Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

July 8, 2007

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Today’s Stories

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TARNISHED PENNIES

By David Wainland

Today is July 6, the fourth anniversary of my son’s passing and as always, my wife and I, made a pilgrimage to the cemetery where he lays, a journey of remembrance. In my pocket nestled beneath the prayer book I have my eighteen-cents and a small stone both of which we will leave on the dark granite headstone. The stone that reads,

JEREMY WAINLAND

BELOVED SON

BROTHER

FATHER

NEPHEW

HUSBAND

“IF I HAD THREE WISHES…”

MARCH 1, 1973-JULY 6, 2003

The quote comes from a letter sent to us by the members of a band, The Disco Biscuits, a popular group that our son followed. At the bottom of the page, they wrote, “If I had three wishes, I wish I could see you again.”

I do not know how many events, concerts, and jams he attended, but they must have been in the dozens. After he died, the band members put together a special concert in his honor. That night fans of the Biscuits, Jeremy’s friends, his family and our friends flew and drove in from all parts of the country. The profits from that event went to a fund we established for Skylar, his daughter.

It was a two-night concert and during the second, they invited our family onto the stage. I stood their holding Skylar on my shoulders and watched the fans pass the hat. Kids living on borrowed dollars stuck their hands in their pockets and found something to give. Some loved him, many knew him, others had heard of him and still others simply wanted to be a part of the memorial.

We never knew the depth and breath of his relationships until that night. He kept that side of him private. We only knew him as our son. They, his fellow followers, knew the other side and they told us stories that night that painted a new picture.

He only wore a pair of white sox one time and then he threw them away. Wherever he went, he would bring a gift, however small. Jeremy was not shy, he talked until you begged him to stop, but he always had something to say that mattered. Over the years that he followed the band he slept on floors, shared beds and crawled into sleeping bags under the stars. Whatever he had, he shared. He had no respect for small change and wherever he sat, that is where his coins collected. Jeremy left a trail of quarters, nickels, dimes and pennies like Hansel and Gretel left breadcrumbs. The clink of copper and silver marked his presence as he passed through this world.

We learned of many things that night, things we wish he had shared with us before he left. Those stories and anecdotes make up the man he was and the boy his friends remember. They have a web page in his memory, www.jeremyland.net and four years later, they are still posting tales and memories. Some of these have taken on a life of their own, growing larger with each passing day.

Because of this, visiting his grave gets a little easier every year.

Today, as we stood in front of the stone and looked down I saw a scattering of tarnished copper pennies, remains of the many times over the years I have placed eighteen-cents on his grave. We put a new dime, nickel, three shiny pennies and a small stone on his marker to let the world know we were there. He left behind a bright collage of memories to let the world know where he had been.

*****

Email  david@davidwainland.com

Blog  http://yahoo.360.com/davidwainland

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 A SMILING FACE

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

     I was in a local store the other day getting my furry, four-legged friends some food. It was a busy time of the day and instead of just running in and out I found myself behind three other people in the checkout line. I didn’t really mind, though, when I saw that one of my favorite cashiers was on duty. This cashier always takes the time to give you a few kind words and a warm smile along with your change. There is no extra charge for the pleasantness, cheerfulness, and goodness she gives even though they are the most valuable things in the store.

     As I was waiting to checkout I glanced at one of the magazines on the rack. I noticed it had a female celebrity wearing a gem studded gown worth four times as much as my friendly cashier could make in a year. When I looked at it, however, I couldn’t help but think that nothing on that dress sparkled as brightly or shined as beautifully as that cashier’s joyful smile.

     In this life everyone is our teacher. Some teach us how to live and some teach us how not to live. I think that both the celebrity and the cashier taught me the same thing that day. They both taught me that it is far less important how we dress up our lives and far more important how we live our lives. What use, after all, is an eighty thousand dollar evening gown that will be worn only once. A smile can be worn every single day and its uses are never ending. It can uplift a hurting heart. It can bring laughter to a weary soul. It can share the warm glow of friendship. It can reconnect us to the human family. It can show us just how beautiful life can be. It can remind us just how much God loves us, and it can open a window inside of us so that the light and joy of Heaven can enter.

     Don’t spend too much time or money dressing up your life then. Spend your time living it instead. Remember the most beautiful things we can wear are a loving heart and a smiling face.

Joe Mazzella

joecool@wirefire.com

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Poetry Corner

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 The Mysteries Of Life
Cynthia Groopman

Life has so many mysteries, as you can plainly see,
They are often complicated and mind-boggling for you and for me.
What is life all about? For it ends with a weak breathless whimper,
And begins with a boisterous shout.

Why do dome people live well beyond their years,
Why do people pass away when they are so young
And why do some people possess an evil and vicious slanderous tongue.
Why are buildings so spectacularly tall,
Become targets of terrorists that cause them to crumble and to fall.
Why do people die so cruelly and brutally before their time,
And why can't the world be full of the love of God's spiritual sunshine.
Why do some people love and others possess so much hate,
Why can't life be full of joyful times to cherish and to celebrate.
Why does life possess fierce storms that manifest so much wrath,
That cause death and destruction in their ensuing aftermath.

Unfortunately, I do not possess the wisdom or power to tell you why,
But for consolation and solace, upon my God, I must rely.
For the mysterious of life are too profound for me to comprehend,
And that is why I have faith and hope, given to me by God,
my beloved and trusted friend.

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

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 The Meaning Of Greatness
Cynthia Groopman

Measured not by priceless gems or elegant furs a person may own,
Nor is greatness determined by the size and contents of one's home.

Greatness is not measured by how much money we earn
Nor determined by our profession or what we learn.

Greatness is not judged by enormous wealth,
for fortune or fame that may come a person's way,
But true greatness manifests itself in the radiant smile, the fond embrace
and the joyful sound of laughter that brightens another's day.

Those who extend a helping hand, a listening ear, a generous spirit and
empathy to the weary, are truly the great ones in the eyes of God,
as you can truly understand,
And these people are greater than the mighty king
or wealthy leader of any land.

For alas, dear friends, true greatness is expressed in the valiant
actions of a hero, and by compassionate people performing deeds of loving
kindness and charity, that enrich, and enhance another's life,
And in words of comfort and reassurance, greatness is depicted,
that calm fear and soothe painful strife.

For a person is truly great, when he is righteous, caring, empathetic and
showing humility and the friendship of love,
And greatness is only judged by God, our eternal King,
who majestically reigns in Heaven above.

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

 ~**~**~

  The Majesty Of The Sunshine's Golden Glow
Cynthia Groopman

Elegantly radiating in the warmth of the sunshine's glow of gold,
Is an overpowering breath taking scene that is picturesquely being told.
Magnificently basking in a splendor that is eternally bright,
The majesty of the sunshine's golden glow is adorned by God's light.
Gently nurturing all,
The majesty of the sunshine's glow tenderly
caresses everything great and small.
As the infinite tiny glistening grains of sand merrily swirl
across the sundrenched seashore,
The cascading beams of sunlight tap-dance my door.
My heart dances in ecstatic jubilation
as I cheerfully greet each splendid sunrise.
Which is a gift dazzling before my eyes.
For each little glorious sunshine ray brings the renewed hope
and a promise for a better tomorrow,
Which comforts our weary souls and eases our intense pain and sorrow.

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

~**~**~

Love
Cynthia Groopman

Love expresses itself in a variety
of different feelings and actions as you can plainly understand
It is found in a gentle touch, a warm embrace, a radiant smile,
or in the comforting softness of a helping hand.
It can be an empathetic heart and a listening ear,
manifesting itself in sentiments that are so precious and dear
It can be heard in the sweet melodies of the hummingbirds' song,
the emotion of love is indeed powerful, overwhelming and strong.
Love adds richness to life, making our days sunny and long,
it can be expressed in the gentle voice of a mother,
singing her child a lullaby song.
For love is what makes the world go round,
And it evokes feelings that are deep and profound.


Cynthia Groopman

Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net

~**~**~

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