Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

January 17, 2008

Today’s Announcement

Congratulations to Gary Jacobson who one the Christmas Poetry Contest, and Violet Apted for winning the Christmas Stories Contest.

The Latest on Matt’s Mom is that she has kidney stones. She is on    Matt’s mom is still hanging in there.  She goes for her kidney stone surgery on Friday.  Please continue to pray from her recovery.

Don’t forget to order your copy of Angels Watching Over Me, the story of an ordinary woman facing less than ordinary challenges.  Angels Watching Over Me is a story of family love, sacrifices, poverty and an undying faith that makes heroes out of all of us. Here is the link in case you have forgotten it: http://www.lulu.com/content/964306

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

  ~**~**~

Follow Up ON Old Friend
Bill Walker
missourisage@yahoo.com

No I have not found old Friend the Dime. You know the one I found somewhere. The old dirty bent scarred dime, I would think the old fellow found better quarters  by now. So Miss Windmill, don't worry too much about that.

I know a bit about Miss Windmill. I believe she lives in the state of Maine. She writes of her friends, the birds, deer, and other animals that have became dear friends to her. She also writes of her horses, her dog, and I am not sure but I believe she has cats too. Some times I get the Dollies mixed up on what they tell me about their family of friends.

Yes Miss Windmill, I am blessed with many friends like you. I sometimes call things like that old worn dime a friend. There are other things I sometimes call friends, which are not a living, breathing animal, or human. I think maybe we all have something we look upon as a friend, but to others, well others wonder if we are cracked in the head some where.

I read many years ago of an old fellow who lived all alone in an old run down shack. When he died, it was found his house was chuck full of books, and his writings. He called the many books his friends. He didn't have much in the way of schooling, but he loved to read. The books gave him many hours of travel, and other things in life that he was not able to see, or know about if it hadn't been for his friends, the books.

His books took him all around the world. He met many people of great fame by reading his books, his friends as he called them. Yes there are many that have what might be strange friends to others. I have known people that call the deer, bear, lion, lamb,  goat,
horse, dog, and yes even the cat a friend. Let me tell you about one such person. 

Way back there in time, there was such a man, and woman too. I believe the name was Adam and Eve. You see Adam, and Eve had to be friends with all animals that God
made. God gave them the job of naming each and every one. Now how could anyone name each animal if they didn't know each and the likes, and dislikes of each? It might be hard to do, if one didn't take a little time to visit with them. Much like Miss Windmill does on her daily visit out to the barn. And while she is on the trips out to the barn, she sets out feed for the wild birds, the deer, and I bet if a bear would show up it might even get a hand out. I would guess she might even have a pet coon, she hasn't seen just yet. It may have taken note of her dog, and figures it will stay in the background, till
she and dog head back to the house.

My reason for saying the Dime was a friend, is simple. Seeing the condition of the Dime. I thought, sure be nice if the old Dime could talk, I would learn of it's travels, and why it is so beat up. Friends are like that you know? After talking or writing a few times, one
learns a bit about them. You learn where they have been, their likes, and dislikes. I have had many like Miss.Windmill. I know I will never get to see her, sit and talk. But I have learned a few things about the lady. I have done this with many others, they become
friends. Every once in a while an old friend is not heard of for a time, maybe I'll never hear from them again. It will be just like the old Dime. I lost a friend, somewhere. I may never know why.

Then too there is always the chance, this old fellow will just vanish too. Maybe someone will come into this shack, and say what a mess of books and writings. Wonder if he had a friend; a friend other then this little Dog that was guarding the door?

Yes he had some friends. When you make it to Heaven, you will see a little Red Jeep, with this strange fellow, and his load of friends. Tinker, Poo, Bobby, Chinker, ChinkerBoy, MingToy, and Little Girl, and many others rolling down the streets of gold. What a barking good time that will be. Here comes WildBill and his gang. Happy Days are here
again.
Tinker and Poo; The Boys Write
http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book.

~**~**~

 I Can IF I Think I Can
Doris B. Fandal

I frequently open my mouth to say something or to reply to a friend and before I know what has happened, I feel the need to write a story or article.  Tonight was one of those times.  A good friend mentioned a book that I have read many, many times and I was
reminded of some of the things I have done using the book.  The title of the book:  The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper.

 
I don't know when I first saw and read the little engine book but for some reason it stuck in my mind. Perhaps the book was important to me because it was a story about capability and I believe I am a capable person.  I am capable of doing almost anything I want to do.  I believe in my mind, the book was meant for me because I learned that although there are a lot of things that I might never be able to do well, I can do almost anything if I want to do it.  I might not be an expert but I can manage to do almost anything that I set my mind to do. 

I also think the book appeals to me because I had an older cousin who frequently told
me, "Doris, I wish I could do that" when she saw me in the process of doing some kind of craft, cooking or even hanging wall-paper in my home.  I know that I told her many times, "May, May, you could do all of the things you see me doing if you wanted to do them."
 

I also told her that my motto was "I can if I think I can."   I think she admired me for having that as my motto.

I used the book many times during the time I was an elementary school teacher. In fact, I may have even used it when I was teaching high school home economics and biology.  But the times that stand out for me are the times when I would be in a classroom full of small children who were eager to learn anything and everything the teacher wanted to teach. 

As I introduced new subjects to my students, it seemed there was always one who would raise his/her hand and say to me, "Mrs. Fandal, I can't do that."  When that happened, I would pull out the little engine book and read it to the class.  There were some years when I seemed to have to read that book a lot and other years when it would sit quietly in my bookcase and never get used.  I always explained to the students that although there are many things in life that we never are able to do well, we would never, ever be able to
do them at all if we said, "I can't" without ever trying. 

My motto is "I can if I think I can" because to me, I can do anything if I just want to do it.  If I don't want to do something, then I usually just say I don't want to do that and I don't.  I believe that all of us are capable of so much more than we ever show and
perhaps that is okay but wouldn't it be nice if everyone had the idea that they could accomplish great things if they just said those words and meant them.

Just imagine, someday someone may be doing research to find a cure for cancer and will say, "I can find a cure if I think I can" and they do! 
© Doris B. Fandal
August 19, 2007

mkayla38@yahoo.com

  ~**~**~

ValueSpeak

A Weekly Column

By Joseph Walker

valuespeak@msn.com

DO SOMETHING

            To be honest, I don’t remember much about what Bruce said when he spoke in church a few Sundays back.  Mostly what I remember – and what everyone present will likely remember – is that just as he started to deliver his sermon, something happened.

            Or rather, something didn’t happen.

            Bruce couldn’t speak. He tried, God bless him. He really tried.  But every time he opened his mouth the words got jammed somehow. He seemed to have something stuck in his throat – he coughed and wheezed and tried to clear the way. He was breathing and smiling, so we figured he was OK. But for two minutes or so he stood at the podium . . . speechless.

            We all sat there, uncomfortably laughing a little, waiting for somebody to do something.

            And finally somebody did.

            Two somebodies, in fact.

            Almost simultaneously, Dave, the leader of our congregation, and Janet stood. Dave ambled across the front of the chapel and out the door that leads to his office.

            “He’s either going to call 911 or he’s going to take a nap,” I whispered to my wife, Anita.

            She looked at me, and to her credit she somehow managed to suppress the urge to roll her eyes. After living with me for 30 years I think she’s finally getting used to me. “He’s going to get some water,” she said.

            Of course.  Water. That made sense. Besides, I remembered, Dave has never hesitated to take a nap right there in church whenever he needed one.

            Janet, meanwhile, was sitting with her husband Jerry in their usual place on the second row. I don’t know if they paid for that pew, but everyone knows that that is where Janet and Jerry sit. And nobody else sits there – even if they are out of town or something. This isn’t because of fear or intimidation – Janet and Jerry are to intimidation what “American Idol” is to great art. Rather, it is because of respect.  Janet is our congregational mother hen.  She knows everyone and cares about everyone, and everyone has a story or two about how Janet has ministered to them personally.

            Ditto Jerry – except for the “mother hen” part (is there such a thing as a “father hen”? Technically, I guess that would be a rooster, but “rooster” doesn’t work as well, metaphorically speaking).

            So Janet did what Janet does. She stood up, right there in the middle of our worship service, walked up to the podium and handed something to Bruce – a candy or a mint or something – I couldn’t tell what it was. At about the same time, Dave returned with a little bottle of water (as a journalist I need to say that I’m assuming it was water; all I could see is that it was a clear liquid, so I guess it could have been Sprite or tequila – but I think water is a safe bet here). Both the candy and the water got to Bruce at about the same time. He smiled, popped the candy into his mouth, took a long drink of water and plunged back into his sermon.

            At full voice.

            For the rest of the meeting I found myself considering the messages of that little incident (which probably explains why I can’t remember much about Bruce actually said – or it is yet another indication that I have spiritual ADD). I was touched by a church leader who wasn’t as concerned about proper procedure as he was about Bruce. I was inspired by Janet, who saw a need and filled it (unlike the rest of us, who just sort of sat there, grateful that it was Bruce and not us who was up there struggling to speak). And I was impressed with Bruce, who refused to allow the incident to detract from the spirit of the meeting. He didn’t freak out or milk the situation for drama – he graciously accepted the help he was offered, regained control and then forged ahead with his remarks, never mentioning the incident again.

            All of which is really . . . well, you know . . . something, when you stop and think about it.  I guess I’m just inspired by people who do something when something needs to be done. They are living, breathing sermons.

And truly worth remembering.

Poetry Corner

~**~**~

Conrad S. Cardinal

Little girl, how can I tell you the joy

you've brought to my life?

How can I show you what your presence

has meant in my daily strife.

At a time when I thought nothing could

help me climb from the depths of despair.

You appeared and my heart filled with

wonder, once again I began to care.

You gave me a reason to go on and make

sense of it all.

A life filled with tears and regrets, a life

doomed to fall.

You heightened my senses and filled

me with love, I thought could never be.

You brought me joy and a feeling of pride,

a light by which to see.

Now you are grown with two girls of your

own, God's blessing multiplied.

You're tender and sweet, a compassionate

women who fills me with pride.

Dear daughter of mine, with  heart so pure

and beautiful eyes that shine,

I thank God everyday he consented to make

you mine.

I love you Sami

Dad

Conrad

cconseth@aol.com

~**~**~

A Whisper

Conrad S. Cardinal

As I contemplate my life and each choice,

I realize how often I've ignored the still small

voice.

Father in heaven has moved to guide me in

all that I have done.

The times that I have prayed and listened, are

the only times I've won.

Experience, a harsh teacher, rarely giving one

a break.

Making choices without guidance is a sad

mistake.

Listen, for a voice that whispers, a fleeting thought

indeed.

The Spirit will guide, if one chooses to heed.

Conrad

cconseth@aol.com

Story Feedback

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, Marilyn Sink, Victor Buhagiar, Tanja Cilia, Clarice Hinson, Conrad Cardinal,