Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

July 14, 2007

 Today’s Stories

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Abduction

Sharon Bryant 

We all hear it on the news or read about it in newspapers.  Abduction.  Somewhere, a child is missing. My son was the victim of abduction.

The year was 1975.  He and I went to a grocery store in Michigan.  The temperatures that September morning was perfect to drive with our windows rolled down.  How many times I wished I had the windows rolled up after that day.

We went into the grocery store and I purchased the things I needed.  When we got to the car outside, I placed my son in the passenger seat, then walked around to load the groceries in the back seat.

I leaned down to get some cokes from the bottom of the shopping cart when it happened.  Someone grabbed him through the window that was down on his side.  All I saw was a plaid shirt, a huge man and a black car that had pulled up behind the car parked next to mine.  It only took seconds to see the car speed away, with my three year old boy inside.  So fast, I didn't get the make of the car nor could I guess the year.  I never saw the license plate.

I ran inside the grocery store screaming for help.  Someone called the sheriff and within minutes, a deputy was there, taking down all the information of what my son looked like, his age, weight, what he was wearing.  I had a photo of my son in my wallet and I gave it to the deputy.

I was divorced from my son's father and in my heart, I felt my ex husband was behind it.  It was not my ex who grabbed my son.  The man was much larger than my ex husband.

For the next six days, I had to endure living without my child being found.  I can't begin to tell you the heartache a parent goes through when their child is missing.  The not knowing can drive you insane.  I couldn't sleep, couldn't eat, and I barely functioned.

I begged the police to put my child's photo on television.  Unlike today, they did not do things like that in the 70's.

I can't help but remember the years it took John Walsh to fight for justice for Adam, his child who was abducted, then found murdered. 

In 1975, there were no laws protecting our children like there are today.  My lawyer told me if my son was found in another state, I would have to go to that state, file charges and get clearance to get my child back with me.  Canada was not far from where we were and I was told if the person took my son into Canada, I would have real problems getting him back from another country.

My son was found on the sixth day, with my ex and the man who abducted my child.  They were very close to the Canadian border.  My ex tried to tell the sheriff he had custody.  I had already given my custody papers to the sheriff department, so they knew his words were untrue. 

Today, when I'm in stores, I see so many parents allowing their children to roam around.  They don't realize how fast a child can be grabbed.  We have seen cases on television where it is a matter of seconds that a child can be grabbed and whisked away.

I was one of the lucky ones.  My child was returned to me.  He was not abducted by some creep who intended to harm him.  Yet, it happens so often today.  I can't warn parents enough to keep their child next to them when in public. 

Many times, in stores where there are televisions turned on, parents will allow their child to watch something while they browse nearby.  Predators watch for this kind of thing.  It only takes turning your back for a split second.  That split second can change your life.

Sharon Bryant

1946@bellsouth.net

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World At War
Bill Walker
missourisage@yahoo.com.

At Pearl Harbor is the memorial to the beginning and end of World War Two for the United States. The falling Battleship USS.Arizona,  and her sister ship the USS Missouri standing guard. But is that really the beginning of the war, the sinking of the Arizona? I think not. I will take you back a ways in time.

There is no easy date to say exactly when troubles of the world became out right war. Back at the turn of the 20th century, no nation trusted another nation. It was dog eat dog anywhere you looked on the globe. Each power house was grabbing this or that to claim  some far off part, or even fussing about borders Hey you stole this from us back years before, this kind of thing.

There had been saber flashing here or there, for years leading up to a date for some time. Then came the day. The assassination of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria-Hungry by a Serbian nationalist, set the wheels of World War One into gear. Different power houses of nations took one side or another. That was 1914. The so called war
to end all wars. All these power houses were looking for some excuse to go to war over differences of the past. All it took was this guy going where he wasn't wanted to start with and meeting up with a nut with a gun. That one killing was the fuse that caused millions to suffer, be wounded, and killed.

This mess ended on Nov 11, 1918. Or did it end? No if you remember it was called an armistice. Armistice, means let’s call it a draw, we go home, lick our wounds, and go back to the drawing board for the next go at it.

All the armistice did was make more hate. This hate came to a head for each at different times. In Germany, the people were pushed to the wall, and out of the wall stepped a goon by the name of Hitler. Hitler and a gang of more goons, one thing in mind. We're going to crank up the war machine and take the world over this time. The time was
1933.

Then Spain had a civil war, again different nations was on the sidelines, giving aid to the two factions. Just more of the same old stuff over and over. The side Hitler backed won out in the end.

Japan switched sides between the big wars, and went looking for land, oil and other needs of life. Here we have Germany making trouble in Europe, also Italy is moving into North Africa. Those two become great buddies, and then both sign a deal with Japan. An enemy of yours is an enemy of mine, I think the deal said. Japan really cranked up the heat on their side of the globe in the mid 30s. Italy was in North Africa then also, kicking over little nations that had no real means to fight back. This was looking bad for Dear Old England. 1939.

Germany makes a move on small, neighboring nations and land. England's PM makes a flying trip to talk to Hitler. He comes home and waves a paper signed by Hitler. We will have peace in our time is his words.

Yea right. Hitler gets a piece of this, a piece of that and will be happy for a short time. It isn't long till World War Two is in full swing. France is over run in days, England is all alone in the fight. Well Russia is in it but is getting pushed hard. The lights of liberty and freedom goes out all over Europe. The Brits are fighting to hold on.

Churchill is now the PM of England. His words," we will fight on the beaches, we will fight on the land, we will fight in the cities, but surrender, NEVER. The English Bull Dog has teeth, and has spoken.

The United States is now giving some aid and comfort to the fighting Brits. We are also doing it in a small way for China. Many young men have signed up with the China people. You do remember the flying Tigers? The few, the proud men of the Flying Tigers. Old P 40 aircraft, fighting the Jap Zeros to a stand still.

Germany was wrecking the sea lanes with sub warfare, also had raider ships at sea. Then they got bold, and sent the Bismark to sea; sank the English Battleship Hood with loss of all on it, and was loose on the seas to make more trouble. English warships was closing, they lost the Bismark. It took an American airplane to find it. Yes we were at war, and didn't know it. Then came the Sunday morning of Dec 7, 1941; we were in it up to our necks then.

It was a long war, it was a bloody war. It looked dark many times for liberty, and freedom. I am not going to tell the long road back, other then a little bit. On the early morning hours. June 6, 1944, the Allies stormed the beaches of France, it was a grind across France, and into Germany. There was the Battle of the Bulge. An American Army was trapped. The Germans asked if they would like to surrender. The reply from the American General was simple. "NUTS".  Thank God for the third Army of General Patton. He had units rolling hell bent for leather. In a matter of a few days Patton's
tanks rolled in and sent the Germans in full retreat leaving behind much junk.

May 8,1945 it was all over in Europe. Hitler killed himself, and the lights came on again.

On the other side, Japan was getting pushed back to the home Islands. It was a long slow road, but Island by Island was retaken, and then the big bombers were swarming over the cities of Japan. The ships coming with goods for the home Islands was getting less and less. Then came the day of one lone B 29 with one bomb. Japan was asked, had enough,
No answer. In a few days, here is another lone B 29 with one bomb. Same
question was asked. On Aug 14 the news came rolling in YES, Don't send any more lone B 29s with a one bomb.

On Sept 2, 1945 the Battleship USS Missouri was parked in the harbor at
Tokyo. At last a war that started around the turn of the century was
over.

Millions of lives were lost, millions was crippled. How much money, well who knows? The real loss was the unknown numbers of people who lost life, were wounded, and suffered because of leaders who can't get along with other leaders. Wars are so easy to start.

So hard to stop.
Tinker and Poo; The Boys Write
http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore

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Poetry Corner

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Headaches
Cynthia Groopman

Oh, my head aches,
And I am looking for medication to take.
My cupboard is bare,
And there is nothing there.
Oh, my aching head,
I think that I shall go to bed.
When, I lie down,
I begin to frown.
The bed is almost breaking,
And my head is pounding and aching.
So to the pharmacy I run,
But that is no fun.
I did not bring my money,
And that was not funny.
So, here I am, with a headache, as you can tell,
And nothing is going well.
We get these days,
When there are obstacle courses, full of maze and haze.
So, what shall I do, I say,
Well, the answer is to pray.


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

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 Can You Imagine
Cynthia Groopman

Can you imagine a life without sorrow or pain,
And how wonderful it would be if peace, happiness and brotherhood in each country would gloriously reign.
Can you imagine hope's perpetual glowing rainbow,
That would forever exude a  golden glow.
Can you imagine sparkling days of never-ending sunshine,
And how elated we would be if we are capable of reliving happy and memorable times.
Can you imagine nations never fighting a cruel vicious and brutal war,
And the beast of terrorism and the mask of death will never haunt us anymore.
Can you imagine white doves sprightly dancing in triumph, sailing in the clear vast blue sky,
And that people will live forever and no longer wither and die.
Well, as long as the spirit of the Lord will regally dwell within me,
I shall be blessed with courage, love and inner serenity.
I know that these thoughts are daydreams,
But, God in His wisdom will enable me to fathom and understand His mysterious and puzzling schemes.


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

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Try I Must
Cynthia Groopman

Try I must,
Although the sky is gray and the rain is cascading like rivers of flowing tears.
Try, I must,
Although, my heart is weeping with fright and many fears.
Try, I must,
I know that I can.
I have the golden key to open the door to understanding God's plan.
For as long as I try,
Blue birds in my life will forever sing and merrily sputter and fly.
Try, I must,
As God weaves a beautiful tapestry,
Of love, happiness and joy, that are my gifts to cherish eternally.


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

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Through My Window
Cynthia Groopman

Through my window, on a sparkling summer's day,
I marvel at the children gleefully enjoying their play.
I see them jump and run about,
happily beaming and dancing in a tuneful shout.
Through my window on a breezy autumn day,
I see mother nature change clothes in a majestic way.
I see the leaves turn from red to brown, to gold,
and a beautiful picturesque story will unfold.
Squirrels are busy storing food for winter, as I see,
and they dash to and fro hurriedly.
Through my window on a winter's day,
I see the snowflakes swirl this way and that way.
The trees are bare and all is a snowy white,
as we are bathed in a weak ray of sunlight.
Through my window on a spring day,
joy and gladness is all that I can say.
Mother nature blooms with extreme flare,
as the wind gently tosses our hair.
For dear friends, the window is located in my mind,
because the pictures are not seen by my eyes, for I am blind.


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

Readers Feedback

Just Say No - I liked this article. Yet, I am a baby boomer but was taught to work by my parents.  My father always said no one but me was going to take care of or watch out for me.

I also used to volunteer to do things.  I helped in hospitals.  I helped at fund raisers, and I was active when my kids were in school.

I still like to help.  Right now I focus on helping bereaved parents and our troops.

Yes, in my era, we WERE taught to be good little girls.  But I thank the Lord, my parents taught me the one thing that everyone should be taught and that was to survive in this jungle of life. Sharon Bryant.

As a Scrabbler, I loved "The Best Move"

Short, concise & so true!!!

Connie Gilbert

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