Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

Nov 27, 2006

Today’s announcements

^{Remember that all stories and poems were lost because of the computer crash, if you sent me anything in late August, September or October and you haven’t seen it published please send it back again.  Thank you.}

See below for Storytime Angels

Now onto the good stuff!

Today’s Queue Stories

~**~**~

THE LETTER

Sharon Bryant

I'll never forget the letter as long as I live.  I'll never forget who wrote it, and I will never forget how far it went and the lives it touched.

It all began last year around this time when I asked my local area schools to write letters to the troops.  Near me is a boy's home and there were 20 some boys there who also wanted to write to the troops.  When I pick up these letters, I hand count them. 

As I was counting, this one letter caught my eye. 

It came from a young boy who told the soldiers that he knew what it felt like not to be with his family at Christmas.  He said his mom and dad wouldn't let him come home.  He began to tell how lonely it was without his parents and how he wished they would let him spend just Christmas day with them and his siblings.

The letter grabbed me at the heart strings.

Three weeks ago a soldier who was at a camp last Christmas that I sent packages to, came to visit me and meet me in person.  He was near Baghdad at the time.  He told me how much the cards and letters meant to him.  Then he said, "There was one letter in particular that I'll never forget."  I asked him which one as I saw what all the kids wrote myself.  It was THE LETTER that had grabbed my heart strings.  The soldier told me that every soldier in his camp read the letter and how much it affected all of them.

Two days ago I went to that same boys school and asked if they'd like to participate again this year in writing to the troops.  They said yes.  Then I told them that one letter from the home had reached Iraq with a powerful impact on the troops.  I was asked what it said, and as I began to tell, the director said, "I know that letter.  I read it.  It got to me also."

I never asked if the boy is still there.  I will know when I pick the letters up on November 30th.  But I do know that one little boy touched the lives of many soldiers by the words that he wrote.  I was told by the soldier that every single card and letter is appreciated more than I could ever know.

This soldier told me it was the support from his country that got him through the holidays.

And yet, I can't get out of my mind a little boy writing and telling a soldier he knows how it feels to be lonely at Christmas without his family.  I'll go to my grave remembering the letter.

Sharon Bryant

1946@bellsouth.net

~**~**~

THE PHONE CALL (October 2006)

By Georgewaters Ojeigbe – Lagos, Nigeria

gojiegbe@oregun.jhplc.com

On 16^th October, 2006 I tried reaching an old friend on phone who had an impact in my life by presenting me with Boris Gardner’s audio tape as a birthday gift.

My intension to reach him on phone was to present to him in words a big thank you for being that closest friend of mine of over a decade ago.  Before the 16^th of October, 2006 I had never really thought of his deed.

On my way to the office this morning, Tuesday, 17^th October, 2006 I repeated the same phone call trial and he gave me a call back as I was just a little distance away from my office.  Instantly, I knew who the caller could be, no one other than Muyiwa Falowo, my one time closest friend.

I reached to my cell phone receive button and the HELLO word came out of my mouth.  The caller responded hello also.  He enquired of my identity.  He could no longer recognize my voice after so many years of being apart.  Although we saw some times last year but I had no course of saying the big ‘thank you’ to him since it had not really done on me what impact the gift had in my life.

As we got talking, I pretended not to know whom I was speaking with.  I was waiting for him to introduce himself as the Muyiwa Falowo.

I simply just went straight to the purpose of my calling him.  I rendered the big than you message to him for what he did over 14 years ago to me. 

He was like, who is this, and I cannot remember what I did… 

I asked after everyone in his family in order for him to have a glimpse of my acquaintance with his family, yet he still could not understand, so I promised to call him later to let him have my identity. 

Before I dropped the phone, I told him that the story of what he did has been written by me and has been sent for publications. 

I knew he was still trying to understand whether it is a fraudster on the phone.  He went silent a while and later came on to say to me “okay please identify yourself”.

I remained adamant and giggled saying to him “well you shall soon know who I am, just try and think about who you gave a special gift about 14 years ago.”

He kept silent and dropped the phone.

As soon as I reached the office, he called again and pursed for a moment.

The usual ‘Hello’ word was said on phone.  It was him again and he was still inquisitive.

We got talking again and I rambled for a while before breaking the misery to him.  I said this is George speaking. 

He responded by calling “George, okay Fofo”.  He identified me with my abbreviated native name FOFO. 

I realized he has actually known the person at the other end to be me by now.

I simple told him my purpose of wanting to reach him on phone.  Without wasting time, I said the big “thank you for the wonderful gift of over 14 years ago”.

He requested to know the kind of gift and I told him Boris Gardner.

He said, that sounds like a name of an artist.

I answered yes, the audio tape you presented to me on my 19^th birthday.

I could hear him giggle on phone and he asked me if I am still having the audio tape.

Quite well, I am still having it.  It is intact in my music library, so I said to him.

Next, he went blar, blar, blar, asking after every one of my relatives he knew then.

After a while, I hung up my phone.  I then started to think of what he might think of my call.  Probably, my call might have taken him back to the yester years when we were that close friends of age 16 and 19.

This is one of my stories.  We all have stories to tell in life.  Life is beautiful, emotional, and short so lets us make best use of the remaining years ahead.

The End!

~**~**~

 AH, THERE YOU ARE

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

     I misplaced my joy this morning. I woke up to find it missing like a set of lost keys. I started looking for it everywhere. I looked for it in the morning paper. It wasn’t there. I looked for it in my books. It wasn’t there. I looked for it in some music. It wasn’t there. I looked for it while I ate breakfast, got the kids ready for school, and headed out the door this morning, but I couldn’t find it anywhere.

     When I finally got back home I decided to take a walk. I thought that if I couldn’t find my joy then at least I could get some exercise. The last leaves of Autumn were thickly covering the ground. I walked for awhile on this beautiful, crunchy carpet and breathed in the fresh, cool air. It was so peaceful and wonderful. After walking for a bit I stopped and smiled. I suddenly knew where to look. I glanced down and saw my joy peeking up at me from deep inside my soul. It had been sitting there right next to my love and God’s love just waiting for me to find it. "Ah, there you are," I said. Then I laughed at myself for not knowing where to look all along.

     It is amazing how we so often look for joy in every single place except the only place where it can truly be found, within ourselves. We are like a person running around searching for the glasses that are perched on the top of his head. We need to stop the search. We need to look deep into our souls and see the joy that has been sitting there all along. It isn’t hidden and it isn’t hard to find. It is there shining brightly right next to God’s love and our love. It is just waiting for us to smile down and say, "Ah, there you are."

     Reach down and grab that joy today. Choose it, rejoice in it, and live in it. Take it along with your love and God’s love and share it with the world. And if you ever misplace it again remember where to look for it first.

Joe Mazzella

joecool@wirefire.com

~**~**~

 *Earning your Wings*

Norma Liles

On September 2006, we once again, had our family reunion in my hometown; my place of birth  but I was not in a festive mood as some type of infection was disturbing self.

After the fellowship, I went home with my twin sisters and stayed with them for a week to gather renewed strength before I went to my home, six days later.

My daughter brought me home and I had an unusal amount of luggage as my original plans were to stay in that area for another week but when the offer from my daughter to take me home, I was ready to go.

Here comes my angel of mercy in the form of a man who was visiting in my apt building.  When he saw the amount of luggage that I needed to transport to my apt on the second floor, he made it his purpose to carry all of it to my front door. 

This man is the father of the young man who lives across the hall from me and when he saw my need for assistance, we didn't even chat a bit other than my 'thank you' for the selfless act of kindness.   My daughter would have helped  but she had returned to her vehicle to bring more items.

I believe in angels as I was visited by one in the form of a human who was earning his wings!.

With grateful thanks,  I remain: 

NormaLee Liles 11/1/06 

hoopla214@yahoo.com 

Norma is an Ohio native, senior citizen; happy in her own skin, loves the Lord God Almighty, her family, her friends and her computer; pretty much in that order! Her hobbies include reading, writing poetry, stories, a few songs; loves to sing; and prefers southern gospel music. She is retired from the business world where she worked as a data entry operator/supv; is number nine of ten children; is looking fwd

to her next birthday which will welcome #77. (Oct)

Her writings have been featured on: Starfish, Driftwood, Sandollar, Morning Spirit Lift, Prayer of God, Jan Karon, American Poetry Writer's League, Lucy's Inspiration, Faithful Hope reading room, Poetry of Today, Hope in Him, Bonnie's Place, America will remember, News Moose, Penworm Prayer Warriors, Angels on Earth, Canadian Memorial page, Eternal Ink, Heartcatcher and senior writer for Storytime Tapestry.

Readers Feedback

 Sharon, I remember playing Monopoly with my great-aunt Milly every year when she'd come visting from Ohio every year except for the last few years of her life.  She was 96.  I had a great friend and confidante every year when she came to visit, bringing us kids lemon drops, mints.  She wrote often and mailed treats like fudge and other wonderful goodies for the holidays.  She loved to listen to my poetry and even came to watch me bowl.  It's been only 2 years since she's passed away (I will be 35 in December) and I still miss her terribly, so, yes I know how you must feel losing someone that close. Your friend, David Fox

Oh my God!  A million thanks goes to Sharon for that wonderful story about her grandma.  I had to smile when I read about the scrabble.  I know her grandmother is one of her angels, watching over her.  Reminds me of my granny.  She had hair that folded up on the floor when she would take her braids out.  It was such an honor to me to brush her hair as she was getting ready for bed.  She was such a giving lady also and I do know that if there is a Heaven she is there, probably enjoying Sharon's grandma's company.  God bless you all, Sharlett Hunt

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Please note that Storytime Tapestry is a free newsletter to members and there will never be a cost for the newsletter.  Donations are purely voluntary and no member should ever feel guilty for not making a donation at this time.

Angels on earth, they exist they are out there.  Angels come in all ages, shapes and sizes, civil status, and religion.  Their nature is love and their purpose is giving to the less fortunate of this world.  Storytime Tapestry angels are no exception.  These angels are loyal members who have contributed to the upkeep of Storytime Tapestry newsletter so that Storytime Tapestry can continue come to your email box 350 days of the year.

Here is our Storytime Tapestry Angels: Also, I would like to thank those of you who chose to be a silent angel and gave an anonymous donation to keep Storytime Tapestry up and running.

Clara Westerfer

Mark Crider

Rosanne Catalano

Paula Booher

Mary Ellen Grisham

Louise Nomani

Sharon Bryant

Angela Walker

Hart and Helen Dowd

Keith Ready

Mary Ellen Grisham

Ginger Morgenstern

Ellie Braun-Haley

Surinder Jandu

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; Pringle, Sandra Lewis; 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