Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

Hearts and Humor – A Michael Smith Column

July 22, 2007

Happy Sunday, my family of readers. Our family is quickly
closing in on 1400 members. It thrills me that so many wonderful
people around the world enjoy my stories and sign up to read them.

A few weeks ago, I posted a story about my young grandson
Joshie. If you missed it, you can read it here:
http://archives.zinester.com/86758/134071.html

The story I have for you today relates to the "HooHoo Fraks"
story. We all went through a rough time adjusting to living
together. The story below is one of the rough times we had.
See below the story for a comment I received on the original
version of this story. Rosemary offered great insight.
I actually sent the story to her before I posted it.
I wasn't sure if I should share it with my readers.
Rosemary encouraged me to post it.

On another note, I never knew writing could be a dangerous
business.

On the second and fourth Thursday of every month I meet with
my local writing group at Borders Books. We share our stories
and offer helpful suggestions to improve our work.

I have it on my outlook email calendar to remind me.
It popped up a couple Wednesdays ago. I immediately grabbed my
writing bag from the side of the sofa and put it on the floor in
front of me. It's my reminder to pick it up and take it to the
kitchen, where I'll grab it up in the morning and put it in
the car. Well, the first time I got up, I stepped over it
with one foot. As I lifted my second foot over, my toes caught in
the handle.

Gang, this 230 lb frame went flying. I stumbled, struggled to
keep my balance and protect the glass I carried in my hand.
I turned to the side as I fell, so I wouldn't land on the
glass, and ended up slamming to the floor on my side and
smashing the back of my head into the wall. The drink I carried
spilled over my chest.

In the process I somehow twisted my ankle and almost broke my big
toe and probably broke something in my foot. It didn't hurt too
much at the time, but the next morning, the toe was twice its normal
size and was a lovely shade of red and purple. It
might look good on a Christmas tree, but not on my foot.

After a week and a half, the bruising is gone, but it still
swells if I walk too much. I keep it wrapped and walk with the foot
turned outward, so I don't bend the big toe, which clicks if I do.

I was on my feet a lot yesterday. By walking like I am, I think
it puts a strain on my back. This morning I could hardly get
out of bed. Ginny is babying me. She won't let me do anything.
"Just sit!" she scolded. "I'll get whatever you need."
I love my woman.

Who knew writing could be so dangerous?



    If you enjoy a story, feel free to pass it on to
your friends. I only ask that you leave the link
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    NOTE: IF YOU WISH TO STOP RECEIVING MY STORIES,
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WHO SUBSCRIBE TO MY EZINE.

    I Love your comments.
    Send them to: msmith4@nj.rr.com

    If anyone is interested in greeting cards, Ginny
belongs to a group of artists. They've teamed together
to market their products. Check them out at:
http://www.etsygreetings.blogspot.com


    Ginny's cards and other crafts are at:
http://www.ginginsgoodies.etsy.com


    Be sure to check out my collection of inspirational
   
sites at the end. There's something for everyone.


    Now for today's story. This is one of my favorites.




                    Are You Hiding Under Your Tent


    The blanket ruffled in the wind over my head. Blackie, my dog
and best friend, poked her head under the blanket and stared at me.
"Blackie! Come here, Blackie." I called. She curled up next to me
and rested her head on my lap.

    When I felt bad, Blackie was there for me.


    My parents were fighting again, so I retreated to my
make-shift tent - an old blanket, full of holes, propped up with
a picket,  and tied down at the edges with rocks. I cuddled with
Blackie, tears in my eyes. "Blackie, I love you."

    My tent and Blackie were comforting. I could hide, protected
by Blackie. She was the kindest dog I knew, but I imagined her
growling and attacking anyone who tried to harm me. Under that
old tattered blanket, I sat with my dog and listened to the sounds
from outside, pleased no one could see me. I was safe.


                *******************


    I climbed to the top of a high tree and watched the world
around me. People passed below. I clung tightly to the trunk
of my tree. It swayed in the wind, as I watched the people
disappear around a bend in the path. I loved the isolation of
my perch. No one knew I was there. No one could hurt me.


                *******************


    I sat by a piece of timber. A storm had washed it up on
a small hill by my grandfather's fishing shack. High up on the
rocks and partially hidden by a small tree, it became my shelter.
I poked nails into its rotting surface. They became switches and
buttons for a spaceship. A rusty handle from a discarded saucepan,
which I found on the shore, became my controller. It allowed me
to dive and spin to avoid enemy spaceships. I imagined circling
my spacecraft. Other kids wandered by, but I remained hidden. In
my imagination, I soared high over their heads - unseen.


                *******************


    I'm an adult now. The tent made from a worn blanket, my
space ship, and the tops of trees are gone. I don't need to
hide anymore. Adults don't have to hide, or so I thought.


                *******************


    I sat in my bedroom with my computer in my lap. The screen
went to sleep and turned dark. I wasn't typing or reading. Two
years of unemployment and low-paying jobs took their toll. My
mind felt as blank as the screen. It felt dead.

    Our financial situation was bleak. We were a month behind
in rent and our phone service had been cut off. Thankfully,
this kept the bill collectors from calling. My stepdaughter,
Heather, and I were not getting along - mainly because of me.
I was withdrawn and complained about the smallest things.

    She and her three young boys moved in with us until she
could support herself. We were both in situations we didn't
want to be. We had no control and took our frustrations out
on each other. The stress took its toll on everyone, including
my lovely wife.

    My step-grandsons were afraid. In a new home, without their
familiar family circle, they tried to adjust to their new
environment. Their new Grandpa was scary. His rules were
different. It frightened them.

    Ginny was stuck in the middle. I'd come home from work,
retreat to my room, and hide. Heather and her boys went to
theirs. Ginny sat in the living-room alone. She was torn
between two loves.

    I was a child again - hiding instead of communicating.

    Ginny took control. She called a family meeting. After
the kids went to bed, she made Heather and me sit. She looked
at us. "You two are going to work this out tonight! I've had enough!"
She looked at Heather, "You want to leave? Fine! Leave, but you're
not leaving until you and Mike make up.

    "If anyone is leaving, it's me. You two can either learn
to get along or kill each other. That will be up to you, but I'm
not taking this anymore!"
   
    Ginny turned to me. "And you! You should know better! Those
boys need a grandpa! You're it! I'm sorry, but you're their grandpa.
Don't mess this up."

     Ginny ranted at Heather and me for 30 minutes. When she
finished, she said, "OK! I'm going upstairs. You two sit here and
come to a decision!"  She turned her back to us and disappeared
up the stairs. We listened to her stomp down the hall over our
heads and winced as the door to our bedroom slammed shut.

    I looked at Heather. "Well, we've just been told. I feel
like a little kid who just left the principal's office after
being scolded for misbehaving."

    "Tell me about it!" she replied.

    A tear rolled down my cheek. "Heather, I'm sorry. I've been
an ass. I love the kids, but it's hard for me to adjust to
three boys living with us. I love your mom more than anything
in the world. I don't want to lose her. It's just that I miss
my time with her. We used to be alone here. We talked and
played. Now we don't have that luxury.

    "I know you want to move out, Heather. I don't blame you.
Heck! I want to move out too."

    Heather looked at me. "Mike, it's hard on all of us."

    "No kidding." I sighed.

    "Heather, don't leave. I'll try to do better. We owe it
to your mom. Stay as long as you need - at least until Seth
finishes the school year. I think we can work it out. Don't
you?"

    "Yeah, I think we can."

    We talked for a long time.

    The next day felt like a storm had blown through and
took the humidity away. Hurricane Ginny woke me up. I was
a little boy again. Instead of communicating, I hid under
my tent, climbed my tree, and tried to fly away in a my
driftwood spaceship.

    My grandchildren were afraid of me. Heather avoided
me. I avoided everyone. I was relieved to go to work and
stressed to come home.  Ginny, the woman we loved, suffered.
Our lives came apart. She lifted the edge of my blanket/tent
and instead of curling up with me, she dragged my sorry
behind out into the open to face the challenge. I couldn't
hide under my tent anymore.

    Michael T. Smith


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     If you enjoy a story, feel free to pass it on to your friends.
   
My only request is that you include the link for your friends to

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To join our family, go to:

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    As promised, here is a list of great inspirational sites.

I subscribe to all of them. You will love these sites.

    A good friend of mine has a new book out. You should check
this out. Carol's been through rough times. She tells it all
in her latest book.

Carol Roach
M.Ed, B.A.
Publisher: Storytime Tapestry
Author: Angels Watching Over Me:http://www.lulu.com/content/644485
Picking up the Pieces: A Woman's Journey: www.publishamerica.com

To join Carol's story site, go to Storytime Tapestry at:
http://archives.zinester.com/98907/

From my wonderful writing friend, Jan. She writes wonderful
stories about her life and losing her sight.
Janet Perez Eckles
Faith and Love with a Latin Flair
www.janetperezeckles.com


Here's a good one by Linda Della Donna
Freelance Writer
www.littleredmailbox.com
www.griefcase.blogspot.com
www.storybone.blogspot.com
"...and sometime when I wasn't looking, I got a new life."

By my good friend Keith in Australia:
http://www.agiftofinspiration.com.au/

My friend Phil runs http://www.peoplestuff.com.au/
Phil's awesome and brutally honest

Zev, yes another friend, runs http://empoweringmessages.com/stories/

Heart Catchers is a wonderful site.  www.DianeDeanWhite.com

www.Heartwarmers.com and www.petwarmers.com are two

wonderful story sites.

http://hodu.com/

http://www.mydailyinsights.com/

www.ripplemaker.com

http://www.sermonillustrator.org

http://www.SkyWriting.Net

Here's a newly discovered one I like:

http://www.archive.zinester.com/9516

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WarmFuzzyStories/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WithInSight/

If you, or anyone you know needs prayers for health concerns,
struggles,etc visit www.janetperezeckles.com
Janet's prayer group will respond.

That's all I can think of right now. If I come up with

more, I'll add them.

Enjoy!!!


I love your comments, Send them to msmith4@nj.rr.com.

I'll include some in every post.

Now for some comments on my last few stories:

Here's part of the response Rosemary sent me when
the original version of the above story was posted.
I've edited it, to remove personal information.

My dear friend,
I have never meet you, but I know you to be an honest and
truly caring man. I do plan one day to travel, and knocking
on your door, just so as I can hug you in person.
Please do put this story up, it is very human and it is
what we all do, it is just very rare to have some one
find the courage to write in such a manner and give voice
to what we all do.

Your step-daughter may be just as frightened as you are
and needing also a place to hide. She is lucky in that her
Mum and you gave her the security, so as she could bring
her little ones to a base of love.
The base she sought out was one of love, acceptance and
strength. You my dear friend provided the strength part
of the triangle. And because of that, you feel drained and
at times unable to be the strength each member of your
household needs you to be. Not only did you not know this
family that are now sheltering under your "tent", but
this family now also shares everything within the "tent",
including your beautiful Ginny. Worse than that in a way
that you may had not considered, they had Ginny first.
Your step-daughter has a relationship with your wife that
you were never part of, they can play "remember when",
and you sit on the side lines looking in.
The little boys is a different story.
They love you and you love them without the barriers of
time and distance. Children when they see and feel love
security and strength know that their little worlds are safe.
You are the strong big man in their little lives, after the
only other man they have ever loved walked away from them.
You love them, they love you, and that may also be a part of
the problem. On a sub-conscious level you are at odds with
your step-daughter. She has loved a man so deeply that she
gave life to his 3 children. Then that man hurt her badly
as well. Worse he destroyed the security of her babies.
A mother always puts the security of her babies first -no
mater the age of the baby. Now she is under your "tent",
and because her Mum loves you, she will also love you
[I have never met you, yet in a way I love you as well],
she will also love you because of the way you have rescued
her babies and are on a daily basis teaching each of them
to be the strength that you are. So now you have a mother
seeing her babies respond to you, she is naturally greatful
on every level that she is aware of, but on a level she may
not want to know anything about, there is a question of "can
I truly trust this man not to hurt me by hurting my babies?"

There are complex sets of emotions going between 3 adults, on
the surface there is love and trust, underneath though there
are unspoken questions from each of you. You are thinking "is
Ginny going to withdraw her love from me and give it to her
daughter and grand children" Your step-daughter is thinking "when
is Michael going to stop loving us and kick us out, and will
Mum be strong enough to stand up for us?" Ginny is thinking
"when will these two stop thinking about themselves and
start to work together, I have more than enough love for a
ll of them"

Now I may be wrong in what I just wrote above.  But everything
I have been reading over the past few months has always lead
back to the strength of love, the need of love and the ability
of love to heal, once love is open though love is the only
thing that can heal.

Life is amazing, you met Ginny and formed a circle of love.
Both of you came with children.
In a way both of you ensured that your children were within
the circle of your love. One of the children "fell" and was hurt.
You both reached out, pulled the child to you, loved the child,
and in doing so healed the child. Now you want to put the child
back into the centre with her other siblings, and have order
return to the circle of love. Circumstances have prevented that
from happening, so the circle is still out of balance.
You feel guilty and feel you must hide because you feel love
for the child and at the same time you want the child to go away.

Michael put the story up.
You need to reach out to those who love and support you, and then a
llow us to help you with our words of love and support.
You do not need to hide in your bedroom, up a tree or in a tent.
You need to be able to draw strength from those who offer freely
their love to you. In doing so, you will learn that there are
many blended families with in this beautiful world.
Who know your words may well be the words that others also
need to see and feel to start to heal their own circles.

I hope I have not sounded as if I am lecturing you, that is not
what I intended to do. My hope was to shine a different flash
light into the situation from a great distance away.  In doing
so, I hope I have given you a different view of your current
situation, as well as the knowledge that as my friend, you
have my love as well.

....with forever love
Rosemary

Now that was a comment and more.
Rosemary was right. I shared her thoughts with my step-daughter.

***********************

Great story/lesson about your "father-daughter" climb up the
side of the mountain, Mike, but also a tad scary thinking
about the possibility of one or both of you tumbling and
falling many feet below!

Have a happy week,
Sandi in FL.


**********************

Thanks so much for sharing. Loved the pics, and the story.
Diana

********************

"Dito" to all the good comments at the end.  Good
luck with Justine.  God will get you through whatever
it is and thankfully, he has given you Ginny.

That was from Liz my other Mom

*******************


Get on your behind and slide.  What a wonderful saying!! 
Love it, love it!!!  And thank you so much for the
pictures.  One of these days I'll learn how to download
and send pictures then you'll be able to see your Iowa friend.

Thanks again for the pictures.

Linda

****************

Dear Michael:
    This touched my heart just now as I read it.  I'm
    glad things are better for ya'll now. And I hope
    the summer months are a blessing to you, and yours.
    Peace,
    and Love,
    (and kudos for your great stories, and your gift
    of sharing them!
    God bless you.)
    --DawnRose,
       mother to 4,
       nana to two boys