Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

Dec 31, 2006

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

Today’s Announcements

We have another new writer joining us today.  Cynthia Groopman becomes writer # 388 for Storytime Tapestry. Please email her and welcome her to her new publishing home.

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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.

Today’s Contest Stories

~**~**~

A STONE AND A PRAYER

By David Wainland

As we stepped out of the car for our holiday visit to my son’s grave my wife asked, “Did you take the stone and the prayer” It called to mind an old war movie called a Wing and a Prayer and decided it would be a suitable heading for this story. 

There are several times during the course of the year a Jew makes almost mandatory pilgrimages to the gravesites of their love ones and next of kin. Some are sad holidays and others, like Hanukah are happy occasions. This celebration is one of independence; it commemorates the Jewish rebellion against a tyrant that would have forced us to worship the ancient gods and idols of Greece.

After a violent revolution, our ancestors threw out the enemy who defiled our synagogue and relit the eternal light above the arc of the Torah, our holy laws. There was only enough oil to light it for one day. Miraculously it lasted for eight, burning until a sufficient supply of the sacred fuel was located and brought to the temple.  

What we celebrate is the freedom to practice our religion and in passing, the rights of all other religions to do likewise. The lesson learned is that assimilation by force is not the path of the righteous.

When we visit a grave, it is tradition to place a small rock on the headstone as a calling card, perhaps for the departed. Most certainly, it is a sign to others visiting that the deceased is gone but not forgotten.

We can recite several different ritual prayers in the cemetery, though at special times in the year we chant one in particular, Kaddish.  We say this every day for a month after the death, on the anniversary of the passing and on certain solemn holidays. It is interesting to note, that while we sing this song in honor of our loved ones, it does not mention them, nor death or dying. It is a prayer of life and glory to the almighty.

Even in the midst of sorrow, this teaches us that life must continue. To bow down to death is to surrender to idolatry.

Another year passes and we go on, one stone, one prayer at a time.

David Wainland

david@wainland.com   

~**~**~

 HEE HAW

 Sharon Bryant

I guess in all our lives, something can happen that will scare the daylights out of us.  Today was mine.

Sometimes I'm sneaky.  I love making up boxes of goodies and sneaking to houses and leave the box on a porch, or a carport and getting out of the driveway before I'm seen.  I love it even more when I get a phone call and that person tells me a box was found at their house without a name, and they had no idea where it came from.  I usually respond, "You're kidding, right?"

Today was one of my sneak days. 

I had a rather large box that held homemade cookies, bread and candy that I made for a married couple that I like.  I knew both would be gone in the afternoon so I thought, "Gee, this one is going to be easy."

I drove to the house, looked around, didn't see the dog or the three cats.  I got the box out of the vehicle and made it to the porch when suddenly this horrible HEE HAW belted out.  Thinking I was alone, it sort of threw me and I dropped the box.

A donkey was standing on the other side of the fence looking at me, and he just kept doing HEE HAW.  I ran over to him and told him, "HUSH."  He stuck his head through the section of fence and sniffed me.  I guess I smelled pretty good with all the aromas of bread, cookies, and candy on me, because he just pulled his head back inside the fence, threw his head up in the air and belted out with three more screeching HEE HAW's. 

I knew I had to get out of there before he had the neighbors coming outside to see what he was yelling about.

I almost made it.

I was just getting into my vehicle when this woman wearing a robe and a towel on her head ran outside and yelled, "Are you Sharon?"  I didn't know her.  So I said, "NO!"  She looked at me and said, "You aren't Sharon?  My mom thought someone named Sharon would be coming by before Christmas."  I knew then I was caught.

"Stay right there," she said as she ran back into the house.  I was standing there thinking, "Gee, I never met the daughter before, but what's going on?"  She ran back to the vehicle with a big red Christmas bag, held it out to me and said, "Merry Christmas."

I looked at her and said, "I don't need a gift, and you weren't supposed to be here." 
She began laughing and said, "I know who you are.  You're the candy lady!  Mom said you always come around this time of year, and I know that box you just put on the porch is full of goodies."

"I taped the box shut," I said.

"Oh boy, mom better get home fast, I don't know if I can wait," she said laughing.

I laughed, told her to have a Merry Christmas and headed down the road.

I had another stop to make.  She's elderly.  Her daughter has been very ill most of the year and I know the struggles the family has had.  I pulled up in that driveway and was met with two little girls.  I knew they were her granddaughter's children.

"Who's the oldest?" I asked the two little ones.  "I am, I'm five," the one said.  The other ran up to me and held up four fingers and said, "Me four."  I chuckled and said to the oldest one, "Can you carry something for me into your grandma's house?"  She nodded her head yes.  I handed her a loaf of bread and a plastic bag with some goodies in it. 

If that little girl could have grinned any more, I think her lips would have touched her ears on both sides. 

"Oh boy," she said, "I know my nana is going to love this," she said. 

The four year old grabbed my leg and hugged me.  I love getting hugged by little midgets!

She held up her four fingers again, wanting me to let her carry something into the house.  I told her she was to deliver a message for me, and asked her if she could do that.  She nodded her head yes.

I told her to run in the house and say, "Merry Christmas from the Candy Lady."

Off she ran, and I backed down the driveway.

And then as I was heading home on the two lane county road, I got the laugh I needed this year. 

Santa was coming in the opposite direction, on a bike, with a bag on the back of the bike.  I got so excited, I slowed down and began honking the horn.  I rolled down my window and gave him the OK sign as he yelled out, "Merry Christmas, Candy Lady."

I'm still trying to figure out how he knew my name or even who I was.  He wasn't on the same road where I'd stopped at the houses.

Of course, with his white beard and eyebrows, big red hat, I couldn't see him very well.

I know two things.  Santa doesn't always need reindeer and next year I want to find a Santa suit to wear on my deliveries.

And when that donkey yells out Hee Haw at me, I'm going to yell back, "HO HO HO."

Sharon Bryant

1946@bellsouth.net

  Poetry Contest Corner

~**~**~

~Christmas for Mom~

Mary Dees

Each year at Christmas time,

My mother seemed to force a grin;

In failure to provide our gifts,

Her troubles would begin.

She feared our disappointment,

And it made her sad to recall,

She couldn't give what she desired,

To the ones she loved most of all.

Although every year she would save,

And buy us all she could,

Nothing expected in return,

Always seemed understood.

We would tear the gifts open;

We would praise her with our cheer.

Though mother’s face seemed saddened,

Her smile would still appear.

Time passed by slowly,

But I came to understand,

It wasn’t the gifts she didn’t receive,

It was the troubles held in her hand.

Where would the money come from tomorrow?

How would the bills be paid?

She threw her weary hands up;

A sacrifice had to be made.

She put herself through college.

She found a respectable career.

"Christmas, " she said,

"Will be more welcomed this year."

It must have been so hard for her,

But I’m proud of what she did.

There was no boundary that she couldn’t cross,

When it came down to her kids.

By Mary M. Dees

marlena7694@yahoo.com

~**~**~

Oh, Christmas Candle
Cynthia Groopman

Oh, radiantly shining Christmas candle,
Glowing brightly like an elegant star, heralding exaltation from afar.
Kindling magnificent joy into hearts of thousands for countless generations,
Oh, Christmas candles dance with flare at our celebrations.
With majestic mirth,

Beaming Christmas candles enfold us into the warmth of a miraculous birth.
For the king of kings was born, on that day so long ago,
Oh, Christmas candles perpetuate the happiness of God's golden glow.

Cynthia Groopman

Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net

Copyright ©2006 Cynthia Groopman

~**~**~

 A Candle In My Heart
Cynthia Groopman

Shining brightly is a candle beaming deep in my heart,
and its flame emanates such golden glows of precious light.
The sunshine joy of friendship its rays will gleefully impart.
For the candle light is eternal, as you can see,
and it dances gleefully.

The warmth of the soft light will never end,
for the candle was kindled with the caress of fondness,
by you, my dearest beloved friend.

Cynthia Groopman

Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net

Copyright ©2004 Cynthia Groopman

Readers Feedback

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

Gibbs, Nancy                        Ordinary People                                                  Dec 28(see special treat)

Berry, Nell                           The Introduction of A King                               Dec 28

Walker, Bill                         The Gift                                                 Dec 28

Hunt, Sharlett                      Christmas Lost and Found                                Dec 28

Smith, Michael                    Special Days, Painful Memories                      Dec 28

Eckles, Janet Perez            Watch Those Elbows!                                         Dec 29(see special treat)

Smith, Michael                    I Found My Tree                                                  Dec 29

Liles, Norma                        Give Credit Where Credit is Due                    Dec 29

Bryant, Sharon                    The Freeway Ramp                                              Dec 29

Mizrany, Mary Carter        An Old-Fashion’d Christmas                            Dec 30

Mizrany, Mary Carter        Nativity                                                                 Dec 30

Smith, Michael                    The Light                                                              Dec 30

Cassady, B.J.                        The Search For Christmas                               Dec 30(see special treat)

Dowd, Helen                          A Walk in the Forest                                          Dec 30

Dowd, Helen                          God’s Creature the Mink                  Dec 30

Dowd, Helen                          The Spirit of Christmas                                     Dec 30

Dowd, Helen                          Best Friends                                                         Dec 30

Walker, Bill                         God and Santa                                                      Dec 30

Walker, Bill                         Rainbow Bridge Gang Special Thank you      Dec 30

Martinelli, Pina                   Christmas 1965, For My Father                      Dec 31(see special treat)

Dees, Mary                           Christmas For Mom                                           Dec 31

Groopman, Cynthia             Oh Christmas Candle                                        Dec 31

Groopman, Cynthia             A Candle in my Heart                                         Dec 31

Wainland, David                  A Stone and a Prayer                                          Dec 31

Bryant, Sharon                    Hee Haw                                                                Dec 31

Storytime Tapestry Angels

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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