Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

March 28, 2007

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Today’s Stories

~**~**~

Girl Scout Camp
by Clara Wersterfer

 
The first time my mother suggested I join Girl Scouts when I was ten years old, I
said no, I didn't want to. After the third time she brought it up, I decided to join. The first meeting was a lot of fun and I was sold on scouting. Earning badges, making crafts
and going on outings became events to look forward to. Then came summer
camp when I was eleven.


There was two bus loads of us, about sixty people counting the ten counselors. We left early morning and arrived around noon at our mountain retreat. Cooks and clean up people were there to greet us.
Sandwiches and lemonade awaited. After lunch we put our belongings away, became acquainted with our surroundings, played games, met people and just had fun. When supper was finished we sat around an open fire and told scary tales before an early bedtime.


Our cabin had a small porch where you
entered a little room with no windows, and a larger bedroom that held
four bunk beds. The bedroom had windows on two sides that were heavily
screened and open for ventilation.  It was the last cabin next to the
mess hall.

 
We said our prayers and went to bed. I took a lower bunk with Amy above me.
The other two girls were about nine years old and fell asleep at once. Amy and I,

both eleven, were awake and whispering to each other about boys, what else?
There was a lull in the conversation and suddenly we heard growling and
snuffling sounds. Then grunts, more growling and the sounds of something rubbing against the logs of the cabin was a sure sign we had visitors outside. Without a

sound Amy was on my bunk. She put her mouth to my ear and said

"What are we going to do?"  I shook my head, afraid to speak. We both

knew it had to be bears from all the noises. The hair literally stood up on

the back of my neck and my blood ran cold as ice water. I eased over

to the other bunk beds and put my hand over Margie's mouth so she wouldn't cry
out, a trick I remembered from the movies.  I shook her awake and she heard
the noises. Amy, the quiet one, climbed up the ladder to the other bunk and

awakened Betty Lou. The four of us crawled on our stomach to the little room

without windows where we huddled together in the furthest corner away from

where the bears were. I'm pleased to say during our ordeal we did not make a
sound even though I wanted to scream several times. We were sitting of top

of each other in the corner. One of the girls had brought her blanket, we covered ourselves, sat very still and quiet, not moving a muscle and hardly breathing. The
bears continued to make noise a few minutes more, and then silence. Our
prayers had been answered, they went away. Believe it or not we eventually fell

asleep, all huddled together like a litter of puppies.

The next morning with the sun streaming in we ran to the nearest cabin
where we knew we would find an adult. All four of us tried to talk at once and

finally made ourselves understood. Mrs B took another adult and went to
look at the back of our cabin. Yes! Bear tracks were everywhere. Trash
cans had been turned over at the mess hall, garbage was dumped on the
ground.


Mrs. B called the Forest Rangers who came before we finished breakfast. We

four girls had to repeat our story for him. He commended us for being so brave

and doing the right things. He also suggested we all might consider returning

back to civilization until he and his crew could track the bears and perhaps

find out more about them. He was sure they were only in search of food

from the newly opened camp. Mr Hicks, who headed up the scouts told us to

pack up and be ready to leave directly after lunch. We did as we were told and

returned home after the shortest summer camp ever spent there.


That was my last venture to summer camp, and until this day, my idea of going

camping is a motel room with a black and white TV and no microwave.  I don't

even eat bear claws from the bakery!

Clara Westerfer

cbWEST@webtv.net
March 2007

Poetry Corner

~**~**~

Springtime Sunshine

By:Cynthia Groopman

Oh, springtime sunshine,

How adoring are you glittering so regally and fine.

.

Smiling with a face of a sparkling glow,

Oh, springtime sunshine, gently you caress flowers

as they begin to flourish and to grow.

Enfolded are we into your radiant arms,

Dazzled by your majestic natural charms.

For springtime sunshine, your warm

energetic hand,

Gently touches a winter weary land.

Sunbeams so bright, sprightly dance,

Adorning all creation with a special flare and elegance.

Cynthia Groopman

Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net

~**~**~

A Flower's Smile

Cynthia Groopman

Oh, how lovely is a flower's glowing smile,
Radiating thoughts of love,
Joy and gladness lingering,
In our hearts for a long while.
 With softness so elegant to the touch,
 A flower's glow  means so very much.
 Evoking memories so precious and dear,
 A flower's smile ushers mirth and cheer.
 Oh beautiful flower with your glow so bright,
 A joy to behold are you and a blessing in god's sight.
 So keep on glowing with your smile a delightful treasure,
As our hearts bask in the sunshine of glorious majestic pleasure.


Cynthia Groopman
Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net
Copyright ©2006 Cynthia Groopman

 ~**~**~

A Flower's Glow
Cynthia Groopman

Oh, to be enchanted by a flower's special glow,
 Is as splendid as a sparkling spring day.
For a flower's majestically radiant glow,
Is God's eternal candle of everlasting beauty
 To touch a flower's mirthful pedals of exquisite glowing,
Will be as magnificent as to touch the rainbow dancing in the sky above.
For, to me a flower's glow is God's delightful love,
Hugging our hearts as angels and birds sing and merrily fly high above.


Cynthia Groopman
Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net
Copyright ©2006 Cynthia Groopman

~**~**~

An Ode To A Smile
Cynthia Groopman

Oh smile, I pay tribute to thee,
As your warmth and sunshine glow, cause my  heart to dance sprightly.
You cost absolutely no money,
But you possess a majestic sweetness, more lush than honey.
You brighten up a person's day,
Bringing forth energy, exaltation and  enthusiasm along life's highway.
In the darkness of night,
Oh, dear smile, you are such a charming and beautiful sight.
When we are sad or down,
Oh, smiles, you crown our face with joy, supplanting ugly sad frowns.
Oh, smile, you are God's gift and such a joy,
As enmity, hatred, ill will and sorrow, you destroy.


Cynthia Groopman
Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net
Copyright ©2005 Cynthia L. Groopman

Readers Feedback

 I really enjoyed reading Diana Doles Petry's baking cookies. One can virtually "see" her in action and laugh.

Regards S K Jandu

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