Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

December 1, 2007

Today’s Announcement

Happy Birthday Lynn Stevenson:  Pugsmom37@aol.com

Christmas is just around the corner and most of you have already started to think about Christmas gifts for this season.  Why not help out Storytime Tapestry with its ongoing commitment to provide you with free wonderful stories and poems daily by purchasing the publisher’s newest book for someone special on your holiday gift giving list this year.  Angels Watching Over Me can be published through lulu press in both hard copy and e-book.  Just click on the link:  Angels Watching Over Me

Important notice: Storytime Tapestry is a free e-zine, however 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.   You can make your donations to paypal at: winterose@videotron.ca, or if you would prefer to use the mail system contact the publisher at the same email address: winterose@videotron.ca

Today’s Stories

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  Paula & I; Final Chaptor so Far.

Peggy Ann Doak

This is my final story with Paula until she and I meet again. When we had met up at the HS Reunion, I had forgotten one piece that has stuck with me since. As alot of you know, my appendix burst when I was fifteen. At that time my husband to be, Bobby, and Paula's brother Alan were in Viet Nam. Bobby had become my best friend. The loss of him going to Nam was devastating. I felt as though the one person who really loved me was gone and may die. It was a difficult time for all of us.

I have already written about my near death with a ruptured appendix. I don't remember the first couple of weeks. Maybe a hazy scene now and then. And my mother. I found myself unnerved by the way she watched me thr that first night. I was not supposed to live. Friends who had seen me, the first few days, said that I looked horrible, as if I had died. I know I went through rapid weight loss, at least forty pounds, and I am petite to begin with. But nobody ever showed distress for me. I felt like a burden to my family because the bills were piling up. I had to go through torturous tests while I was held down, and noone said, "I am sorry." Because of the way I had gotten used to being treated by my family, it did not seem out of place, to be treated as a bother. I know that alot of friends came by, including J with her dad L and mother W. Other friends and teachers came. I was hooked up like nuclear power plant, I had so many lines going in, and tubes. But everyone tried to be cheerful. J actually told me that it was so difficult to see me and pretend that all was ok when the prognosis was

death. But they all did a good job, though I have no doubt of my friends love.

The night of the HS Reunion, after Paula and I hugged and talked about horses, and were introduced as Bonnie and Clyde; Paula as drunk as the last time we were together, except when we had out babies. Me, sober for ten years or so. It was after the initial meeting that suddenly Paula was crying. I mean, weeping. Blubbering. It was then that she told me how scared she was for me. She had thought I was going to die and I was so sick and she wanted to help me. I can feel the tears in me as write this. She was the only person to ever speak of that time and to show her true emotions. I have cherished that moment, of my friend and partner in crime, showing her love for me in truth. It was a tremendous gift.

I was told just three months ago that Paula is doing really well, so I must look her up. And right now I want to tell you a finale to this story that I can't wait to tell Paula.

Her mother had been involved with a man who liked beating up women. He even had two women he messed with at the same time and the other one was also the mother of a friend. Eventually he married Paula's mother. His name I will spell out for you. Ed Shute. He had pulling horses that he used at the fairs. He would feed them really well and refuse to feed Paula's little horse Lady. Four or five years ago, I was driving up the driveway to our local feed store. A truck was coming back down and slowed next to me. The fellow driving said that the feed store had closed early, which was a true pain. So fellow sufferers without our horse feed, we got to talking. The more he said, the more my mind was going, 'ding' 'ding'. I said, "You have the driving horses down on route one on the Ellsworth Road don't you?" He said yes, and said that he used them for pulling at the fairs. I asked him if he knew my mother, Shirley Doak, because she loved going to the fairs to watch the pulls. He said, "Sure."

I said, "I'm her daughter."

"Yessah, by gory. How is ole' Shirl."

"What is your name?" I knew by then, though I wanted to make sure. It had been thirty years.

"Ed" he said.

"Ed Shute." I could feel my stomach starting to clench. We were eye to eye, as I was also driving a big truck, our windows lined up so we could talk. "I remember you. You Son of a B..tch! Yeah, I do. You are a nasty b..st..rd. How do you think watching you beat up on women affected me and Paula. Hmmm. We were kids. Left quite an impression you did." I had heard that he had married Paula's mother a few years back.

The sheep's clothing came off, and then I recognised that face. He spit out, "What do you think of a woman who loves to be beat?"

I wanted to kick his ass. I wanted to back up my truck and ram the hell out of his. Instead I just kept eye contact and said, "A woman who no longer has a sense of self to know she doesn't deserve it." And I drove away. I would see him a time or two after at the farm store, and if he saw me at the same time he would sneer. I just turned my back on him and talked to myself. "It isn't you, Peg. It's him. Let him rot in his own hell."

Someday I will meet up with Paula and tell her about Ed and my conversation, if she hasn't already heard through her mother. The other thing, is that her mother was in the nursing home when my mother was there. There is a strong connection between the women in our two families.

Peggy Ann Doak

pdoak333@peoplepc.com

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Poetry Corner

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Survival of The Heart

Cheryl Williams

I close these eyes

weary from the day,

and sweet peace

comes knocking,

hammering away

at my brain,

forcing me to

think of sunsets

and babies and

the way love cushions

my fall every day

of my life.  Fear

creeps in as I find

myself slippping

into sweet nothingness,

for what if my eyes

fail to open again

and I am denied

your touch, feather soft,

sweet as honey,

my heart's lone survival.

Cheryl Williams

Politicalgirl04@aol.com

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What Can Be Said of Love

Cheryl Williams

What can be said

of love,

other than it

provides warmth

on a cold winter night,

shelter from

the pouring rain,

A shield from the

winds that batter…

What can be said

of love,

for it is fragile

like a flower,

exposing one’s most

tender parts,

making the heart

vulnerable,

open to both

saint and sinner.

We do not choose love;

Love chooses us.

Love’s way

is not always our way,

and the road is rarely

straight.

Love’s face

is not always

the face we would choose,

but the heart

beats to its own rhythm;

We merely follow

in wonderment,

hoping love

knows the way.

Love’s joy

is exercise for the heart,

for never does

it beat as strongly

as when love

makes a home there.

Love’s pain

is the heart’s greatest cleansing,

for never do tears

fall as freely

as when love must say goodbye.

What can be said

of love?

Only this…when you find it,

treasure it;

It is more precious than gold,

strong, yet fragile,

life’s most precious gift.

 Cheryl Williams

Politicalgirl04@aol.com

Readers Feedback

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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