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Storytime Tapestry Newsletter The newsletter devoted to
spreading love and cultural awareness around the world. Publishers Favourite Sites: Rosanne Catalano http://www.rosannecatalano.net/ Michael Smith http://subs.zinester.com/86758/ Barbara Weymouth penwormprayerwarriors-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Helen Dowd Dean Perchick 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. Today’s Announcement Hi! Donations are always needed to help with
the operating expenses of running the newsletter and to keep Storytime Tapestry
the quality newsletter you are so accustomed to. Please note that Storytime Tapestry is a
free newsletter to members and there will never be a cost for the newsletter.
Donations are purely voluntary and no member should ever feel guilty for not
making a donation at this time. Today’s Stories ~**~**~ ~**~**~ A Weekly Column By Joseph Walker valuespeak@msn.com THE WORLD ACCORDING TO OPIE An open letter to
Sheriff Andy Taylor, You may not remember
me. I wrote to you about 28 years ago
when your TV program, “The Andy Griffith Show,” was popular to tell you why
your son Opie’s back pockets used to always smell kind of fishy. And then I wrote again about a year later to
ask how there got to be so many people in Mayberry if nobody in the whole town
– so far as I could tell – was married. Yeah, that was
me. And I’m back. But don’t worry. I’m not really concerned about those things
any more. I’ve got a more pressing
question in mind right now, and I think you’re just the person to answer it. What in heaven’s name
is going on? It’s not like I hold
you responsible or anything. As near as
I can tell, everything was OK back when you were in charge. That’s the problem. You left (I hear you became a lawyer – say it
ain’t so!) and now look at us. It’s like
the Gubers and Gomers of the world have taken over, only they’re not just
running the filling stations – you know what I mean? You want specifics? OK – but you’re not going to believe some of this stuff. Like, for example,
religion. You know how you used to be a
little suspicious of anyone who didn’t go to church every week? Well, these days it’s the other way
around. If you happen to mention to
someone that you’re a regular church-goer, they figure there’s something wrong
with you or that you’re up to something – usually no good. There are probably a
lot of reasons for the change in attitude.
We’ve had more than our share of wolves in shepherd’s clothing. And the media, which almost never reports the
good things churches are doing in the world, almost never misses a chance to
tell people when active church members go bad (even though you never read that
a crime was committed by “John Doe, who hasn’t stepped inside a church in 30
years”). The American family
has also changed quite a bit – and not just because the kids are wearing their
baseball caps sideways. The change here
has less to do with appearances and more to do with how the family itself works
– or doesn’t work, as the case may be.
Many parents have abdicated their responsibilities in the home. They lay the blame for drug abuse on
society’s doorstep. Teen pregnancy, they
say, can be traced to deficiencies in the educational system. And if a teenager is overweight, it’s
television’s fault. All of which reminds
me of how you handled it when Opie killed that mamma bird. Remember?
You didn’t blame Howard Sprague or Helen Krump or even Barney Fife, who
got blamed for just about everything.
You just took it upon yourself to teach Opie right and wrong even though
you were a single parent and a busy working professional. And look how well little Opie turned out, and
what a positive influence he was on that Fonzie fellow later on in his life. Don’t get me
wrong. There are some terrific parents
who are doing some great work. But the
hectic pace of modern life, and the varied (and yes, sometimes selfish) interests
of some parents have resulted in a de-emphasis of the family as an influential,
causative American institution. In your
day everyone pretty much agreed that the family was the basic unit of society. Today that distinction probably goes to the
movie rental store. And I haven’t even
mentioned the plague of drug abuse. Or
AIDS. Or what’s been going on in the
entertainment industry. On the bright
side, has anyone told you that Communism is dead and the Uh . . . I’ll have to
explain Velcro to you some other time. It’s a new world, one
that takes some getting used to even for those of us who have been here living
in it all along. While some things have
become easier with time, others have become much more difficult. But we’re gong to keep trying. That’s what you’d tell Opie. You’d say, “Don’t give up! Be true to yourself! Be a good neighbor!” And then you’d go fishing. So even though it
sounds like a pretty simplistic approach to complicated problems and social
issues, I’m going to follow your advice – fictional though you may be. I’m not going to give up. I’m going to be true to myself and to what I
believe. And I’m going to try to be a
good neighbor. The way I see it, what’s
good enough for Opie is good enough for me. Except for one thing:
can I carry my fish someplace else besides my back pocket? ~**~**~ WHAT ARE
YOU LISTENING FOR By: Joseph
J. Mazzella
I remember reading a story once about a wealthy businessman who over the years
of his travels had formed a friendship with a Native American. This pair in
spite of their differences remained close and after many years the businessman
finally convinced his friend to visit him in the city where he lived. As they
were walking down the busy streets full of noise, traffic, and people the
Native American suddenly stopped, walked into an alley, and bent down over a
small plant growing there. His friend followed him and found him listening to a
tiny cricket chirping. Amazed, the businessman asked him how he had ever
heard that little sound among the deafening noise of the city. The Native
American just smiled and said, "What you hear is what you listen
for." As they walked back to the street the Native American took a handful
of coins out of his pocket and dropped them on the pavement. The businessman
smiled as he saw a dozen heads turn towards the sound. He realized what his
friend had meant.
What are you listening for in this life? Are you listening for the latest
lottery numbers to be announced or are you listening for the sweet songs of the
birds in the morning? Are you listening for the newest gossip people are saying
or are you listening for the happy sound of your children’s laughter? Are you
listening for the shouting voices of anger and hatred in this world that try to
fill our ears and hearts with their poison? Or are you listening for the gentle
voice of God whispering to you: "I love you My Child. Come work with Me
and we will shower the world with love and joy together."?
Either way what you listen for is what you will hear. Open your ears, mind,
heart, and soul then. Listen with them for all this world’s joys. Listen with
them for the loving voice of God within you. Listen with them and delight in
the glorious music that is life. Joe
Mazzella ~**~**~ Grilled Enchiladas Jennifer Oliver "Progress in civilization
has been accompanied by progress in cookery."--Fannie Farmer Our love for
Mexican food triggered a bout with ingenuity. My husband's unique version of
enchiladas will prompt you to ask yourself, "Why didn't I think of this
before?" Or more to
the point, "Are you certifiable?!" We are proud
owners of two wood-burning grills and an endless stack of oak wood. If you
don't have the luxury of either resource, well, then come on over, grab a
plate, and see what the fuss is all about. Mi enchilada es su enchilada. Otherwise,
fire that baby up with oak, hickory, mesquite, or any driftwood of your choice.
Grease a
13" x 9" cake pan with vegetable oil. Spread a nice layer of diced
onions on the bottom of the cake pan. When chopping onions, hubby likes to burn
a candle close by to quell the splatter of stinging onion juices. A gas mask is
optional. Brown a
pound of hamburger in a skillet, drain the fat, then set it aside. Don't season
the meat, not even with salt and pepper. We like to let the enchilada sauce do
all the talking. Grate
mountains of Fry up a
batch of corn tortillas in a pan of hot vegetable oil until the tortillas
barely bubble up. Pat the fried tortillas with paper towels to soak up excess
oil. Have on hand
two large cans of your favorite enchilada sauce. We prefer Old Let the
assembly line begin! But first--and this is critical--crank up the stereo for
energy. A little Sting'll do ya. Take a
tortilla, spoon a bit of hamburger on top (or just cheese, if that's your
kick), roll up the tortilla like a fat cigar, and place it in the prepared cake
pan. Ditto with the rest of the tortillas, placing them side by side in the
pan. Take
handfuls of grated Monterry Jack and medium cheeses and spread them all over
the enchiladas. Sprinkle grated sharp cheddar cheese on top. Drizzle enchilada
sauce over the cheeses until the enchiladas are practically swimming for shore.
Cover the
pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil and place the whole enchilada (couldn’t
resist that) on the grill. Let it cook for about 25 minutes, then pull up a
corner of the foil and let it cook for an extra five minutes to add wood smoke
flavoring to the enchiladas. Not much more than that though. Otherwise the
smoky flavor will knock you down flat. Serve the
enchiladas with dollops of sour cream. Accompany your masterpiece with ice-cold
cerveza, Spanish rice, and refried beans. Hubby likes eating whole jalapenos
with this meal. Now that, my
friend, is certifiable. Jennifer
Oliver Poetry Corner ~**~**~ Beautiful Autumn* Skies ablaze with
color Leaves of a
golden hue Reds, browns
& glorious bronze Float through the
senses. Pumpkins nestle
amid the leaves Mums lift their
sunburned lips Smoke from the
burning beds Lend an awesome
sight to behold. Candied apples,
donuts, too Cider aplenty
from the dew Foliage turn to
browns anew Glorious colors
to view. Skies turn an
azure blue The air has a nip
to the nose Jack Frost
beckons around the bend Enjoy autumn's
return, again. NormaLee Liles © Hoopla214@aol.com ~**~**~ Readers Feedback
Ina, Your story reminded me of my Aunt's cat, Oscar. He
was named after Oscar Madison, from "The Odd Couple". Anyhow,
he was a Your friend, David Fox Re Pearls in the Dark by Peggy Doak. Well Peggy you
are certainly a gem though yes very young by my standards. Just think of
your value when you have reached all grown up proportions! Louise Both Cups Full - hillarious!!! Things are
not always what they appear to be! LOL TANNIA Re Both Cups
Full------------------Genius! I would never have thought of it. Of
course it does stroke one’s sense of humor as well. I expect the bear
enjoyed the game too much. I can see his bearish grin as I
write. Louise Stormy, Storytime Tapestry Angels 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 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
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