

Of me – all around,

My style.

With only you,

Can’t you see?

Where I want to be,

Worthwhile.

By Mary M. Dees

marlena7694@yahoo.com

Readers Feedback

Senior Writers

Chief writer: Sharon Bryant

Chief researcher/historian: Hartson Dowd

Agee, Vance; Apted, Violet; Baker, Kathy; Batt, Al; Berry, Nell; Blaine, Pamela; Boda, Ginger; Booher, Paula; Buhagiar, Victor; Cassady, B.J.; Costner, Joan Clifton; Cavalera, Robyn; Crider, Mark; Dees, Mary; Deming, Barb; Doherty, Maria;  Dowd, Hartson; Dowd, Helen; Gilbert, Robert, Jr.; Gold, Ron; Goodier, Steve; Grisham, Mary-Ellen; Braun-Haley, Ellie; Harris, Kathy Anne; Henry, Linda Ann; Hunt, Sharlett; Hymes, Christina; Jacobson, Gary; Kiser, Roger Dean; Kerens, Claudia; Kevin, Tim; Jenkins, Pamela; Liles, Norma; Lily Jodi Flesberg; Lock, Joyce; Marlor, Janice Bumbalough; Mazzella, Joe; Meeks, Carol; Mizrany, Mary Carter; Morris, Deepak; Ojeibge, Georgewaters; Petry, Dianna Doles; Roberts, Susan; Shiveley, Debra; Shaw, Bob; Sims, Richard; Smith; Michael; Streidel, Saskia; Swarner, Ken; Vaknin, Sam; Verhoeff, Jan; Walker, Bill; Walker, Joe; Warner, Gordon, K; Walsh, Sue; Weymouth, Barbara J.; Whirity, Kathy;

Wainland, David; Westerfer, Clara; White Robert;

Storytime Tapestry Staff

Carol Roach - Founder/publisher

Thelma Hartselle - Co-Founder, Moderator

Clara Westerfer – moderator

Bob Johnston - moderator

Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

September 24, 2006

Today’s announcements

Hello Everyone,

Over my years on having the use of a computer, I have met some very

nice people and Harry & Dixie are a part of this scenario.

Harry is in his mid-sixties and needs a hip replacement but his dr wants

him to have some testing done prior to this surgery as a safe guard.

Since he has the hip problem, he is unable to take the stress test as

normal so he did it through a different method.  Yesterday when Dixie

checked with the dr in charge of the stress test, he said that he had

found a problem which requirest that Harry have a heart catheter on

the 27th, one day after his 67th birthday.If there is a blockage, the dr

plans to implant the stint after opening the blocked area.

Please keep them in your prayers as they are very close to each other

and they are putting this issue in the hands of the Master, Our Lord.

If you feel the need to send a virtual greeting to keep them uplifted, please

feel free to do so at Dixie's email address: dshmm@webtv.net

Love in Christ and a huge THANK YOU for your prayers. Normie: hoopla214@yahoo.com

p.s. My son-in-law is doing very well!

Now onto the good stuff!

Today’s Queue Stories

~**~**~

~**~**~

Chris-T-Fur

Michael T. Smith

            The litter of puppies snuggled close to their protective mother. With her

nourishment, they grew quickly. In a few weeks, they were waddling around, exploring

their new home. They were healthy and happy, but one little guy was different. He was

smaller and was developing at a much slower rate. We called him Chris-T-Fur.

            Chris-T-Fur tried to keep up with his brothers and sisters, but always fell behind

the pack. He’d run in their direction, but would slam into the walls and furniture. We

grew concerned and had him examined. The vet said, “I’m sorry, Tom. Chris-T-Fur is

blind. His left eye is totally defective, and he has a juvenile cataract in his right. He

may have a little vision in his right eye, but it isn’t much. You need to make a decision.”

            My wife and I both work with people who have disabilities. She is a physical

education teacher for severely disabled children. I work with adults with hearing loss.

Our little Chris-T-Fur deserved as much of a chance as anyone. “Doc, we’ll take him

home and love him as much as our other dogs.” Chris quickly worked his way into our

hearts - a special kinship was formed. Later, Chris-T-Fur developed a seizure disorder.

After a seizure, he has to walk it off. He walks all over the house, bumping into

everything.

            Chris-T-Fur soon learned the sound of my car. He hears me coming and runs

down the driveway - headfirst into the metal gate. It’s a wonder he still has a nose. “Go

back to the house, Chris.” I’ll tell him. He turns and runs back up the driveway, bouncing

off the brick wall, using it as his guide.

            On outings, he runs with the other dogs, barking at things he cannot see. He runs

into fences, bushes, trees, and even over banks. Does it slow him down? No! Chris-T-Fur

gets up - a little dazed - shakes it off, and continues the pursuit. He wants to be part of the

pack.

            The other dogs have become intolerant of him lately, especially when they are

settled down with a bone or treat. When he walks by, they growl or snap at him. They

don’t understand, he can’t see their bone. He has his own treat and is looking for it.

            At night, I sit to work at my computer. Within a few minutes, I hear Chris-T-Fur

enter the room. He sniffs the air, detects where I am, and soon I’ll hear the familiar thud,

as he bumps into my chair. I turn, scratch him behind his ears; give him a couple of pats

on his head, and show him all the love I feel for him. He then wanders off to another part

of the house.

            At dinner, I purposely drop a few “Kibbles©” on the floor. Chris-T-Fur is quick

to hear the sound. With a few sniffs of his over sensitive nose, he can locate his treat.

            In spite of all his disabilities, Chris-T-Fur is a happy dog. He is friendly and

always ready to be my companion. He’s my hero. He doesn’t have a pedigree, but he’s

top dog in my books. One day, I know I’ll have a void in my life, where Chris-T-Fur used

to be. Until then, I have a daily reminder that the struggles I face are insignificant

compared to what others deal with.

            Chris-T-Fur knows, if you get knocked down, pick yourself up, and brush

yourself off. He’s taught me how important it is to keep a positive attitude.

Michael T. Smith

mtsmith@qwestonline.com

To read my stories or to sign up
to receive my weekly story, go to:
http://archives.zinester.com/86758/

~**~**~

 Sabrina A dog’s Tail

Mike Firesmith

Sherry, Holly and I were walking Sabrina one night. It was fun to watch Sabrina cut a swath through people in the parking lot. A lot of people would get he hell out of the way of a big black fuzzy dog who growled a lot. Holly was just commenting on what a mild mannered puppy Sabrina was when Sabrina saw a frog. Before any of us could say or do anything she picked the frog up, chewed it a few times and swallowed it. " Frog Breath" was a nickname that made Holly wince when I used it. It really grossed her out.


I took Sabrina to Drexel Park to chase squirrels. It was the only place that I would take her off the leash and let her run. If you own a dog, and you have a yard with squirrels in it, you know the game that goes on between the two species. The dog will chase the squirrels, the squirrels will scamper just out of reach, and no one gets hurt. Very rarely does a dog ever catch a squirrel. I don't think Sabrina ever got very close. She would chase them up the trees and then leap up in the air on the trunk of the tree yelping at them. Sabrina, who was normally a very dignified person, made a fool out of herself chasing squirrels. But after an hour of squirrel chasing we didn't have to worry about walking her again that day. Sometimes I would go over and say very loudly, " Sabrina, PARK! SQUIRREL!" And those two words would really set her off. Holly would have to take her out then, if I didn't, and it was all part of the fun.


One day I had turned Sabrina loose in the park and she treed a squirrel and was doing her very best to launch herself up the side of the tree. I was half watching Sabrina do her thing, but I was really looking for wildlife in the creek. That's the same creek the Amphiuma had been found. As long as I could hear Sabrina yelping at the squirrels I knew she was okay. All of a sudden I heard a woman yelling.


She was a young woman who had a little l girl with her, and she was yelling at me. They were on the other side of the creek, which is only a few feet wide and not knee deep, and they were both standing on top of a picnic table. I don't know a lot about humans and know even less about female humans, but I could tell they were both very unhappy about something. Sabrina was a good fifty yards away, on the other side of the creek, and terribly preoccupied with trying to fly. It wasn't her, was it? The little girl was wrapped around the woman's legs and the woman was pointing at Sabrina. Sabrina was leaping up in the air, yelping, trying to get to a squirrel that quite possibly had already left the county.

I called her back anyway, just in case I was missing something. Sabrina always came back when I called her, no matter what she was doing. She knew something was wrong. It couldn't be time to go. She sat down to be leashed and we walked over to where the woman and child were still standing on the picnic table.


The woman yelled at me to keep away. We stopped. She was really upset about something. I looked around. There were other people around, but I didn't see anything worth getting uptight about. I asked her what was wrong and she told me that my dog was terrifying her daughter. I looked down at Sabrina. She was panting heavily and seemed confused. Me too. Why is my dog terrifying your daughter? My dog was on the other side of the creek. My dog hasn't gotten near you, or your daughter. What's wrong?

It seems that the little girl has a thing about squirrels. She loved squirrels. They would come to the park and the little girl would name all the squirrels she saw. She would invent squirrels families and stories about them. Sabrina arrived on the scene like a black furred demon bent on killing every squirrel in sight. Because her daughter was to the point of near hysterics, the woman was at the point of near hysterics. Meanwhile, Sabrina sat at my side, panting, oblivious to it all.


The last thing I needed, or wanted, or could allow to happen is for Sabrina to get into any sort of conflict involving a kid. She, and I, would lose that one eight days a week and twice on Sundays. Sabrina lived for her time in the park and if we got banned, or she got banned from running loose, it would have been devastating for her. It was time for some creativity.


First I asked the little girl her name (I cannot remember it right now) and how old she was. The little girl was five and I told her that Sabrina was five too. ( That was a lie, Sabrina was just two at the time). I asked the little girl if five years was a long time, and the little girl said, yes, that five years was a very long time. I told her that ever since Sabrina had been a little puppy she had come to the park to me to play with the squirrels. In fact, Sabrina and the squirrels were the very best of friends, and they played chase every time we came to the park. I knelt down in front of the little girl and became very serious, " If Sabrina had really wanted to catch a squirrel, don't you think in five years, in five whole years, she would have caught one by now?" She seemed to like this idea now.


Sabrina has a series of tricks that she would do. The first was sit. This was followed by sit-up. Then either Holly, or myself would point a finger at her and say, "Bang! Dead Dog!" and Sabrina would fall over on her back. So I ran her up to where I was suppose to go "bang" but instead I said, ' Sabrina would you rather hurt a squirrel or be a DEAD DOG?" At the " dead dog" cue Sabrina fell over on her back. Even the girl's mother was impressed.

I turned Sabrina loose and she went after a squirrel and I had this brief but intense imagine in my mind of her finally caching one and tearing it into pieces. But the squirrel ran up the tree and even stopped to torment Sabrina a little (See! See! They're the best of friends!)


I was just happy the kid didn't try to pet the pretty puppy.

Take Care,
Mike Firesmith

~**~**~

Poetry Section

~**~**~

Embrace

Mary Dees 

Seasoned with shyness,

He instills his care,

Accented with kindness,

A love is prepared.

Knowing emotions,

See through to her pain,

Unmentioned tenderness,

Reveals her refrain.

Silhouetted in motion,

Two hearts collide;

A shelter for sorrow,

And beaten pride.

Imprisoned loyalty,

His crime was pure.

Permitted by acceptance,

She dealt and endured.

By Mary M. Dees

marlena7694@yahoo.com

~**~**~

Helping

 Mary Dees

Don’t look at me that way,

Because I’m vulnerable.

Don’t dare keep pushing me,

Because I’m tolerable.

There you go again!

Don’t hold me that way,

Because I’m sensitive.

Don’t touch me that way,

Because I’m primitive.

There you go again!

Don’t stop me,

Because I’m furious.

Don’t help me,

Because you’re curious.

Damn, there you go again!

Don’t fix me,

Because I’m broken.

My record may always skip.

Don’t hate me,

Because I remember,

Your wrong and clenching grip.

Here I go again!

Don’t reach for me,

Because you think I’m lonely.

I’m crowded, don’t you see?

Don’t drown me with what compels you.

 It's my turn now to breath.

By Mary M. Dees

marlena7694@yahoo.com 

~**~**~

 Me

 Mary Dees

On my face,

And on my lips,

Remember this,

My smile.

In your life,

Is the sound,

Of me – all around,

My style.

With only you,

Can’t you see?

Where I want to be,

Worthwhile.

By Mary M. Dees

marlena7694@yahoo.com

Readers Feedback

Senior Writers

Chief writer: Sharon Bryant

Chief researcher/historian: Hartson Dowd

Agee, Vance; Apted, Violet; Baker, Kathy; Batt, Al; Berry, Nell; Blaine, Pamela; Boda, Ginger; Booher, Paula; Buhagiar, Victor; Cassady, B.J.; Costner, Joan Clifton; Cavalera, Robyn; Crider, Mark; Dees, Mary; Deming, Barb; Doherty, Maria;  Dowd, Hartson; Dowd, Helen; Gilbert, Robert, Jr.; Gold, Ron; Goodier, Steve; Grisham, Mary-Ellen; Braun-Haley, Ellie; Harris, Kathy Anne; Henry, Linda Ann; Hunt, Sharlett; Hymes, Christina; Jacobson, Gary; Kiser, Roger Dean; Kerens, Claudia; Kevin, Tim; Jenkins, Pamela; Liles, Norma; Lily Jodi Flesberg; Lock, Joyce; Marlor, Janice Bumbalough; Mazzella, Joe; Meeks, Carol; Mizrany, Mary Carter; Morris, Deepak; Ojeibge, Georgewaters; Petry, Dianna Doles; Roberts, Susan; Shiveley, Debra; Shaw, Bob; Sims, Richard; Smith; Michael; Streidel, Saskia; Swarner, Ken; Vaknin, Sam; Verhoeff, Jan; Walker, Bill; Walker, Joe; Warner, Gordon, K; Walsh, Sue; Weymouth, Barbara J.; Whirity, Kathy;

Wainland, David; Westerfer, Clara; White Robert;

Storytime Tapestry Staff

Carol Roach - Founder/publisher

Thelma Hartselle - Co-Founder, Moderator

Clara Westerfer – moderator

Bob Johnston - moderator