Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

June 22, 2007

Today’s Announcements

Happy Birthday, Denise Shar, the beloved sister of our writer Rosanne Catalano. annettewelch@comcast.net

Today’s Stories

~**~**~

One Little Thank You

Sharon Bryant

I was in my shop making candy when this lady came through the door.  She bought a cold drink then told me her "Baby" was on the porch with her son.  She was older, so I wondered if the baby was her grandchild.

I asked, "Is your baby a boy or girl?"  She laughed and said, she's a Jack Russell puppy.

I stepped outside to meet this little fur ball.  I was greeted with licks and happy barks. 

The lady came back inside and told me she'd recently retired from the Army.  She's been working in Iraq.  I then told her I ship boxes to Iraq.

She asked a few questions about what I send, etc., and I told her about all the different items I have sent over.

"You do this by yourself?" she asked.  I told her my husband helps me pack the boxes, but yes, it's a project I started when our troops first went overseas.

"That gets expensive," she said.  I told her it's very expensive to ship boxes, and I ship many since I ship to camps so many troops benefit from the items I send.

It was then she informed me that there is help for people who do things for our troops.  I asked what kind of help.  She said, "How about getting those boxes on a plane without shipping costs?"  I told her that would be wonderful, then I could buy more items if I didn't have to pay all the postage.

I told her I fought with so many, all the way to the White House, for a cheaper rate for all boxes with an APO or FPO address on them.  I told her I've contacted congressmen, air force bases, Navy, Army, you name it, and like always, I'm told there is no help.

She said, "That's not true.  When someone who is not in the military does something like this, the military will help."

She asked me what inspired me to do this.  I told her because all men in my family were in all wars, that I was a military wife during Viet Nam and I know the hardships, on the home front and for our troops.  That's all she needed to know.

She asked me if I would accept an interview with a publisher in Tennessee who loves stories about people helping others.  I told her if it would help with my project, yes, I would talk with this publisher.  She's setting that up now.

I told her I was making personal boxes for our new troops being sent over, but had to stop it because of lack of funds to buy items.

She asked what location I was doing this at.  I told her and she saw some of those boxes being given to new troops going over.

She asked if I had photos and I informed her yes, and I also have a website that I had made for our troops.  It was then that I told her about the WWII site I have had made while I'm searching for families to send the original photos to that I have in my possession

These are photos my siblings and I found in a box when my father died last year.

She said she will meet me Saturday and we will get some things "rolling" as she put it.

As she was walking out the door, I said, "Thank you for serving our country."  She turned with a surprised look on her face and replied, "Thank you for doing what you are for all of us."

Funny, how one little thank you can mean so much to a soldier or a veteran.

Sharon Bryant

1946@bellsouth.net

~**~**~

*This I Believe # 2
Bill Walker
missourisage@yahoo.com

I believe no nation can amount to much with out three kinds of people.
The United States a hundred years ago had all three kinds, even about 50
years ago had the three kinds. Some where in the last 50 years we
lost one kind, soon we will lose a second, and then is it long before we
lose the third, and really become a third world nation?

We need three things, labor, managers, and buyers to make things
grow.   I put in managers, those like the other two, will take in many
different people of different hats.

We have buyers, but the question is for how long will we have buyers? We
have managers, but how much longer will we have those? We also have
labor, but the labor is with out paying jobs, labor is/has been taken
almost out of the picture.

Management has seen fit to shut down the factory here in the states,
move over seas, and set up there. Dirt cheap labor, people work for
peanuts, almost slave labor.

50 years ago, you went to a store bought something, it was made in the
United States. Made in a factory here, by people that lived here, paid
taxes here, and so on. This was from the clothes you wore, the shoes
was on your feet, the car that was parked in the drive way. Your TV,
radio,  cook stove,  clocks,  wrist watch, your toaster, your coffee
pot. You name it it was made somewhere in these United States.

Then we got to seeing a car made over there, once in a while. A
moving pile of junk, a look alike car, most looked like something some
kid made. If the blasted thing broke down, the driver was in trouble.
Most shops would kick the thing and driver back out in the street with
the words. "Take the thing where you bought it, I don't work on junk
piles. I am not going to tie up space waiting a month for some
little part to get the thing running." Now we see cars made by
what was called big three car makers of the United States once in a
while. One might be on the street running in a mob of maybe 5 or
more made over there cars.

We have become a nation of buyers, but for how long? If people are
reduced to no good paying jobs, how long with they be buyers?

Just to show how stupid things have become, I was walking out of a store
the other day. Some joker got out of a made over there car, with his
made over there clothes, heading into this store to buy some more made
over there stuff. I couldn't help but take note of his fancy sport
shoes. Those thing was some wild colors put together like I had never
seen before. I said in meeting him, "give you a dollar 98 for those
shoes." He informed me that the things cost a total of 485
dollars. I looked at my made here in the United State cowboy boots,
which I bought on sale for the grand total of 125 dollars, and felt
well. I wondered how long would I be wearing my boots, after his 485
fancy jobs is in the dumpster? I also wonder just what kind of job this
joker has that allows him to throw 485 dollars away for shoes that will
not be in style but a short time, say a month or two.

This I believe, when you chop off one part of the thing called labor,
how long will it be before the other two gets a chop job. It takes
all three to keep things rolling. And we know people that labor for
a living does spend money to buy 485 dollar shoes. That is unless
they are taking the shoes off of a dead man that did have the 485
dollars, say a management person.

This I believe.

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

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Poetry Corner

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A Tribute To Summertime
Cynthia Groopman

Dear sweet summertime, you are truly crowned with magnificent splendor
as you caress us with sunny smiles that are loving and tender.
For such a long time we have patiently waited for you to arrive,
as you usher us into an enchanted land,
where birds sing and flowers fragrantly flourish and thrive.
The price of youth, galloping on your horse so snowy white,
oh, summertime, you bathe us in such soft precious sunlight.
A picnic in the lush green park and a cool ocean swim,
keeps us happy, healthy and trim.
Memories of happy times, we joyfully share,
as your elegant floral bouquets gently perfume the summer air.
For summertime, we treasure you dearly and love you so very much,
for you enliven our winter weary hearts with a charming golden touch.


 Cynthia Groopman
Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net
Copyright ©2004 Cynthia Groopman

~**~**~

Summertime Memories
Cynthia Groopman

Memories of summertime, I have in my mind,
and on a winter day, a beautiful summer day, I can find.
Riding in a car and seeing the beautiful scenery,
is a joy to behold, that I shall cherish eternally.
A picnic in the park, with lots of food to eat,
was really a summertime treat.
Sitting beneath a shade tree with my hand around a loved one,
was as radiant as the golden glow of the sun.
Swimming in the pool,
refreshed me and made feel nice and cool.
Watching the dancing waves on the seashore,
was a breathtaking experience full of surprise and awe.
Playing in the playground and just sipping a drink that was ice cold,
are memories that weave a tapestry more precious than gold.
For summertime memories are like sweet perfume of a beautiful flower,
inspiring me with deep emotional strength and love's tender power.
So every time I feel sad,
I pluck a summertime memory and I feel glad.


Cynthia Groopman
Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net
Copyright ©2004 Cynthia Groopman

 ~**~**~

Routines I adore

  Cynthia Groopman

The happenings of life are mysteries to us,

Often spinning with instability and chaos.

Routines I adore so much,

Adding familarity to life's changing touch.

What is new is often full of confusion,

To me, it is an intrusion.

Routine is stable for me,

Lessening anxiety.

So routine, always be a part of my life,

Eliminating frustration and strife.

Cynthia Groopman
Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net

  ~**~**~

Lovely Memories

Cynthia Groopman

In the lush garden of my mind,

Memories grow an flourish.

With the sunshine of everlasting love, they are forever nourished.

Loving memories are as fragrant as a flower so dear,

Appearing on my mind's video so vividly clear.

Crowned with yearning and longing so strong,

In my mind's ear, I hear loving memories sweet melodic song.

Loving memories are truly tender,

Adorning my life with exquisite splendor.

In my garden o of loving memories,

 it is forever radiant spring,

Where blue birds of happiness perpetually rejoice and sing.

Always abiding in my heart,

Loving memories will forever majestically reign and will never depart.

Cynthia Groopman
Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net

Readers Feedback

 You are not alone, Carol. That is one reason I always hate to go out after dark. But do you have chiggers in Canada? They are worse than mosquito bites as far as itching and you can't see them unless you have better than 20/20 vision. I used to be able to see them and people don't believe that when I tell them, but it's the honest God's truth. I would check our kids after they were out in the weeds or the woods and I could see those little red monsters which are no bigger than a pin stick. But they are bright red and I could get a sharp knife and scrape them off the kids skin if I could catch them before they scratched. After you scratch they go under the skin and they itch for at least three days. One time my husband got a horde of them on his ankles and he nearly scratched himself to death before they went away or died. The one good thing about them is they don't carry desease. But I found something that is very effective to keep them off of you. It is powdered sulfur. You get a small shaker can of baby talc and mix some of the sulfur in the baby talc shaker can or box to keep the sulfur from clumping up and put it on before you go out in the weeds or woods and they won't bother you. I got one of those small cans of baby powder that you can buy at Wal Mart for like 50cents and take some of the powder out and put it in something else and replace the powder with the sulfur. You have to spread it around your ankles, your waist, under your arms, anywhere the clothes are tight and I have always had very good results with it. Some say it doesn't work for them. But I think it is because they don't spread it on good. You only have to spread it on once a day or until you take a shower. I practically took a bath in it. I still do that if I am going to be out in the weeds or in the woods, like we used to go berry picking and they are bad in blackberry patches.

In His time and by His grace,

Nell 

A democracy can not survive long, perhaps 200 to 300 years max, because
the citizens will find they can vote themselves a largesse by electing
those that promise to give them the rewards of the hard working and
productive citizens for their vote. Soon there is nothing left to give. 2+2?
Mark Crider

Well Bill,  I’m glad Carol printed it.  I’m a bit surprised however for it is a new dimension in her coverage of brotherly love.  I agree we have a huge problem and our soft hearts will not cure it.  I do believe that violence is a certainty for competition for resource, jobs and power have always fueled conflict.  We’re asking for it.

     There is a problem for the U S was blessed with more than its share of natural resources.  We are squandering  those away;  We are selling them ito the highest bidder.  Others want a piece of it of our wealth.  Would God not want us to share it?

     Most species have natural predators whether other animals or disease that keeps the population in harmony with its environment.  Man has uncontrolled population growth and no significant natural predators.  There is global finite resource.  The condition  is not a prescription for harmony. It fuels hostility and violence as people strive to survive.  The solution would seem obvious. 

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, Charlott Hilliard.