Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

September 23, 2007

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Rosanne Catalano

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Michael Smith

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Barbara Weymouth

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Helen Dowd

www.occupytillicome.com

Dean Perchick

http://symzonia.blogspot.com

I'd like to tell you about a new website that I discovered and now love where all of your favorite authors can be heard on video from your own computer!

The website is Bookvideos.tv and is coming to you from Simon & Schuster publishing. Check it out at: http://www.bookvideos.tv! You won't be sorry you did.

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Today’s Stories

~**~**~

Who Inspires Me

Pina Martinelli

On June 3rd, 1975, when I was 19 years old, my mother Marian died from such a virulent form of lung and bone cancer it truly caught us off guard. In 1974, Mom, who was 51, tall, slender yet solidly built, had begun to lose so much weight her flesh hung from her body and her clothing didn't fit. She seemed tired and drained almost all of the time, even though she made a valiant effort to maintain our house and our lives. It was apparent to all of us that her spirit had changed and shifted, as if her life was draining out of her, as if she were fading. In time we would find out that it was.

In November 1974 Mom had an appointment with our family physician in NYC to have a thorough check up and x-ray of her chest. This was done to ascertain the root cause of her cough and her weight loss and to determine what treatment options would be available in the event she did have cancer. Ironically, the x-ray showed no sign of cancer. Instead of quitting smoking, my parents resumed their 40 year old smoking habits as if nothing had happened. Meanwhile, Mom continued to cough and lose weight with no end in sight. By February 1975, an x-ray revealed a large, rapidly growing, egg shaped tumor in her right lung. Cancer. After that, everything was a flurry of activity for my parents, while I sat in my college dorm room, waiting, denying to myself what I knew all along. My beautiful mother would be lost to me before I would truly know her.

The night she died, the devastation her death would incur in my spirit and in my life had already begun to unfurl itself like a venomous snake waiting to strike. In the minutes that followed my sense of her death, but before it would be confirmed, the poison of loss, pain and fear coursed through my veins with a vengeance I have never forgotten. In the 6 months after her death, I became wild and yet, oddly unemotional, distant, and removed, as if my body and mind were numbed by Lidocaine. I was dead inside, a lost soul abandoned on an empty ship that set sail to nowhere. If I died then it would not have mattered to me. This is my truth.

Six months later the fog of grief lifted and I began to see clearly once more. One night I realized that I had two choices to make from her death: I could throw my life away or I could take inspiration from it as a way to guide me in life. I would honor her life and her guidance in my desire to succeed where she could not, in my willingness to listen, guide and advise others openly and honestly, in the ability to love, forgive and trust in the face of such sorrow.

And I have.

Pina Martinelli

Pina1101@aol.com

Poetry Corner

~**~**~

A Welcoming Message To The Month Of September
Cynthia Groopman

Dear month of September, we greet you with a smile and a cheerful face
as you gently enfold us into your charming autumn embrace.
The sunlight is not strong,
and if we listen closely, we hear the birds sing their farewell song.
The air becomes crisp, clear and cool,
vacations end as children hurriedly return to school.
The little leaves engage in their farewell dance,
as squirrels begin to dash and prance.
As they tiptoe from their treetop homes to the ground,
they swirl round and round.
No longer is the grass lush and beautifully green,
and the changing colors paint a beautiful picturesque scene.
We salute our workers on Labor Day,
and show gratitude to them in every way.
For dear month of September, you usher in the brand new autumn season,
we say farewell to summer as she comes to an end,
and with open arms, we cordially welcome you as our new friend.


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

~**~**~

As Autumn Draws Near

Cynthia Groopman

As autumn draws near,
Sadly we bid good-bye to summer so precious and dear.
Welcoming autumn's air so crisp and full of delight,
Marveling at colorful changing leaves majestic beautiful sight.
Saying farewell to the birds so melodic and sweet,
Dazzling us all summer with tuneful melodies,
That were truly a musical treat.
.A time for new beginnings and the start of the Jewish New Year,
Oh, autumn, we applaud you with elation and cheer.

Copyright ©2007

Cynthia Groopman
Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net

~**~**~

An Ode To The Game Of Baseball
Cynthia Groopman

Finally springtime has arrived as you can plainly understand,
And baseball, like the budding flowers, begins to blossom
as it is played across our land.
Then all the fans will flock to the old ball park.
To see their hometeam play during the daytime or after dark.
The ball will sail up up and away
And our hero will have a homerun for the day.
At the ballpark, everyone will be happy and cheer
Watch the game, eat hot dogs and drink a frosty can of beer.
The fans will jump up and down and gleefully shout
Especially when the umpire says, "Three Strikes and he's out."

Copyright ©2004

Cynthia Groopman
Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net

~**~**~

A Greeting To My Rosy Red Friend
Cynthia Groopman

Oh dear friend, of rosy red,
You laughingly smile at me, as I gently stroke your shiny head.
You grace us with your sweet cheerfully aromatic presence,
when summer changes its leafy green clothes,
And your radiant face joyfully glistens in the autumn sunshine,
as jack frost nips at our nose.
You can be eaten in a variety of different ways,
You can serve as an evening snack, or a healthy dessert eaten
during a hungry day.
You possess a unique flavor that can be tart or softly sweet,
And that is why you are my delicious favorite treat.
Your sizes are varied as you already know,
And when I touch your soft smooth rosy cheeks, you embrace me
and say hello.
You loveliness adds a special cheerful zest to the new autumn season,
And the Lord above created you for a pleasureful reason.
For rosy red dear friend, you are an apple as we can all see,
And you are indeed very appealing to me.

Copyright ©2004

Cynthia L. Groopman

Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net

Readers Feedback

Carol,
Thanks so much for including "Walking Home" in today's mailings. I don't know how God keeps awakening these memories and inspiring these thoughts of mine, but I feel blessed being able to share them with so many beautiful souls. God bless you and
the Storytime family. Wishing you every joy, Joe

Hi Carol,

I loved Joseph Mazzella’s piece, Walking Home. He describes so well the child’s sense of adventure, with never a care for danger. And the analogy to life is perfect, “always keep your eyes on home” – wonderful!

Congratulations, Joe.

Joan Skura

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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, Charlotte Hilliard, Maria Keller