Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

June 21, 2007

Today’s Announcements

Jastine is a writer for Storytime Tapestry, you have read her column on Saturdays and you have seen for yourself what a wonderful and truly brilliant girl she is.  Here is your chance to help a young and talented mind make a new home and become a great asset to North American life.  Please help with advice or whatever you do to bring this young woman to our shores.  Jewish people call it a mitzvah while Christians a good deed, or choose whatever term that makes you feel good about helping a young girl get her education in our great land.

“Friends of Jastine”

Chairman: Vance Agee, Ransomville, NY vgagee@roadrunner.com
Support Friends in Canada and U.S. for Leng Kun, People’s Republic of China
International Student, D’Youville College, Buffalo, NY
____________________________________________________________________________

Note: The purpose of "Friends of Jastine" is just that -- to form a group of friends for an 18-year-old coming to attend college in Buffalo, NY, U.S.A. in July, 2007 -- a very lonely experience so far from home! Jastine might also show the list to U.S. and Canadian Consulates to demonstrate that she has friends and support here, so far from home. U.S. Consulate does ask this of VISA applicants! We need YOU, and so does a brilliant student leaving mom and dad and family and friends to come here! Our contributions could be just a greeting card now and then, or some needed advice, or other help.
Let's show this young Chinese student that we in Canada and U.S. DO support her and count her a friend! Vance

Name Address E-mail Way(s) in which I can help Kun (Jastine)

Today’s Stories

~**~**~

Saving a Life
by: Cynthia Groopman

As a telephone support counselor for the elderly homebound, it is my task of deep love and affection to speak to clients daily or weekly. They become such a vital beloved apart of my life.

Usually, the calls are happy and there are laughs, smiles and a hug and a kiss at the end of the call. It is sad when calls are ended and hanging up seems to be an end to many of the beloved senior citizens whom I adore so much.

Alfred, a sweet, gentle soul, has become part of my twice a week call routine. He lost his wife last June. Prior to that, a bypass and a valve replacement caused him complete kidney failure. I would call him on the days after his dialysis sessions were over because he had regained some of the strength. He was weak and frail and his attitude was pessimistic indeed. I would encourage him and he would repeat daily self affirmation exercise sentences of being strong, healthy happy, handsome, etc. We would chat, laugh and smile on the phone. Gradually, his voice became happier and he would tell me about himself, instead of telling me of his sadness, weakness and illnesses.

After his wife passed away, he was lonely. I called him on Friday afternoon; a weak voice with halted breathing just said help me.

Since I knew his address and his phone number, I had the authority to call 911 for him. The police came, knocked down his door, and rescued him. He had accidentally removed his shunt for dialysis and was bleeding heavily.

Without my call, he would have bled to death. The recovery process was slow and he had transfusions. I would call him in the hospital and at rehab and again the reaffirmation exercises would make him feel better about himself. I had several people pray for him and he was on my prayer list in my congregation for several months.

In the middle of February of 2007, on Valentines Day, he returned home. He was happy to be home, although frail. He had a home care worker and his physical needs were attended to. He had a bereavement counselor from the visiting nurse service and later on a person to help him learn the computer. These were given to him based on my request to the social worker at the senior center where I work. His life was brightening up.

In the middle of March when I was informed that I would be receiving the President's 2006 call to Service U.S. Freedom Corp award for 17,000 hours of volunteer service, I told Alfred. He was so happy. We spoke weekly, and we sang, chatted and even emailed.
On March 21, as I received the award, a frail thin man came up to me, hugged me and it was Alfred. This was the first time I met him in person. My thoughts wandered back to that day when my call saved his life.

Oh, I jumped for joy and in my acceptance speech I said that this is the true meaning of one heart helping another and one soul loving another. Alfred visits me at the center and we have lunch together in the dining hall every Tuesday. I am proud to have him as a friend.

To save a life is a holy commandment and to think that it was my call that prevented the passing of a man who had so much to live for, makes me glow with pride.
We are all connected and with God's love traveling through telephone lines, a person can flourish no matter how ill, smile no matter how depressed and have a life saved.

Cynthia Groopman

Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net

~**~**~

Publishers Note:  The following piece written by Bill Walker does not express the opinion of Storytime tapestry which is a newsletter of brotherly love throughout the world.  I am allowing it because it seems to be a popular view of many citizens of the USA right now.  It is not however the view of Canada, where I live.

This I Believe #1
Bill Walker
missourisage@yahoo.com

Many years ago there was a newsman  who wrote a book. The title was
"This I Believe." He was a first rate, top flight honest to goodness
newsman, not a jack ass like we have today. His thoughts and what he
had to say was news, and based on true facts of what was going on. He
was not bought and paid for like the nits of today. The head of the
networks would not have thought of firing him for speaking out on a
subject like what CBS did to that General the other day.

I have been watching the turn of events for some time, and I think it is
time to return to the days of this I believe. There fore there will
be a number 2, a number 3 and so on.

This I believe # 1 thought is this country called the United States is
in one hell of a mess, and isn't getting any better. In fact it gets
worse every day. The leaders of this nation, both parties are a bunch of
fools. That goes for president, congress and the whole ding bat
bunch. If they had a brain one, might take it out and play with it,
and I am not sure their not doing so. All any of them is doing is
counting votes, and don't give the welfare of the nation any thought.

We have many problems, and are faced with some where tough action needs
to be done. There are no easy answers, in fact the people in power may
find themselves not reelected to office for making the tough need to
be done moves.

I look for open warfare on the streets, and it is coming soon. The
government has lost control of the borders. We are being invaded as sure
as anything, People flooding in with one thing in mind. Over throw
of the country is the name of the game. People that want all the free
things from food, welfare, medical care, housing, and the good life with
out paying for it. Sure we have people here that receive such, but
those for the most part have paid the dues, and fees, and taxes to be
here. They have a claim to be here, they were honest born here, they
paid to be here, they paid the dues, they have served this nation, they
have sent their sons and daughters to service of this nation in time of
need.

We are a nation of soft hearts, we don't like to see people in need,
we are there fore a nation of people that says we got to take care of
these invaders. Well, that has to stop, and stop it must, or we as a
nation are going down the drain. We can no longer allow these people
to flood in and under mine the welfare of us all.

There is no nation, and I repeat, NO NATION on this earth that will
allow the borders to be breached like is going on here. It is high
time to take action. These people, green card or no green card, should
be rounded up and exported back to where ever. You say it can't be
done? Well other nations would do it, so why can't we do the
same?  The reason why it isn't being done is because the political
hacks are counting votes. I have this to say, they are not counting
the right votes. The votes of the ones that has to pay the fees, the
dues of keeping this nation running.

Yes my friends, like it or not, we are headed for open warfare right
here in this land. It may not happen to day, or tomorrow, but it is
going to happen. When people invade a country, it is war. These come
in by great numbers, with one thought in mind, over throw the United
States of America. If action isn't taken soon the nation is gone down
the drain. If the government don't return to a get tough stand, all
is lost.

This I Believe.
Tinker and Poo; The Boys Write
http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?&isbn=0-595-35741-5

~**~**~

Poetry Corner

~**~**~

Delights
Cynthia Groopman

Oh, to be inspired by a delight,
Truly bathes my soul in God's warm spiritual light.
A flower budding with such exquisite glory,
Paints a magnificent picturesque story.
A chirping bird singing melodically in the morning,
Enchants the beauty of the day that is majestically dawning.
The miracle of child birth,
Is indeed an experience full of overpowering mirth.
A loving embrace,
Adds smiles and deep love to many a face.
Food, fun and festivity,
Are delights that provide zest, enthusiasm and energy.
For delights are life's splendid zest,
And in the scheme of life, are gifts that are truly the best.


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

~**~**~

Sharing E-mails With You

Cynthia Groopman

Upon my screen, meaningful forwarded messages appear,
Filling my mind with knowledge, spirituality and smiling cheer.
People may send me an inspiring prayer,
Showing that they really care.
Thus, what I truly love to do,
is to share all of these messages with you.
Laughter and jokes will make you smile,
As cheerful thoughts will chase away the gloom for a long while,
But what I really enjoy doing the best,
Is to write poetry and fill your heart with mirth, inspirational zest.


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

~**~**~

 Intimidated
Cynthia Groopman

At times, greatly intimidated am I,
Finding myself cowering in the corner, being so shy.
My tongue gets tied,
As I breathed heavily and loudly sighed.
People's actions have this adverse effect upon me,
That fills my heart with lots of anxiety.
When others demand,
And think that I am at their constant command.
Intimidated I shall always be,
That robs me of my zest and energy.


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

 ~**~**~

 
Cell Phones
Cynthia Groopman

Cell phones are very handy,
Speaking on them is fine and dandy.
What annoys me at times,
Is the phone's loud musical chimes.
At a lecture, or in a library,
A cell phone ringing is annoying to me, on the contrary.
On the street,
Speaking on the cells, people I meet.
They are not paying attention to where they are walking,
Because they are busy talking.
To me, cell phones are useful in emergencies,
Or for a short conversation,
Not for long talks when there are constant chatter or contention.


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

Readers Feedback

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