STORYTIME TAPESTRY

April 12, 2005

Congratulations goes out to our newest senior writer, Susan Roberts.

Happy Birthday Roger Emerson from your friends at Storytime Tapestry.

Now on to the good stuff..........

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

A Beautiful Thing To See

Susan Roberts

My neighbor and I went for a walk in the woods on Sunday. As we were crossing the road from my house towards hers, we saw a bird gliding above us. We watched as it flew gracefully in an arch. At first we thought it was a buzzard. We looked at each other and said at the same time "That's an EAGLE!" It was such a beautiful thing to watch. We walked on into the woods and we were looking at the beautiful flowers growing. I looked up and said "Oh my GOD!" Jane said "What do you see?" Look up there in that tree, the size of that nest is AWESOME!" As we watched we could see two VERY large birds feeding their babies. We could see little heads bobbing up and down. It was an Eagles nest, with both parents tending to their babies. I had never seen an eagles nest before and was not prepared to see the size it is. It took up a large amount of the tree. And was very high up. When we got back to my house we looked in a birdbook and saw an eagles nest in there. It was just like the one we saw! I feel very blessed to have been a witness to seeing one of GOD's miracles in the bird kingdom! If you have ever seen an eagles nest, you know the feelings I had when I saw my first one. We called up the wildlife and forestry and they didn't have that nest on their list. I have a large amount of appreciation for nature now.

Susan Roberts

twofamily2 @earthlink.net

About Me:

I am now married to my second husband.
We live on five acres outside of a little
town in the Florida Panhandle. I take care
of my 92-year-old mother in law. I have
two living children, two stepchildren and
seven beautiful grandchildren. I am an
author of a recently published book
GOD and The Hillbilly, published thru
publishamerica.com, about a
young woman I met online who was in a
very abusive marriage with two
little children. It is based on her life
and what happened when she
reached out for help and got out of the
situation. She was a blessing to know. I
have been blessed so much in my life with
wonderful family, friends and online
friends. If you go to
publishamerica.com and click on "search,"
that will take you to the
book site. If you click on the reviews,
you will find that I have
two pages of reviews, all giving the book
five stars. There is a
review from the Victim Advocate for the
Wakulla County Sheriff Dept.
as well.

Today's Queue Stories
~**~**~**~ 

Monsters and Ghosts, James Byrd, Jr.

Roger Dean Kiser

There are days when I get out of bed and I really do not feel like doing much of anything. I certainly do not feel like sitting down and writing a story. On days like that I generally mope around. I might walk out onto my screened front porch and I just stand there, gazing off into the distance.

Generally, through my nose, I will take in a deep breath of cool morning air. Then I take a sip of my hot, black coffee. As soon as I do I automatically reach into my shirt pocket and I take out a cigarette. I do this now without even thinking. I guess a fifty year bad habit take very little thought. My right hand reaches into my pants pocket and it pulls out my zippo lighter. As I light my cigarette I always see the words written on it's siver case.

"In Memory of James Byrd" reads the inscription.

I never knew James Byrd of Jasper, Texas. Never met him, not even once. I'm not exactly sure what he even looks like. I didn't even know that he was missing one of his toes. I guess that is why everyone in Jasper called him "Toe".

I do know that when he died it hurt he as much as the day that President Kennedy died.

When I heard that my President had died something changed in me as an American. I was not exactly sure what it was that I was supposed to be feeling. I was so numb that I could not distinguish how to feel. However, on the day that James Byrd Jr. died I knew exactly how I should feel. I felt ashamed of myself. I felt ashamed the human race.

James accepted a ride from three young men. They took him to the edge of town and they tied a rope around his neck. Then they drug him, for more then three miles, tearing his head from his body.

I knew, as a little boy, that I was afraid of the Boogie Man, even ghosts and monsters, things like that. The day even came when I learned that the matrons in the orphanage were something to fear. But there was something, deep down inside of me, that told me that one day I would leave all of that behind. That one day there would be no more darkness, or monsters, or boogie men or matrons who would beat on me.

But the day that James Byrd Jr. was brutally killed I learned that the boogie man still lives amongst us. I had hoped that the day would never come when I would have to be afraid

Roger Dean Kiser

trampolineone @earthlink.net

Roger Dean Kiser is the author of the
book "Orphan, A True Story of
Abandonment, Abuse and Redemption."
Roger also writes non-fiction short
stories which he displays on his
website "The Sad Orphan" located at:
www.rogerdeankiser.com
Roger's short stories have also been
published in: Chicken Soup, Heartwarmers
Heartwarmers of Love, A
Cool Collection I and II (Israel),

"The Bully" was made into
a short film by Nicholas Delfino
and has been entered into several major
film festivals in the United States.

 ~**~**~

Have you Washed Your Hands?

Bill Walker

wildbill6807@yahoo.com

Have you washed your hands lately?   OK.  I got you thinking. Sure you washed your hands lots of times today. Just depends on what you been doing, and what kinds of messes hands has encountered so far today.

I was thinking about a fellow we read about in the Bible.  He washed his hands, remember? His place in the Bible was in the book of Matthew.27; 24.  That is the place where he did the wash job.  You may like to read before and after. I think it tells the story in a couple other places also.  Books in the Book of Books. The Bible

I read where he says by washing his hands that, he thinks, that will wash the blame of the crime off of him. In my thinking he had a mob to control, and was looking out for his own skin.  He figured if he said he was washing his hands of the matter, the mob might have second thoughts. Well it didn't work that way. A mob is controlled and worked up by a few hot heads.  Sometimes all it takes is one.  Also a mob is there to see the show.  They came to see the show, and by gum the hot heads will provide it, one way or other.

You see the hot heads was the church group.  They didn't like this fellow name of Jesus.  He was talking and doing things that just didn't make them none too happy.  Remember the time he tore into the money changers in the Temple.  He really got steamed up.  Now I have heard a time or two from some preachers, saying Jesus didn't have a temper. What was that? He had a bit of one that day.  He said they were making HIS FATHER'S  HOUSE A DEN OF THIEVES.   He turned the tables over, the coins was rolling around on the floor. The thieves were on hands and knees picking up their loot.

Also they had another problem.  Here we are looking for a saver to come charging in on a white horse, killing off Romans, right and left. This man Jesus is talking peace. Why he even talks to known women of the evening.  What kind of man is that?  Maybe he no better. He made, or put to shame that one crowd with the stones in hand. Remember they were all set to stone her to death.  Just a thought here.  I wonder if some of those goodie two shoes didn't know her in her trade?

Now getting back to this wash bit. He said washing made him innocent of the blood.  No,

not really. He was just passing the buck, like a normal political hack does.  The blood is on his hands, same as the church group, and the mob.

That is why I asked have you washed your hands?  You see in my mind we all had a part in that day.  If it had not been for that day and what happen that day. We all are/is lost to the fires of hell. 

What is the name of that song??    Are You Washed In The Blood?  Yes we can be washed in the blood, thanks to a man who washed his hands in water that day. A buck passer. A political hack.

 Bill Walker

wildbill6807 @yahoo.com

About Me:
Well I??™m a story teller, not a writer. Never learned the art of fancy English. I

happen to live in Nebraska, but I??™m still Missouri. Never married, all the Dollies I

ever took a second look at was too smart. Now at 74, just turned that other day, I

figure they all home safe. I love Doggies and Dollies in that order. Lost my two

true friends this year, that be Tinker and Poo. So I found me a new one. This

time a little girlie Peke. She is a normal female. Got a mouth, talks all the time.

She will never be a great writers of stories like Tinker and Poo. They have

about 50 stories on HWS. And now writing back from Rainbow Bridge.

I just try to write about people, places and things best I remember. Have something

over 250 stories on HWS. under three names.  

Poetry Section

~**~**~

THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING.

Charith Pelpola

Softly blow the eastern winds
O??™er white mountains and silken springs
The breeze carries the scent
Of sandalwood and jasmine
To her

Before the monsoon prevails
Before yellow blossoms
Fall from the boughs,
She dreams of him
The man who would be king

She sings a soft lament
Her song drifts over forest and stream
Calling to him,
Drawing him near

On cool plains she cannot see
Her lover rides to war
A legion at his feet
White steeds send him forth
To meet the devils, the rakshas
The eternal enemy??¦

Great flocks scatter before him
Warriors watch for their lord
Spears and swords raised
In final tribute
This is a time for men
For legacies and legends
For beating hearts
And games of divine chance

He narrows his eyes to the coming tempest
Toward those who would take his country
Together they advance;
The finest of his men
A league of brothers
The likes of which
May never be known again

For him they have left lovers, wives, children
For him they have forsaken the riches of the land
For him they ride gladly
And he understands their sacrifice
As they ride into the sandstorm

War blinds him
Rage numbs his pain
His battle cry vanquishes fear
Yet even as devils fall
Before his golden sword
His thoughts drift to his beloved
The smile of her,
The gentle caress of her skin

About him, blood taints the soil
Strength and youth, trampled into dust
His valour mirrored by his brothers
His rage mirrored by the gathering storm
But his nemesis is a multitude
Gathering force upon hillside and terrace
They swarm, an unholy tide upon the land

With the setting of the sun,
He knows he will not see the new day
Alas, this is a time for legends
That he may have spoken of them
To his unborn son.
But the man who would be king
Knows he has a place within them

About him, the loyal few fall
Their names carried by the four winds
Their cries lost to him
In these final moments
This has been his inheritance
In an age of empires
To stand alone
Against the plague

His broken heart rushes
Within his broken body
He bears his blade aloft
In a challenge he must make
Against the thousands,
Who would deny him freedom
And within this moment
He wonders if children
His grandchildren will sing of him

But as strong as the blood that fights within him
As fierce as this tide of remorse,
He recalls his love,
The fair princess who waits for him.
In spite of the approaching dread,
He spies a life that could have been
In the few beats of his heart,
He dances with her, raises their child,
Grows old ???neath boughs of contentment
And gives thanks for all she has given him
In another life, perhaps
If the gods so wish

The hordes surround him
Malice written on their hands and faces
But he can hear only her voice
A song for him
Drawing him near
His tears, not of pain, but loss
His cry, not of abandon,
But solitude
In the final, brutal moments
Her face smiles and comforts him
Of all he had wanted to tell her
At least he had declared one true thing,
???I love you, my heart.???

Softly blow the eastern winds
O??™er white mountains and silken springs
The breeze carries the scent
Of sandalwood and jasmine
To her

Before the monsoon prevails
Before yellow blossoms
Fall from the boughs,
She dreams of him
The man who would be king

She sings a soft lament
Her song drifts over forest and stream
Knowing he will not return
Knowing her tears will fall like rain
Knowing that he loved her,
To the bitter end.


(c) Charith Pelpola, 2004

(c)Charith Pelpola, 2004

Charith @starwaves.tv

As for me: I'm a wildlife documentary maker, have been in the business for almost 10 years and have spent most of my life in the field of environmental conservation. After qualifying in environmental science in '96, I moved out of the UK where I was brought up, and proceeded to lead a nomadic existence throughout South and South East Asia, and have now taken root in the island-state of Singapore. My factual and scientific writings have appeared in several publications, from wildlife periodicals to in-flight magazines, to coffee-table photography books. My fictional writing has remained entirely personal - until very recently! 

I am of Anglo-Germanic Sri Lankan heritage, 32 years old, husband to Kristen and parent to four cats and two dogs.

Cheers,

Charith.

**~**~

Little arms
Jan Verhoeff

Little arms
tender and mild
wrap her shoulders
in the love of a child
tiny hands
soft and strong
long to hold hers
all day long
day into night
and night into day
they need her to show
him the right way
fingers tugging
at gentle heart strings
need only love
not treasures or things
his days are so fragile
his night filled with dreams
life for him
is not choices or schemes
his love knows no bounds
and he gives of it freely
only sharing what he has
received just daily
his hope comes
in love's broken tide
he saves it up
very gently inside
she knows he loves her
by the light in his eyes
she treasures the time
that his love buys

treasures and moments
are precious and few
she prays for each day
she faces anew
for moments like these
come seldom they do
and she treasures each one
like the morning dew.

Jan Verhoeff

janverhoeff @yahoo.com

More recently, Jan's writing interest leans toward mystery and behavioral humor. Both are included in her latest endeavor due to be released in March 2005 "Out of the Box", a publication about the triumphs and joys of home based education, and the processes she's found that work best with her children and others.

Jan is the Editor/Publisher of Your Hometown News,email to:
your_hometown_news-subscribe@yahoogroups.com NEW ---------- Check out the new website http://windmill29.tripod.com/ Bid til October 31, 2004 on the Golden Lights Original Oil Painting by Southeastern Colorado artist Jan Verhoeff.
janverhoeff @yahoo.com

 **~**~

The Storm
Robert H. Gilbert, Jr.
October 22, 2004

As I drive along the highway, looking out thru the windshield,
I see the rain and it??™s a dreary day
But inside, my heart is filled with pride and joy
Cause I??™m in love with you

Though the sun is not shinning, it is still a clear day
For above the clouds, the sky is blue
The sun shines bright, like my love is for you

There is thunder and lightning, the same way I
feel, when I hold you and kiss your lips
The thunder is my heart beating for you
The lightning is from the electricity of your kiss

The storm made things smell fresh and new
Just like you, for being there in my life

My heart beats faster, from the excitement of love
So, let it rain, let the thunder roll
Let the lights go out, till the storm is gone

For the love in my heart is old, but new
And it??™s all because, I??™m in love with you

ROBERT H. GILBERT, JR
"mailto:RGBLUEBOY @aol.com

About Me:

Once retired from the military, Robert H.
Gilbert, Jr., took on new adventures as a
truck driver and a writer. He says he
started writing in early 1991 and hasn't
stopped yet. When Robert writes
poetry and short stories, he hopes to make
readers feel a part of it. Robert credits
his wife who inspired him to begin sharing
his writings. He says the responses have
been a true blessing.

Writers Feedback 

Listen to the Chimes is absolutely wonderful! I have been away for a week and am now attempting to catch up my e-mail reading. This was such a nice piece to find waiting.
Barb Deming
 
Michael Smith has touched my heart so deeply. Although I have signed all the forms and made my wishes known to hubby and kids, I hope if this ever happens to me, my family will have the courage and love that Michael did for his wife.

Barb Deming

I have enjoyed the stories bt Abraham Bin Assi both the one about the one legged bird and today about the Daham. I have a passion for chickens and my kitchen abounds with them on curtains on the refrigerator and the microwave stand even my calendar. I also have one that is in ceramics He is my treasure, Nat Symonds

Congratulation to Mr. Walker. I love everything he writes. The Tapestry just keeps getting better and better.

Dianna

Hi, and welcome Sherri. I enjoyed reading your story.

Joyce

Welcome Abraham. I also love bird's ,and had a sun-conure. I had "cuddles" for 4 yr's, and he died a few month's ago. I understand how you felt about having to let the other one go.

Ken my son was in Iraq, and believe me, it wasn't fun worrying about him. One of my kid's asked me once," when are you going to let us grow up", and I said, "if you were 80, you would still be my baby".. Now I have grand kid's that are of age to go to Iraq, and I'm worried to death. My husband fought in Nam, and like so many other people, thought that was it!!! Well, I had to send my son, and thank God he came home.

Bill,

I had a phone call like this. My ex husband called me one day, and said, "I just called to say I love you". What wonderful word's to hear....We married, and divorced, but when I hear that song, I still remember that day.

Thanks for the wonderful stories.

Joyce

Wolf, The Purple Heart and A Man Named Ray. What inspirations they shared.
Thanks
Mark Crider

Announcements

Seeking pastors and writers to submit articles for a monthly Christian newspaper, which will begin Jan. 2006. Stories pertaining to the intervention of God's hand in people's lives and uplifting the Lord Jesus Christ. E-mail james4436@charter.net

Forty Years Ago.. Reunion


    Celebrating America??™s Military <http://heartswithsoul.com/Military.htm>

Jerry Turner

egtwarrior25@sbcglobal.net <mailto:egtwarrior25@sbcglobal.net>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Forty years ago this year (1965) was the first time that an Assault
Helicopter Company of the 101st Airborne was committed to combat. It was
the first time since WWII that any unit from the 101st had been
committed to combat.

It was done in the form of Company A, 101st Aviation Battalion, 101st
Airborne Division which very quickly became know as the "Warriors and
Thunderbirds".

We are planning a 40th reunion (many of us may not be around for the

50th) in Houston, April 22-24, 2005. As soon as a place is secured you
will be informed. It will be somewhere in the vicinity of Hobby Airport,
just south of the city which is most accessible by air and convenient by
land.

Our aim is to contact as many as possible of those that served at Soc
Trang (April 65 - Sep 66) as a Warrior or T-bird and all of our
supporting troops. We solicit your help in contacting as many you can
and inform them and or provide us with the e-mails, addresses or phone
numbers of those that we may not have contact.

Our goal is to have at least 50 that served during that period in
attendance. This can be accomplished if we will all get behind this and
contact our contacts.

Our point of contact will be:

Ken Harmon kharmon3@houston.rr.com H 281-343-7788 O 281-561-7111 C
713-816-4422

Ron Crotty hcrot1ps@ont.com Ed O'Quinn edoquinn77@charter.net

Jerry Turner egtwarrior25@sbcglobal.net AGENDA; Our Hospitality Room
will be open continuously for BS and other sessions From Friday through
Sunday.


  Itinerary

1. Friday 04/22/05; Welcome Meet & Greet, Cash Bar, hors d'oeuvres 1900
til 2200

2. Saturday 04/23/05; Reunion Dinner 1830 til 2000, $45.00 per person
(est.).

3. Sunday 04/24/06; Departure Brunch (Hail & Farewell) 0930 til 1130.

NOTE: I am trying to arrange a tour of The Johnson Space Center on
Saturday 04/23/05, time TBD, will confirm as soon as possible (probably
3 hours in length).

Please let me know what you think about this and any suggestions or
ideas that you may have will be welcome, thanks.

Hotel Info; HOTEL/RESERVATION INFO A101 40th Anniversary Reunion

22 April through 24 April 2005 South Shore Harbor Resort

2500 South Shore Blvd., League City, Texas

77573, United States Reservations: 1-800-442-5005 (When calling be sure
you tell them that you are with A101 40th Anniversary Reunion Group.)

Contact; Sharon Whitten Sales Manager Room Rate: $99.00 plus tax (12%)

I have blocked 50 rooms, with 30 rooms we get a free Hospitality Suite.
There is no penalty if we do not fill all the rooms by 15 April, any
excess will be released for normal booking. If we drop under 30 rooms,
no complementary Hospitality suite.

Reservation cut off date: 14 April 2005.

If you are interested please let me know ASAP, so I can get you on our
Morning Report and make your reservations before 14 April 2005, thanks guys.  

Prayer Requests

Dear Prayer Warriors

Please lift Bama's daughter up in prayer

she is suffering with severe migraine headaches

She had to go to the hospital last night.

She is in need of our Savior's touch!

and Bama could use a blessing too.

Thanks so much for your prayers!

God Bless each one of you...

Love,

Barbara

"... whoever lives by the truth comes into
the light, so that it may be seen plainly that
what he has done has been done through
God." John 3:21

Answer to Prayers

To  all;

Bob and Judy said to tell you all thanks for all of your prayers, the baby is now

at home doing just fine, the doctors don't know what was wrong they couldn't

find a thing!  WHY WAS THAT? praise the good lord for answering our prayers!

God is so Gooooood!

God bless you all for your prayers!

Richard & Jackie Sims

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SENIOR WRITERS

Agee, Vance;  Apted, Violet;  Baker, Kathy;  Batt, Al;  Berry, Nell;

Boda, Ginger;  Bryant, Sharon;  Buhagiar, Victor; Cassady, B.J.;  Crider, Mark; 

Deming, Barb; Goodier, Steve;  Harris, Kathy Anne; Hunt, Sharlette; 

Jacobson, Gary;  Kiser, Roger Dean; Kerens, Claudia; Jenkins, Pamela;

Liles, Norma;  Mazzella, Joe; Ojeigbe, Georgewaters;

  Petry, Dianna Doles; Roberts, Susan;  Shaw, Bob; Sims, Richard; Vaknin, Sam;

Walker, Bill;  Walker, Joe; Warner, Gorden K;

Whirity, Kathy;  White, Robert;

STORYTIME TAPESTRY STAFF

Publisher: Carol Roach-founder

Moderator: Thelma Hartselle-co founder

Moderator: Clara Westerfer

Send all inquires about the newsletter including submission requirements: