Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

October 3, 2006

Today’s Queue Stories

~**~**~

 The Best Move

Michael T. Smith

            Ginny and I sat on our deck played scrabble and enjoyed a warm summer night.

The stars were shined, a light breeze cooled our skin. The game progressed - our scores

close. Ginny formed a word. It extended to the bottom of the board - the last letter placed

between two “triple word” squares.

            It was my turn. I stared at my tiles. My eyes opened wide. There it was - the move

of my life - “Faltered.” It word spanned both “triple word” squares. I scored 140 points,

a personal best.

                                                ***********************

            Life is full of tiles. They’re all in front of you, but they’re upside down. You don’t

know what they are until they’re picked up. You can’t handle too many at one time.

You’re only allowed to choose seven.

            You have seven tiles of life in front of you. You stare at them and think to

yourself, “Life starts here.” They’re lined up, but they make no sense. You move them

around, trying to arrange them into something logical, but you struggle. The first move

has to be right.

            The letters come together into a word, but it’s a small one. Will you use it or keep

struggling and make a bigger word? This is the beauty of the game - you get to replace

the tiles you use. Are you going to make small moves, only to pick up a couple of tiles?

Remember, the more you use, the more you can pick up - more opportunities.

            Later in life, if the tiles are put together right, you’ll get to have a partner to

play with. Their words become stepping-stones for yours. Each decision has an affect on

the other’s.

            Time goes by. The last tile is placed on the board. The game is over, but the

words you created live on. They are the children fostered, decisions made, friends found,

work done, and the life lived.            We start with the same number of tiles. How we use

them is up to us.

            My 140-point score? It represents the day I married Ginny, the day our words

came together, the best move I ever made.

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/

~**~**~

October 1, 2006

Sharon Bryant

Today begins my annual journey of memories.

This year, the month of October will bring even more memories.

My dad's birthday is October 10.  He died this past January.

My son's heaven date is October 24.  He died 29 years ago.

Each year the heart tugs come.  Each year that passes, I wonder what my purpose is to be here.  Perhaps to still be mom to my two remaining children who came after my firstborn died? 

I've always asked God for one wish since 1977.  And that is that I live long enough to see my children grown, married and on their own doing ok.

As always, there are no answers to any of the questions that have boggled my mind for almost three decades.  As usual, I will tuck my feelings inside so they never show on the outside to anyone.

That is how I survive as a bereaved parent.

Sharon Bryant

1946@bellsouth.net

 ~**~**~

Warning some of these definitions are a bit of colour but are not intended to be offensive to anyone, but to be taken light heartedly and more along the lines of humour.

I'd like to remind everyone of some definitions I have extracted from my Jewish friends over the years. Enjoy the truths of these translated deductions.

Jewish Definitions---  

Putz: The male reproductive member, primarily used for urinating  

and solitary amusement. Larger than a schmeckel. Similar to  

a schmuck. A common term for male in-laws.  

Schmuck: Yet another term for the male member, most often used  

to describe a man with an attitude of arrogant stupidity. Nice  

logic there, if you think about it. A common term for former  

male in-laws and business partners.  

Goyim: People who are Gentile. A polite term for anyone who  

doesn't love a good bargain or has extra skin on his schmeckel.  

Tattalah: An endearing term of love which means "little man".  

An emasculating term for women to call men, if you think about  

it. But who has time to think?  

Gefilte Fish: A tasty mix of congealed fish parts and  

transparent slime jelly. The only food it is permissible for  

Jewish children to refuse. In some families, they may even  

be allowed to gag, but politely.  

Chaleria: A derogatory term which best refers to a female  

business associate or a mother-in-law. The closest English  

equivalent is "bitch."  

Koorveh: A call-girl, or prostitute. A reference to the Russian  

Czar's wife at the turn of the 20th Century, and to that flashy  

shiksa your nephew married. Also known as Nafkeh.  

Schmendrick: A man who messes things up, always loses and  

feels miserable. An unfortunate asshole. Closely related to  

Schlemazel and Schlemiell. Every Jewish family has at least  

one, often named Irving.  

Schlemiell: A jerk who can't do anything right. In simple terms,  

someone who's always spilling his soup.  

Schlemazel: The poor dumb putz a Schlemiell is always spilling  

soup on.  

Schmeckel: A guy with a small putz. A nothing. Usually your  

ex-partner or ex-son-in-law.  

Tsuris: A word referring to all problems, trouble, grief,  

aggravation and heartache. Examples: daughter pregnant with  

child of an unemployed Catholic bartender; adult son loses job  

and moves back home.  

Major Tsuris: Daughter and baby "Bridget" move back home too.  

Kin-a-hora: A gleeful rejoice used when Jewish parents find out  

their daughter is going to marry the Jewish surgeon rather  

than that poor, unemployed goyishe laborer.  

Mark Crider

~**~**~

Poetry Section

~**~**~

Life Thoughts

Dianna Doles Petry

I often feel as though I am stubborn,

I am restless and always discontent,

I challenge rules and my own destiny,

Tears for a lifetime are already spent.

Truth remains an unsolvable mystery,

I cannot determine what's meant to be,

Maybe I am meant to serve humanity,

Is there more than my eyes can see?

I watch children play and feel a twinge,

Their innocence fills my eyes with tears,

Sunshine and storms lie ahead for them,

As youth fades and maturity appears.

When we have wealth, we feel secure,

Thinking we are set throughout the years,

Then hardships find us and we realize,

We are never immune from doubts and fears.

My youth was once a golden treasure,

Nights filled with kisses a driven desire,

To be sought for love and passion a goal,

Material possessions I sought to acquire.

Now I relish the scent after a rain,

Sunlight that falls on a garden rose,

For life is a circle of give and take,

Around and around the circle goes.

I often feel as though I'm stubborn,

Trying to change the course of my fate,

Not willing to grow old and give up the best,

I want to live my life before it grows to late.

©Dianna Doles Petry

10/02/2006

dianna59@charter.net

~**~**~

Readers Feedback

Violet Apted - The first time Sandra and I went to the Eiffel Tower we were only one of three couples up there (I think) except the lady selling toilet paper in the co-ed bathroom.

When Sandra came out she caught me peeing off the downwind side overlooking the river. We both had a helluva laugh.

Mark Crider

Michigan Hospice Program - What a wonderful program, Carol!  I teach a memoir writing class at a retirement community complex and urge them to get it in writing.

Your article is a perfect insight into the program and a plea for support. Very well done.

Barb

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