Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

Dec 27, 2006

Our Christmas, Channukah, Kwanzaa, New Years, holidays Contest 

Today’s Announcements

Great Boxing Day for our British and Canadian subscribers and Happy Kwanzaa for our African American subscribers as well.

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Today’s Contest Stories

~**~**~

Memory Tree

Michael T. Smith

                I pull the boxes of ornaments from the closet and prepare myself for a trip into the past. No photo album can bring back as many memories as my box of ornaments.

Like a picture, each ornament contains a memory.

                There's the box of wooden ones, handmade and painted with care. Within the assortment is a small man on skis, a mouse on a swing, even Santa in his sleigh. I

remember when my Georgia I bought them. It was our first Christmas as a married

couple. We hung them on the tree and dreamed how our future children would love them.

                I pick up a ceramic Santa. My aunt gave it to me when I was four. He holds a

tiny box in his hands. There’s a tear in it's wrapper, a tear caused by a boy who couldn't

contain his curiosity.

                A tiny brass bell is next. My brothers and I had fun with this bell. We took

turns hiding it in the tree. The others had to find it. We played “Find the Bell,” until mom

yelled at us for shaking the tree to make the bell ring and reveal its hiding spot.

                Mom knew how much the bell meant to me. The year I had my own family, she

gave me the bell. I played the same game with my own children.

                I pick up a pretty red ball. My daughter touched it when she was two. We’d put

Venessa down for her nap and decorated while she slept. We wanted to surprise

                We finished I sat back with a glass of eggnog and waited for her to wake.

                I see her face again. She ran from her room, fully charged and ready to take on

the world. She was five feet from the tree, before she looked up and stopped. Her eyes

opened wide. Her jaw dropped open, as she emitted a small cry of delight. She walked

forward, raised her hand, and touched a red ball – the ball now held in my hand.

                She turned to me. Her eyes reflected the colored lights. "Daddy, what is

it?"

                "It's Christmas, Sweetie." My voice quivered with emotion, "It's Christ's

birthday. We’re going to celebrate it."

                Her sparkling eyes, hanging jaw, and soft skin made me hold my arms out. She

ran into them and gave me a hug that would have melted even Scrooge's hard heart.

                I pick up a cracked green ball, a veteran of the first time I allowed my kids to

decorate the tree. They hung all the balls on one branch. When they turned for another, I

quickly moved the one before it to a better spot. I laughed when they told Grandma they

decorated all by themselves.

                Near the bottom of the box, I find a brass plaque. It brings back a special

memory. It has my son's name and birth date on it. Justin was supposed to be a New

Year's Eve baby, but he decided he wasn't going to miss Christmas.

                Justin was three weeks old, when we took him to the Christmas Eve service at

our church. That night, our minister explained to us the real meaning of Christmas. As

she spoke, she wandered down the aisle and stopped beside us. She reached down and

asked, "May I?" I nodded and handed him to her. She lifted him into her arms.

                She was quiet as she walked back to face the congregation. Turning, she held

my son high and said, "This is the real meaning of Christmas: The birth of a new life!"

                She cradled my son as she spoke. A single tear trickled down my cheek. She

walked around the sanctuary, displaying my son to those gathered for the Christmas

service. The room seemed empty of everyone but her and my family. Overtaken with

emotion, I reached out and hugged Georgia and Vanessa to my side, and thought, "This

will be a Christmas to remember."

                In 2003 I pulled the ornaments out again. Justin and I were not going to be

home for Christmas that year. We were going to spend Christmas with friends in Ohio,

but I wanted Christmas to be the way it always was. I wanted Christmas to be the way

Justin remembered.

                Georgia died two months earlier. Justin and I were alone in New Jersey.

Vanessa was in Ohio. It had to be the way it was before – the tree to be perfect. The

ornaments – the memories – had new meaning that Christmas. The memories of

happiness were raw, but the tree over came them. A tear trickled from my eye. Good

things may pass, but their memories hang on.

                Last year I hung a new ornament on our tree. It was one I got for Ginny.

It’s a penguin. Ginny loves penguin. This year, I have one she gave me to hang – new

pages have been added to my album.

                I hang my personal album for all to see, sit back and relax. For several weeks,

I search my magical tree until find my special spot. It could be anywhere on the tree,

but I know it’s there – a spot where light shines perfectly on one or two balls and reflects

off a length of tinsel. It’s perfect in every way.

                I lock my eyes on it and enjoy its beauty. I relive my life. It’s there for all

to enjoy. I invite you to share it with me. Look at the ornaments. Flip the pages. Share

my life. It’s a magical tree

 Michael T. Smith

mtsmith@qwestonline.com

~**~**~

 A Christmas Puppy

By Bob Shaw

    I was busy working the route when my cell phone rang. It was an emergency call from home. Ronni told me that someone had dumped a puppy out on the road in front of the house, and wanted to know what to do. I started asking some questions like what is it; a boy or a girl. “I don’t know”. Well check it’s license plate and let me know. Ronni called back; It’s a boy. What does he look like? “He’s gorgeous”. Uh huh…What color is he? “Blond”. How big is he? “He’s huge”! How old is he? “I don’t know”.

    By this time, I’m thinking there’s going to be a problem. She’s nuttier about animals than I am. If it has fins, feathers, or fur, she loves it. I continued getting updates through the day, and felt I knew the little critter already. I was wrong.

    When I got home, it was almost dark. I was met by a bunch of barking, some pitiful growls, and the biggest puppy you’ve ever seen. He hadn’t missed any meals, for sure. I told him to cool it, I live here too. I sat down on the steps next to him, and he just snuggled in next to me like he’d known me forever.

    I made a quick inspection. The puppy was a Golden Lab, about 3 months old, and already a good 20 pounds. He smelled like a dog…and then some. Pretty ripe. Then I looked at his feet. If he grew in to them, he’d be a house pony. I told Ronni it wouldn’t be a good idea to have a bird dog in the same house with an expensive bird, a Cockatoo, and expect them to co-exist on a friendly level. And I’m just not the type to let a dog live out it’s life at the end of a chain. So I told her that after supper, I’d try to find him a good home.

    After supper, I put Ruff, (that’s what he said his name was when we first met), in to the front seat of the truck, and headed off to town. It’s a small place. If it was any smaller, the “welcome to“, and the “you are now leaving” sign would be on the same post. He settled in on the seat like he’d been riding there for years, and stared at me with those big brown eyes. I didn’t know what I was going to do if this didn’t work out. I patted his head and told him it’d be alright. I could see the tail wag. He couldn’t understand the words, but he understood trust. And love.

    The first place I came to was the Boomland Express, a gas station and a pretty near anything else you might be looking for type store. I stopped at the back door of the little cage where the attendant controls the gas pumps and collects the money, and asked her if she knew anyone that might like to have a puppy. The look in her eyes was pure disappointment. She couldn’t have a dog where she lived, but told me to check at the main store, just across the parking lot. I thought to myself, yeah, the one with the big sign on the door that said “No Dogs”.

        I parked close to the door, picked up Ruff, and went on in anyway. I got a couple of surprised looks, but they all turned to ohhh’s and ahhh’s when I asked if anyone wanted a puppy. The night manager came around to look at him, and I told her the story. She said to wait a minute, that she’d be right back. I guess she turned the store up side down looking for a box that would fit him. Not finding anything, she called her husband at home, and said to come down to the store. Nothing else. Just come to the store. I knew that when she looked in to those eyes, she was a gonner.

    When her husband got there, (in record time), she pointed and said take him home. He looked a bit confused, and asked “him or the dog“? I jumped in and said “the dog”. I handed him Ruff, and watched as he bonded with his new family. He laid his face next to the mans, and let out a small sigh; tail wagging, and looking like one happy pup. I asked her what she was going to name him. She said it’s close to Christmas. I think we’ll name him Chris. And his tail started wagging even harder.

    I’m not one who believes much in coincidences. But I do believe that once in a while, we get to play the part of God’s helper. There were three kids at home that got a new Christmas puppy. Or was it a Christmas puppy that got his own kids. Either way, it was a happy ending. As I turned to leave, I wished them a Merry Christmas, and patted Chris’s head, and whispered “Merry Christmas“.

Bob Shaw '06 CapeRabbit@semo.net

Bob and wife Ronni live in the Cape Girardeau, Missouri area.

~**~**~

I Want to Write The Story

Sharon Bryant

Every Christmas a child somewhere wants something special.  But then some adults do too. 

My Nextel radio crackled out yesterday with a woman yelling, "Your brother-in-law has lost his mind totally!"

Oh, I recognized my sister's voice, but she was frantic and I thought, "What in the world could her husband have done?"

She's only five foot one inch tall.  She's a spry woman, but she has a temper sort of like mine when you cross her.

From the sound of her voice, she was very ticked off.  I laughed and said, "And what did my brother-in-law do?"

Mind you, my sister lives in Michigan.  Where it gets cold.  Where it snows.  Where the trees lose their leaves in winter and where certain types of trees do not grow.

For the past two weeks my sister has been decorating her yard and house with a jillion lights.  And like I once used to be, I know how tedious it is to make one bush light up in green lights, one in red, some multi-colored, etc.  She called me two days ago to tell me she had just got a gorgeous Santa and sleigh for her yard.

Her house is on a main road.  The traffic is constant on her road. 

Why, we're still not sure.  Where he got them, we're not sure.  But her husband opened up a semi-trailer and began pulling out

metallic palm Christmas trees.  Bright metallic trees.  BIG metallic Christmas trees.........twenty foot tall.  They have rope lights entwined around their trunks and up into the palm leaves. 

My sister was working in her living room when she happened to look outside and saw her husband standing these trees up in her front yard.

She ran outside and asked him what he was doing and what was going on.

"I'm decorating," he said.  "Not with those gaudy things you aren't decorating in our yard," she answered.

"You decorate the way YOU want, and I'll decorate the way I want," he replied.  He began setting up more trees, yelling to a friend of his, "Drag some more out here."

I could only visualize this as my sister was screaming into the phone, "He is NUTS, he's lost his MIND."  I knew I better wait to giggle where she could hear it, but my mind was trying to visualize the trees as she detailed what they looked like.

Soon, nine palm trees where setting in her front yard.  The sun was shining so they sparkled in the sunlight.  Next thing my sister screams into my phone, "Oh you're NOT going to believe this, but people are pulling over on the side of the road looking at our house!"  Sure enough, traffic was slowing down and gawkers were taking the whole scene in.  Palm trees in Michigan, metallic and shining as bright as can be in the afternoon sunlight.

Before the night was over, several more trees were "planted" in the front and back yard.  My brother-in-law blew every breaker in the house, the shed and the barn trying to plug the trees in.  He even unplugged the decorations my sister had lit up, and all I can say to that is WWIII almost began.

Just a few minutes ago my radio crackled with my sister's voice saying, "I just emailed you some photos of these horrid looking trees in my yard."  (Oh boy, I couldn't WAIT to see this!)

I sat back when I opened the first email up and roared.  I about fell off the chair when the second one came through.

We all know the story, "Yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus."  I want to write the story titled, "Yes, palm trees DO grow in Michigan!   LOL

P.S.

I'm not sure if she's serious about filing divorce or not!

Sharon Bryant

1946@bellsouth.net

                                                            Contest Poetry Corner

~**~**~

• From the Manager, He speaks *
• Norma Liles

As we gaze upon the One who lies before us

We are reminded of what the prophets had to say

We expected a King born in a castle

A babe wrapped in clothes which speaks of royalty.

But rest assured, within His blood is royalty

The grandest heredity He will claim one day

But for now, He comes in all His lowly glory

To save the souls whose lives have gone astray.

The glow which comes from Him has to be Holy

No matter that He lies within a stable

Because in this life, it isn't about grandeur

It is the glory of God's only begotten Son.

When you think of this time in history

Yes, it is a beginning of a life unmatched by man

He came in all the meekness of a lamb

But He will go to a cross for sinners, such as we.

Give Him the glory that becomes Him

Adore Him as the most precious as can be

He came to let us know how much He loves us.

Proving that He loved us so we must love Him.

In reverence to the Babe of Bethlehem.

NormaLee Liles ©

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.

"And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."

Luke 1:30-33

Readers Feedback

 Hannah’s Special Christmas - Carol, That was a beautiful story my friend.  It was the perfect story for this wonderful Christmas Day. God bless you always. Joe

Hannah’s Special Christmas What a wonderful story, Carol!  Does Hannah know her birthday?  What kind of painting does Matt do?  I'm sorry....I'm so full of questions.  It sounds like you have a wonderful fiance'

Again, a great story, Carol!

Contest Submissions that have been posted only, this means only the stories that have been published in Storytime Tapestry and not the articles that are still waiting in the queue.  The list gets bigger each day as more and more stories are added.

Please refer to the archives: http://archives.zinester.com/98907 if you want to reread an article before voting.

Name:                            Title:                              Date published

 Ortiz-Lopes, Tannia          From Devine To Human                                     Dec 17 (see special treat)

Blaine, Pamela                     The Very Best Gift Of All                 Dec 17

Shaw, Bob                             Buttermilk                                                           Dec 17

Aro                                         A Visit From Tanner Claus                              Dec 17

Joseph, Brian                       The Gift of Giving                                                Dec 18 (see special treat)

Walker, Bill                         Rainbow Ridge Special Report, Gizzy             Dec 18

Gold, Ron                              Christmas Kindnesses                                       Dec 18

Gold, Ron                              A Merry Jewish Christmas                              Dec 18

Haley, Ellie Braun               Mother                                                                   Dec 19(see special treat)

McCallum, Arnot                The Little Red Sock                                            Dec 19

Bryant, Sharon                    The Meaning                                                        Dec 19

Bryant, Sharon                    The Shoe Store                                                    Dec 19

Byrant, Sharon                    You Walk With Angels                                     Dec 19

Berry, Nell                           A Christmas Prayer                                           Dec 19

Foster, Leeuna                     Tis the Season to go Shopping                          Dec 20

Gifford, P.S.                          A Very Special Christmas                                Dec 20

Mazzella, Joe                       Through His Eyes                                               Dec 20

Meeks, Carol                       The Most Reverent Night                  Dec 20

Meeks, Carol                       A Baby Boy Was Born                                       Dec 20

Meeks, Carol                       Christmas Day                                                     Dec 20

Newman, Bruce                   The Glue of The Universe                  Dec 20(see special treat)

Meeks, Carol                       Oh Israel, Oh Israel                                           Dec 21

Meeks, Carol                       Even The Animals Know                                    Dec 21

Meeks, Carol                       Christmas Blessings                                         Dec 21

Meyers, Dan                         Noel - The Dyslexic Christmas Angel            Dec 21(see special treat)

Cavalera, Robyn   Dear Santa                                                                            Dec 21

Cavalera, Robyn   Happy Birthday Jesus                                                        Dec 21

Bryant, Sharon                    The Sweater                                                         Dec 21

Foster, Leeuna                     The Gifts of The Giver                                        Dec 22(see special treat)

Deming, Barbara A Special Christmas Ride                 Dec 22

Roney, Barbara                    Christmas Nostalgia                                          Dec 22

Roney, Barbara                    Baby Jesus                                                           Dec 22

Walker, Bill                         That Night                                                            Dec 22

Allin, Bill                              Christmas: Most of it Doesn’t Matter             Dec 22(see beyond the Mirror)

Meeks, Carol                       Year 1995 for me                                                Dec 23

Walker, Bill                         No Room                                                                Dec 23

Berry, Nell                           The Birth of A King                                            Dec 23

Berry, Nell                           Seasons Change                                                  Dec 23

Berry, Nell                           Did Mary Really Know                                       Dec 23

Westerfer, Clara O’ Christmas Tree                                             Dec 23

Roach, Carol                        I Should be Happy but I am not                          Dec 24(see Carol’s Corner)

Holbrook, Mariane              Little Alma’s Christmas Present                    Dec 24(see Special Treat)

Walker, Bill                         The Broken Runner On St. Nick’s Sled        Dec 24

Walker, Bill                         Blue Christmas                                                   Dec 24

Walker, Joe                         What Would Santa Do?                                     Dec 24

Berry, Nell                           You Think You Got a Problem                          Dec 24

Berry, Nell                           The Light of Christmas                                     Dec 24

Dowd, Hartson                      Christmas Eve                                                      Dec 24(see fascinating facts)

Smith, Michael                    Little Bell                                                             Dec 25

Roach, Carol                        Hannah’s Special Christmas                            Dec 25(see Carol’s Corner)

Fox, David                              I’m Triply Blessed                                              Dec 25

Deming, Barbara Christmas Memories                                         Dec 25

Bryant, Sharon                    Don’t Tell Anyone You Know Me                     Dec 25

Walker, Bill                         Christmas, 1914                                 Dec 26

Cassady, B.J.                        Christmas, 2002                                 Dec 26

Walker, Joe                         The Still Small Voice of Christmas                Dec 26

Smith, Michael                    Christmas, Dealing with Loss                          Dec 26

Young, Ina Townsend          Goodbye Home                                                      Dec 26

Cassady, B.J.                        Christmas on the Frontier                                Dec 27(see special treat)

Smith, Michael                    Memory Tree                                                       Dec 27

Shaw, Bob                             A Christmas Puppy                                             Dec 27

Liles, Norma                        From the Manger he Speaks                             Dec 27

Bryant, Sharon                    I Want to Write The Story                                Dec 27                                  

Storytime Tapestry Angels

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, Kay Seefeldt

Mary Ellen Grisham, Louise Nomani, Sharon Bryant, Angela Walker

Hart and Helen Dowd, Keith Ready, 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