Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

September 30, 2007

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Helen Dowd

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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

~**~**~

Nobel Prize

Jennifer Oliver

When Stephen was twenty-two, he was shot in the gut after a minor fender-bender.

At the trauma center, just as the surgeon was about to operate, Stephen, groggy from anesthesia, shocked the staff by grabbing the surgeon by his scrubs, drawing the surgeon's nose to his, and yelled, "DO NOT LET ME DIE!"

Then he fell back onto the table, unconscious.

He lived.

When Stephen was able to stand up, he walked the longest walk of his life to the end of the corridor. His goal was to reach the window. Wearing a pastel-plaid housecoat, nicknamed Joseph's coat of many colors, he rolled his IV stand along inch by inch, until he reached his goal. Then he stood there and stared out the window, feasting on the sight of trees, the sky, the birds soaring overhead. God's blessings, every single one.

He made a promise at that moment that he would never take life for granted again.

Fast-forward eleven years.

Upon finding out he was going to be a father, Stephen quit his job for a higher calling. He became a domestic engineer. When his wife went into labor four months early, the doctor informed them of dire consequences that could plague the baby. That is, if the baby graduated from the NICU.

After ticking one disability off after another from his mental checklist, the doctor asked, "Do you wish for us to take extra measures to keep this baby alive?"

Stephen didn't hesitate. "Hell, yes!"

The contractions could not be stemmed, and so his first son was born, weighing one pound, six ounces. Stephen placed an antique slingshot in his son's incubator.

The emergency C-section made his wife self-conscious of the ugly vertical line of staples in her stomach. During her stay in the hospital, he found her crying in the shower. She couldn't bend over to pick up the soap. He stepped into the shower, washed her hair, gently scrubbed her clean.

"Look," he said, pointing at his own stomach. "Now we can compare war wounds!"

During his son's stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), a nurse approached the couple and stated that as part of her Master's thesis, she wanted them to participate in her "kangarooing" study. After reading up on this unique method of bonding with preemies, Stephen and his wife signed up.

There were fathers who were uncomfortable with this skin-to-skin therapy. Not Stephen. He removed his shirt, exposing thick scars to raised eyebrows, and placed his shirtless son tenderly on his chest, holding the oxygen to his nose. His son visibly relaxed and slept without interruption for the first time in weeks. The mother nervously eyed the monitor, watching her son's blood pressure drop to a safer level.

The couple kangarooed their son for the duration of his stay in the NICU, feeling like pioneers in the healing process. There is one photograph that best depicts this father/son quality time: Stephen, smiling tiredly and leaning back in the rocking chair with the baby's cheek pressed against his heart, tiny fingers gripping his father's thumb.

Ten months later another son was born a month early. For ten days, the couple kangarooed him. Three years later, they did the same for another son born a month early, a resident of the NICU for 17 days.

The arrival of his fourth blessing, a girl this time, was on time, but she stayed in the nursery a week for observation due to her mother's gestational diabetes. Stephen removed his shirt again and did what he always did best. Heal his babies. And compare war wounds with his wife.

For over twelve years, Stephen has embraced his thankless role as househubby, enrolled in the art of midnight feedings, diaper changes, potty-training, time-outs. Trimming hair and nails. Reading bedtime stories. Teaching prayers and songs. Kissing owies and tears. Celebrating life through flying kites, antiquing, picking flowers, the miracles of spider webs, sunsets, hidden streams.

"Guess what!" Stephen would shout to the kids. In anticipation of his answer, they would respond in unison, "I love you!"

Nobel prizes are granted to men and women of great minds who contribute to humanity. There should also be a prize for ordinary folks contributing to the future of humanity--just because it's the right thing to do.

Call it the "Noble Prize."

With that in mind, I bestow the Noble Prize upon Stephen, my husband, as we celebrate Father's Day and beyond.

Jennifer Oliver

~**~**~
  

Poetry Corner

~**~**~

  Little Girl Lost

Conrad S. Cardinal

I know you're afraid, mom and dad

aren't there.

A stranger has taken you, you know

not where.

Perhaps you've heard the stories of

other girls and boy's,

who've been taken, never to return to

their parents or their toys.

Why these things happen; I wish that

I could say.

The loneliness and fear you must feel,

make me hurt, I want to pray.

Something that I feel and must believe

with all my heart,

Heavenly Fathers spirit has been with

you from the very start.

No matter what may happen, whatever

you may endure,

I know his love will comfort you bringing

peace to your heart sure.

No matter the out come of this terrible

ordeal.

You have a special place with Jesus,

whose love you'll always feel.

p.s.

A young girl was taken in

Salt Lake City, her name

was Destiny. When I heard

the story it touched my heart.

Conrad

cconseth@aol.com

~**~**~

Wasted Time

Conrad S. Cardinal

If I could changed the march of time I'd

turn that old clock back.

Things have been said I'm sorry for, I'd

take a different tack.

We never really bonded like we did when

I was young.

As I got older we drifted apart, we both

were to high strung.

I must take responsibility for the anger

and the strife.

I never gave you a chance to guide me

on through life.

Today I think of many things I wish that

we had shared.

Your experience would've helped me along,

if I had only dared.

Dared to allow you into my life, instead, I

pushed you away.

I know I would've profited from the things

you had to say.

Today I feel pain in my heart, often wishing

that I had.

Alas you're gone, it's to late, I'm so sorry

Dad.

p.s.

As I think back over my

life, I must admit that I

should've talked less and

listened more. I caused pain

that could've been avoided.

Conrad

cconseth@aol.com

~**~**~

Jesus Loves You

Conrad Cardinal

So many go through life wondering if

they have any worth.

Never realizing that in the eyes of God,

they're the most valuable person on earth.

God sent his son to redeem us, none to

be left behind.

Each one  as important as the next, a

beacon of love to shine.

To take your place in this circle, you

too must learn to love.

Love God, love your neighbor and yourself,

our instructions from above.

They'll be no need for self pity, anger will

be gone.

It will be easier to keep a smile on you

face and easier to move on.

Love will shine on your face, for all the

world to see.

You will realize the blessings that were

yours all along, and finally be free.

Conrad

cconseth@aol.com

Readers Feedback

 Sweet angelsister, Carol,

Please let both Cynthia Groopman and Pamela Oliver know how their writings touched my heart. So many wonderful writers in Storytime Tapestry.
I appreciate ALL!

Love and warm hugs,

Maryxo

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