Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

March 25, 2007

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Today’s Stories

~**~**~

That's the way it should be

Sharon Bryant

I was in a grocery store the other day.  I only had a few things to check out.  But I couldn't help noticing the man who was next in line beside me to pay for his three items of groceries.  I could tell with my heart, that he was a veteran.  A WWII veteran.

Suddenly just as I was paying for my groceries he said to me, "You know, this is a real mess today in this world, don't you think?"  I nodded my head yes.  "I just wish our troops and all troops all over the world could come home," he said.  I told him I wished they could too. 

I was walking to my vehicle when he caught up with me.  "Can I talk to you a minute?" he asked.  "Sure," I replied.  And then his story began.

He was in the Army during WWII, matter of fact, not far from where my dad was at.  He told me of things he saw, and yet how much he fought because he had a mom and dad back home, siblings, and a fianc?.  He told me of the hardships of what he went without, but thanked God he had what little he did.  He told me about laying in holes in the ground, always listening, always sleeping with one eye open, always afraid.  Afraid he'd not make it back home.

I watched his face as he spoke.  I saw the watery eyes and at one time, his chin trembled when he told of how he felt when he had to carry one of "guys" who didn't make it.  After all these years, after marrying when he came back from the war, having a family of his own, with great grandchildren today......it still bothers him.

I laid in bed that night thinking of my own father.  How he never liked to talk about his time in service.  When I would ask a question, I'd have to pry it out of him.  Same thing with my grandfather.  I remember grandpa used to say, "You're a girl and there are some things girls just don't need to be talking about."  Yet I always wondered.

Just a few months ago another WWII veteran who I've had contact with told me, "We're the forgotten troops."  I felt so bad when he said that.  I then told him I was the daughter of a WWII veteran and my dad died a year ago and he would never be forgotten by me nor my family.

I saw on the news the vets will no longer be meeting in Pearl Harbor anymore.  The numbers of them grow smaller and smaller each year.  My dad was almost 86 when he died.  And yet I can't help but think about what those vets from that era went through.

I've learned more about what my dad saw and did after he died, than what I knew when he was living.  That's only because of all the veterans who tried to help me find the families of the vets I have photos of.

Soon, all these wonderful men and women will be gone.  Gone from our nation, and for many, gone from memory.  But I can't help remember the pictures I saw, the diary's I've read, the faces I've met in a Veteran's home I went to two years ago. 

We should never forget these men and women.  NEVER. 

Saturday when I was opening my door to my work place, I noticed something.  On my door, I have a sticker with a little girl in front of the American Flag.  Beneath the photo are the words, "God Bless Our Heroes."

The words were missing.  As I leaned closer, I saw that someone had stuck something on the words, blocking them.  When I went to pick at whatever it was, I saw that it was gum.  It made me sick to my stomach.

I hate war.  I've never fought in one, nor do I ever want to.  I've always had a silly wish I used to ask God to grant and that was to make world peace.  When I was little, while my uncles were in Korea, and later when I was involved with Viet Nam, I still prayed for world peace.  I can see that is never going to be possible.

We are facing some terrible times in this world today.  There are fears today that I knew nothing about growing up.  There is so much hatred and greed today.  People dying over a piece of land in a desert.  People dying over wanting to believe in God.  People dying because of hatred.  I sometimes wonder if they really know why they feel such strong hatred.  I've never known hatred that strong.

My life is well over half over.  I see things today that make me cringe.  Sometimes I am glad I was born when I was.  There didn't used to be so much greed as there is today in this world.  And yet....I've got two children who are still young.  I can only imagine what their lives will be like once they reach my age.  I can only imagine the stories they will hand down to their own children one day.  The same as stories were handed down to me.

A man and a woman entered my shop on Sunday.  He was a retired Navy man.  He saw my Operation We Care can and put $10 into it and thanked me for helping our current troops.  I thanked him for serving his country.  We hugged.

That's the way it should be.

Sharon Bryant

1946@bellsouth.net

Poetry Corner

~**~**~

Winter Please Go Away
Cynthia Groopman

In December, winter was delayed,
Now it is persistent and does not want to go away.
March is with us, as you can understand,
But an icy grip embraces the land.
Wind gust and howl with such might,
As temperatures drop to 10 above during a turbulent night.
 Snow annoys us in the morning,
No spectacular sunshine dazzles us as the day is dawning.
Oh, spring will you ever arrive,
As we are winter weary and our hearts need to flourish and thrive.



Cynthia Groopman

Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net
Copyright ©2007 Cynthia Groopman

~**~**~

Fresh Air
Cynthia Groopman

What a delight for me to breathe,
Fresh air, my anxiety will relieve.
With fragrances that I breathe in,
I feel such majestic feeling of comfort deep within.
When I am down and need to smile,
A breath of fresh air will chase away the blues for more than a while.
In the winter the air is fresh and cold,
Opening the window, in frigid moments, one has to be bold.
In the spring, fresh air is full of rebirth,
As birds sing and flowers dance with mirth.
In the summer on the other hand,
Fresh air is humid and so hot,
The air conditioners are working a lot.
In the autumn the fresh air is cool and full of sparkling hues,
As refreshing as the morning dew.
So fresh air, always be there for me,
Inspiring my heart to dance and sing jubilantly.

Cynthia Groopman

Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net

Copyright ©2007 Cynthia Groopman

~**~**~

The Bell of Spring

Cynthia Groopman

Oh, bell of spring,

How melodically and happily you do ring.

With tunes of renewal and rebirth,

Sounds of glorious joy adorn our hearts with majestic mirth.

Spring's bell is full of anticipation,

For we welcome a new season with great elation.

So, bell of spring,

You make us smile at everything.

Cynthia Groopman

Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net

 ~**~**~

Joy Joy Joy

Cynthia Groopman

Life is full of joy,

Shared by men women girl and boy.

Mother nature is alive,

Flowers grow and beautifully thrive.

Joyful chants of bird song delight me at dawn,

Which perks up and livens my morn.

.

Sunshine beams sprightly dance

With an aura of radiant elegance.

Inspiration and mirth adorn my heart with majestic joy

and hope and consolation

while anguish and sad thoughts will be destroyed.

Joy joy joy did fill my soul,

For on March 21, , glowing was I attaining my joyous goal.

Cynthia Groopman

Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net

Readers Feedback

 Re  Showing Love by Kay Seefeldt.  Thank you Kay.  We need to be reminded every day!  Our expectation of ease and comfort in our daily lives has placed us at odds with the environment at every turning.  We take for granted central air conditioning and central heating.  We take for granted the luxury of personal autos that have a great deal of power and a lacking of economy.  We take for granted personal homes and a houseful of appliances; and this wealth is repeated in row after row of houses.  We take for granted s standard of living that is totally foreign to most of the world’s inhabitants,and we could learn a great deal about efficiency, economy and respect for this earth if we would just look beyond our shores.

     We can do it;  we can change.  We must change  Change doesn’t mean that we have to live poor;  it means that we must live smart with huge focus on the words renewable, recyclable and energy efficient.             Louise

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, Mariane Holbrook, Mary Ellen Grisham, Louise Nomani, Sharon Bryant, Angela Walker, Hart and Helen Dowd, Keith Ready, Ginger Morgenstern, Ellie Braun-Haley, Surinder Jandu, Bob Shaw, Carol Meeks