STORYTIME TAPESTRY

March 21, 2005

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Animal awareness series endorsed by Shiloh and Hank our mascots; all stories must receive their approval.

  Now on to the good stuff..........

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My sincere apology but somehow I neglected to record the name of the author of today??™s

animal story.  Please identity yourself so that we can give you the proper kudos that you deserve.

Kelly 

   The best dog I ever have had in my life had to be

put to sleep last Saturday.  The sad part is she was

so young, 15 months old.  She developed an ear

infection and would not get better despite

medications, being hand fed.  Finally I put the pup in

the dog hospital for 4 days.  The fluids just passed

through her.  She became weak and unable to stand.  I

visited her Saturday and rubbed her chest and she

hugged my hand then turned her head away from me.  I

knew what she wanted.  I told the vet to put her to

sleep.

    Later at Walmart while shopping for groceries I

felt a chill run through my heart.  I knew it was her

spirit saying bye.  I called the vet and he said he

put her down at 5:30 pm Saturday the same time I was

at Walmart.

    What made her special is she never met a person

she didn??™t like.  She preferred being outside even

though she was small, about 12-15 lbs.  She would run

beside me when I was on the motorcycle, put her paws

up to ride in the back of the pickup.   She would

scratch at the front door, not to come in, but for me

to come out and play.  She would have a ball in her

mouth.

    She was part pack rat.  She would wander around

the neighborhood,(we live in the country and only have

4 other houses in the area) steal shoes, toys,

anything she could carry and bring them over to a 10

foot circle she designated as her area for her 'toys'.

    She would bring my newspaper to the front

door(sometimes in a state of disrepair) and sometimes

I would have 3 or 4 papers on my front porch.  The

neighbors knew where to get their paper.

    She was a houseguest at most of the neighbors

homes.  She would go to the lake, about 1/4 mile away

and visit the rangers.  They would call me....then

later they would keep her for the night as they liked

her also.

    Kelly, my Lasha Apso.  She was first my critter,

then she belonged to children and to the world.

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Today's Queue Stories
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THE OLD PITCHER

Sharon Bryant

The first time I remember seeing the old pitcher was when I was around four-years-old.  When it wasn't being used, it sat on top of the old buffet table in the dining room.

It was a creamy white color with blue flowers on it.  The handle was thick, and I can remember it being so heavy to life up, though I knew I wasn't to touch it.  Grandma's rules.

On cold snowy winter nights, I can still see the tops of the papers from the tea bags as they "brewed" the tea.  A pot of hot mush would fill our nostrils as my brother and I waited for it to be ready and we could have our nighttime snack, tea and mush.

The old pitcher kept us cool on many summer nights when it would be filled with Kool-Aid, or cold milk.  Sometimes gram would have ice water waiting for us.  Or lemonade.  Regardless, whatever that old pitcher was holding, it always tasted so good.

Gram moved the pitcher from the old house to her lake place, and there it still sat on the old buffet table.  How many times I brewed tea in that old pitcher, I can't count.  How many times when I moved in with gram after I graduated and she and I would play a game of scrabble with a hot pot of tea, I don't remember.

Through the years, the old pitcher became cracked and we always worried that one day we would fill it and it would begin to leak.......but it never did.  A chip was missing from the handle, a small piece missing from the spout, but that old pitcher continued to be a part of our lives.

In 1974, I held that pitcher in my hands for the last time.  It wouldn't be the same without gram being there right by me to use it.  My aunt packed it up and took it to her place after the funeral.

I often think of it.  I think of how many happy times that old pitcher brought to our lives.

I think I'm going to call my aunt and ask if she still has it, and if she says yes, I'm going to ask her if I can have it.  She can bubble wrap it and mail it to me. 

Sharon Bryant

1946 @bellsouth.com

About Me:

 I am Sharon Bryant, 59 years old and reside in Alabama.

I lost my child in 1977 when he was five and I write
articles on bereavement often.

I am a chocolate/candy maker and also a wood crafter and knitter.

I am married to a wonderful man, and have two remaining children, a daughter 25,
Amy, and a second son, Randy, age 22.

My main goal in life is to help those who
have lost a child. My website is: www.angelsremembered.tk

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HE WINKED AT ME

 Sharon Bryant 

Something I seldom seen took place today.  Something I'll remember for a long, long time, as it took me back to a day when I once had a grandfather in my life, one I loved very much.

A young couple with a little boy and an older couple came into my shop today.  I sell big jugs of olives, and the younger woman told her husband she'd like one.  He set it on the counter.  The grandmother stated that she would also like a jug of them.  So the grandfather set another one on the counter.

They purchased several different chocolates, and the grandson was standing to the one side of my cash register holding a credit card.  The grandfather did not see him with the card.  The grandfather then pulled out a credit card of his own, and nodded for me to ring everything up.  The grandson looked at me and winked and with eye contact told me NOT to take his grandfather's card.  I gave him the look back, "Ok".

The grandfather then reached out his hand for me to take his card, and unaware to him, I had already been handed the credit card from the grandson.  I ran the card through the machine, and while handing the grandfather's card back to him, snuck the grandson's back to him also.  I looked at the grandfather and said, "Your card is no good, it won't take it."  LOL.......he had glasses on and his eyebrows raised so high that his glasses went up on his nose.  The grandmother leaned in closer and said, "OH MY", and the grandfather said, "Why, that card has always worked, I don't know what would be wrong now", and his eyebrows were still raised.  I said, "It showed on my machine that this card is not good at this particular shop."  The grandson looked at me and winked again.  The grandfather began to reach for another card, I grabbed his hand and said, "No, it's been taken care of."  He looked at me oddly, and I said, "You have a wonderful grandson."  He turned, with the most beautiful smile and looked at his grandson, then back at me and said, "I sure do, don't I?"

I replied, "What I would give to have my grandpa still with me."

I then told the grandson who was grinning from ear to ear, he was a wonderful man to care about his grandparents.  He beamed with pride and a sparkle in his eye.  And as they both left the shop.....they both winked at me!

I seldom see a grandchild offer to pay for their grandparents.  But the love in that man's eyes towards his grandfather was priceless.  And the love returned was also priceless.

If your grandparents are still with you, pick up that phone and say, "I love you."  You'll never realize how much it can mean to them.

Sharon Bryant

1946 @bellsouth.net

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The Love You Gave To Me             

Sharlette Hunt

When you look at me, with eyes to see,
A lady standing there.
And in your mind, with love so blind,
You seem to deeply care.

I look at me, it's hard to see,
The person I've become.
With help from you, to see me through,
A miracle to some.

For many nights, I lay in fright,
Too scared to go to sleep.
The scars I bore, I fought a war,

The saber cut so deep

Now, here I stand, "Well, ain't life grand?"
 This love I have today,
              Was given to me, entirely free,
    For me to give away.

~**~**~

Sharlette863 @aol.com


About Me:

I was born in Alabama, the middle of
seven children. At about age four we moved
to Central Florida and I have lived here
most of my life. I am a Viet Nam Era
Veteran. I have always enjoyed writting
and as I get older it seems to come more
naturally to me. I believe
everyone has many stories inside them and
some are blessed to be able to share them.
*************

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Writers Feedback

Hi Carol,

What a great story, just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed it as I always do with your writing.  Sometimes I am in a hurry and don't take the time to tell you, I'm sorry about that.

Love you,

bette

The dog story was hilarious. and the poetry was equally as nice. I have always had a dog of various sizes but my favorite was a little peke that did everything but talk

Nathalie Symonds

Good work Carol,

You actually made an emptiness of the story and finally came the live around. It is like a film I once watched; ???GHOST SHIP???, a guy was hit on his head, fell to the ground. He was there until his eyes began to see events that had occurred in the past, some 30 years behind right before him, before now the ship room was totally empty (a ghost life kind of portrayed here).

The fish stuff, that was really true, we humans just go doing things our ways forgetting that God is seated some where watching our activities.

George

I'm so lucky,,,, I took several different Dale Carnegie courses. Believe me, Dale Carnegie had it figured out. He knew how to sell and how to influence people and get this way. He didn't care if his name was on anything as long as the job got done(so he could make a profit). Take the Pullman Railroad cars that hauled millions across all the americas for decades. That was Carnegies idea. He approached Mr. Pullman with the idea and met with skepticism until he said the whole system would be such a great success if they called them Pullman Cars. Carnegie made most of the money off that whole deal. Genius? I think so. It's paid off for me,,,, big time.
Who cares as long as the job gets done and things happen.
My whole business scheme for decades has been patterned after Dale Carnegie, surround yourself with smart people, LET them do their jobs, listen, and everyone reaps the rewards. Everyone wins.
Now, how do you argue with success?

Mark

My dear, Carol, you are definitely loved--even by those who may never meet you face to face.
Barb

Love it Carol,  ( I know) what a great story, thanks for sharing with us.....!!

Barb Weymouth

am sorry   to say that there may be some discontented members since the change over to   zinester. <<

Hi Carol,

I'm sorry people are giving you a rough time. I know you've been struggling trying to get this new change going. I always enjoy all the stories and your hard work, so just know I'm not complaining and thank you for all your hard work!
Happy Easter!

Bev

I'm a contented customer. I don't care if you put this out on toilet paper as long as I get it!

HOORAY for all those who work so hard to get Storytime on our desktops!

Satisfied in Alabama

It is so much better, dear Carol, than it was at first. I cast my vote for hanging there and wading through the high waters until we reach dry land, so to speak. You are doing a wonderful job as always and we writers should appreciate the opportunity you offer us to showcase our work.

Poetry and prose by George Warner is simply beautiful.
Barb D.