Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

June 30, 2007

Today’s Stories

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 Hi Carol.  I know you don't use fiction, but thought you might enjoy this one.  Hope so.  It's all just imaginary.  Bob  PS - I was driving through town the other morning, thinking about the name of the story, and the ending.  It was around 4:AM or so, and a Semi passed me very slowly, on the right side.  I noticed it was pure white, and not a speck of dirt on it...  There was no name or writing of any kind on the sides, and I slowed down to let it go by.  As it passed me, I saw the name of the company on the back doors.  It said Spirit Trucking Co.  The only thing I can remember is turning into the store parking lot.  I have no memory of  where the truck went, or when.  It's a long story, 3 parts.  Hope you like it.  B

The Spirit of

THE RONNI B

by Bob Shaw

Part 1

    As WW 2 was winding down, and coming to an end, a new Bomber crew reported for duty, and was introduced to their new ship. It was an older model, B 25, that had seen many successful missions, and had always brought her crews home safely. Her new crew was hoping her luck would hold out long enough for them to make it back home. They were looking ahead to 25 missions, and hoping to get them out of the way quickly and safely. The odds weren’t in their favor.

    The first of the crew to check in were Lt. Lonnie Hicks, Co Pilot, Prv. Stanley Briggs, gunner, Sgt Larry (Slim) Holman, radio man, and Captain Jack (Cap) Brown, Pilot. Cap was the old man of the crew. He was almost 30. The rest of the crew was supposed to report in by the next day.

    Cap had been a pilot before the war, and was kept in the states as a flight instructor. He felt guilty about staying home while everyone else went off to war, but he knew his was an important job, too. He put his own feelings aside, and poured himself into the position. This was the first chance to join a combat outfit.

    As they stood around looking the plane over, a staff car pulled up close to them and stopped, and an officer stepped out. Cap turned around and saw an old friend. “Rusty”! “Oops, make that Col. Rusty, sir“. Rusty started laughing and told him not to worry about it. It was good to see him again. Cap had trained him to fly at the beginning of the war. Rusty told him that rank came a bit quicker at the front than it did in the States. There were a few others that he knew, and he’d introduce him to the ones he didn’t know at lunch later that day.

    Slim was the first to ask about naming the ship. After a moment, Cap said “ my wife’s name is Veronica, how about naming her that? Since Cap was the only one of them that was married, and had a family, they agreed on the name, and had it painted it on the nose, Veronica.

    As time and missions went along, and the affection for the plane grew, the crew started calling her by her nickname, “The Ronni B“. She was a good luck ship. No matter how bad the mission was, she always brought her crew home.

    At the war’s end, the crew all took turns signing their names on the Nose Art. It was their way of saying good bye to an old and trusted friend. Everyone went their separate ways, and Cap and the others just lost touch.

    Cap made it back home, and bought a little farm, where he and his wife “Ronni“, and daughter, Arlene, made their home. The name, Cap had stuck. No one really knew if it was from his rank as Captain, or the ball cap he always wore. Either way, he was always know as Cap. He was at peace with the world. Then, just a few years later, Veronica passed away. Cap was left alone to finish raising a daughter.

    As time passed, Arlene married one of the local boys named Dan, and had a son they named Charlie. From the first time they laid eyes on each other, Cap and Charlie were best friends. Grandfather and Grandson, like two peas in a pod. He was a bright eyed little boy, always full of questions, and always showing that crooked, goofy little grin. Cap used to tease him about it. He always said he got that from his father’s side of the family. Charlie would always grin even bigger. When Charlie was almost 5, Dan accepted a job promotion in the neighboring state. Cap was alone, more alone than he had ever been. He had neighbors, and friends at the local Veterans club, but, there was no family around him. He missed Charlie the most.

    Little Charlie was almost 7 when Cap received word that Dan and Arlene had been killed in a car crash. Cap took the news hard. Charlie had been left with a neighbor, and Cap brought him home after all the arrangements had been taken care of.

    Charlie was glad to be back at the little farm with his Grandpa, and Cap did his best to give the little boy a good home.

    One of Charlie’s favorite pastimes was listening to stories about the war, and “The Ronni B”. By the time he was10, he’d memorized all of the stories, but never tired of hearing them. He was even correcting Grampa when Cap forgot something, or it came out came out a bit different.

    One day, Charlie asked, “Grampa, what ever happened to the plane“? Cap had never given it much thought, and with that simple question, a great seed was planted, the search for “The Ronni B”.

    For the next several months, Cap wrote letters and made phone calls. He finally heard of a giant Warbird Graveyard, located in the Arizona Desert. The only information he could get on the place was that it was located around the city of Tucson. There were hundreds of acres, packed with thousands of old aircraft, and were being sold for parts and scrap. Since Charlie loved the old planes almost as much as he did, it seemed like the perfect trip. So off they went, in search of an old friend.

    Cap realized his chances were one in a million, at best. The odds were very slim that the old plane would have ended up there, or if it had, that it would still be there. Still, Charlie was excited about going, and it would be a grand adventure they would remember for a long time.

    During the long trip, Cap would tell Charlie the stories about the war, and the Ronni B, and Charlie would go to sleep, and dream about the beautiful plane named after his Grandma. He just knew they were going to find her.

    It took about four days of hard driving to get to the Graveyard. When Cap saw it, he couldn’t believe his eyes. There were planes of every description as far as he could see. He hadn’t a clue of where to even start looking. He found a little guard shack and told the guard what he was looking for. He just grinned, and handed Cap a map of the general area, and pointed to where most of the B 25’s were parked. Cap was in a daze, and Charlie was so excited, he didn’t know what to look at first. Here were all the stories, all the dreams, and all he had to do was reach out and touch them.

    When they came up on the specified area for the B 25’s, Charlie started jumping up and down, shouting “THERE SHE IS, THERE SHE IS“! Cap started laughing and told him, yes, it’s a B 25, but it might not be her. We might have to do a lot of searching, and she might not be here. Charlie settled down, but he was convinced she was here, somewhere.

    It took the rest of that day and part of the next, looking at the planes, looking for Nose Art, tail numbers, and sometimes, when the identification markings were missing, looking inside for clues. Cap was about to give up, when he saw something on the side of one of the planes. It was a name, faded from sun and weather, covered with sand and dust. Cap slowly rubbed his hand over the name. It was faint, and almost gone, but there it was, the Veronica.

    All Charlie could say, just barely above his breath, was” I knew she was here”.

    She was in bad shape. The nose gear was missing, the starboard wing was damaged, the canopy was cracked and broken, and part of the tail assembly was missing. The propellers were gone, several of the service panels were gone, engine parts, and the list went on and on. Climbing inside, Cap took note of the instrument panel with holes where different gauges and instruments used to be, the co pilot seat and control wheel missing, and began to feel sick. He looked at Charlie, his eyes wide with excitement. “She’s beautiful, Grampa”. And Cap started looking at her through Charlie’s eyes. She was still beautiful.

    Cap started thinking about how much it would take to buy her, to buy the parts to fix her up, and get her home. This was much more than he had bargained for. If he had only thought it out before coming. There had to be a way. It was Charlie’s dream. Cap decided then and there, to make it his dream too.

End Part 1

Bob Shaw

capperabbit@semo.net

~**~**~

This I Believe # 10
Bill Walker
missourisage@yahoo.com

This I Believe, some day some time these small time, small minded preachers will be called before God to explain a few things. I think one thing that will be brought up is why did you take it on yourself to dabble in political matters? You were to go forth into the
world and teach, preach the Kingdom of Heaven. But no, you took to standing in my church, and allowing my church to be a meeting house for political reasons. My church was to be a place of worship. You turned my house into a political meeting house, you are no better then the ones Jesus threw out that is told about in Matthew 21;13. This I
Believe.

You were to preach, and teach people the ways of knowing me, the Lord God, and my Son, Jesus. The ways to Heaven, that was your calling. You know nothing of the in and out of political matters. Don't you know a political person will say almost any thing to get votes, than wash their hands of the matter. Or did you miss that part in the
Bible?

Yes Mr. Preacher, I do BELIEVE there will be a time you will have to stand before God and do some real good explaining why you took up God's time in church telling your little political jokes. They were so funny, and so almost true, well to tell the true, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, all your jokes was a bald face LIE. Oh I am
sorry, you let your son tell the jokes. But it was God's time the son was taking.

This is something all preachers should think about when they stand up in God's house and start using it for a political meeting house. This is God's House, not a meeting place for political thinking. This I Believe.

These preachers that stand on the outside of God's house, also should think before they jump on some political hacks band wagon, or try starting up their own band wagon. After all they are said to be working for God. 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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Friendship's Sunshine
Cynthia Groopman

Friendship exudes a golden shine,
that transcends ageless time.
Its warmth heals the soul that is weary,
and calms and comforts the heart that is teary.
Friendship's sunshine is elegant and bright,
its magical powers are a magnificent delight.
Friendship's sunshine is nurtured by God's love,
a blessing and a treasured gift sent by angels from above.
So dear, let us bask in friendship's sunshine
and clasp hands in joy's feeling,
As we are enfolded in arms that are appealing.


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

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Hatred
Cynthia Groopman

Hatred is an ugly beast,
that devours the peaceful and kindness of humanity.
And like a loud fierce lion's roar,
hatred rages and rants with anger and hostility.
Hatred is like an arrow,
its pierce is frightful evoking pain and sorrow.
Like a feasting cancer, hatred will grow,
opaquing the serenity of the sunshine's golden glow.
Oh, hatred, please stop tormenting our weary hearts,
may the Lord strengthen us with each embrace he will lovingly impart.


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

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Having Fun
Cynthia Groopman

There are many varied ways of having fun,
we can play ball and cheer as a teammate makes a home run.
We can jump rope,
and climb up a high mountain slope.
We can take a swim in the pool,
or relax and drink an iced soft drink bubbling and refreshingly cool.
We can play a musical tune,
or admire how beautiful flowers thrive and bloom.
We can sing a cheerful song,
or talk on the phone in a conversation with a friend happy and long.
We can email every day,
and engage in child's play.
But the most fun is when I am spending time with you, my friend,
and when the day is over, I feel bad that the fun has come to an end.
For having fun is beneficial for both me and for you,
creating life skies that are sunny and beautifully blue.

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

~**~**~

Hello Smiling Sun
Cynthia Groopman

The sky had a tearful cry,
as tears flowed from the clouds weary eyes.
All was gray,
and oh, we yearned for a sunny bright day.
I prayed and yearned and wished so much,
till suddenly I felt a warm radiant touch.
Oh, the sun smiled at me,
and my heart danced and sang joyfully.
Oh, dear sunshine, you have come to stay,
and added zest, charm and elegance to my day.


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

Readers Feedback

From: This I Believe # 8 by Bill Walker (June 28): War is really hell on earth.  Bill, earth has always been unfortunate?  There was a war (for supremacy) which led to the extinct of the dinosaur era.  The scientist believed it was due to a supernova; an asteroid hitting the earth but I saw a different cause.  What is the meaning of the great war in heaven and the casting down of the revolts (bad angels)?  Now a trickster brought the gene into the human race.  He has spent more years existing than the human race so he understands destructive methods than us and introduces it stylishly.  So we have hard 1^st world war, 2^nd world war – next the great battle awaits humanity even though the continent of America in the making of the united states has tried very hard to deexist it but one day, just one day, as it is already on, but eyes and minds can not yet understand what is going on.  It is to last 20 and 4 years, minus the already gone years, remaining how many years now? (puzzle…).  War has always been there; first flesh were only the later effect but it enriched the earth surface aftermath, now biological chemical and it kinds rules, there is no escape.  Why then do we complain of global warming.  I see great fear ahead, no mater what religion, race or belief (except we be under the protective wing of our savior XIST).  Now nations are ganging up as I have once told one of my cousins about 17 years ago. Yet human calls it modernization.  Lets not be caught up in the flood before we know the meaning of getting into the boat.  People living in the 1^st world countries (advanced) are seating on a hot plate).  You have more carefulness to observe!   

[Georgewaters Ojeigbe, John Holt Plc, Lagos, Nigeria: gojiegbe@oregun.jhplc.com]

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.

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