STORYTIME TAPESTRY

The Newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world

May 21, 2005

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

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Dinner time

Bill Walker

wildbill6807@yahoo.com

I got to thinking about what one does about eating in a small village, when it is about time to put on the feed bag. Now I have two little things to tell about here. One is a man, and the other is a dog. I think the dog is the most important one, the man well we can tell about him in a few words, not much can be said in his case, he is a once in a while preacher. Says he can paint your house.

Now I was reading more about Bobby of Greyfriars of Scotland. I had wondered about what the poor thing did for food. You remember his master had died, and Bobby guarded the grave for 14 years till he to died.  Anyways near by is a Pub or two, maybe more. Every day at one PM a canon is fired.  Lunch time, Bobby crossed the street to one of the Pubs. I bet he walked right in and ordered up a hamburger, hold the beer, bowl of water be just fine.  Now I will almost bet Bobby walks out and heads down the street to another Pub and has a second lunch, hold the beer.

Painting preacher told that he had a house to paint over at Filley. That is a village of about maybe 200 or so people. The place to eat and the only place is the tavern. I know the place, they put out a noon meal. Isn't bad at all, one can go in get the noon special for a couple bucks, or so, hold the beer, have a glass of water, or pop.  No one said anyone had to drink the beer. But painter preacher can't go in because there is beer and other stuff in the place. 

I ask a very simple question here.  Just who is the smarter of the two, dog or painter preacher? Both are in need of some food and a drink of something to wash food down.  Dog goes in gets fed and a drink of water, hold the beer.  Dumb painter preacher is starving, because the place has beer and other stuff.  No one that I know of is holding a gun to his head and telling him to drink the stronger stuff. I think this proves out Dogs are not dumb, some humans sure are.

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.   

Today's Queue Stories
~**~**~**~

She Saw Angels

B.J. Cassady

         Sharon really disliked a lot of the tests the hospital ran.  One test in

particular was discomforting to her.  I worked with Sharon and explained

how to relax through visualization.  She would work on visualizing herself in

a boat on a lake that was peaceful and serene.  The clouds would be small

and puffy, the pine trees would have their scent in the air, etc.

          After one of her tests, Sharon really wanted to speak to me.

???When I was deeply relaxed, I felt a glow above me.???  She stated.

???When I opened my eyes in the boat, I saw my brother (who died in a

car accident) and some other people I didn??™t recognize, but felt as if I

???knew??™ who they were.???  She continued.

I had no answer for her.  I could not relate.  She went to a place that I could not go.

BJ in Guthrie

 ~**~**~

Hoisington, Kansas

B.J. Cassady

           A train ride from Wichita, Kansas to Denver, Colorado in the late

fifties, started off with taking the Sante Fe train from Wichita out west to a

small town named Hoisington.  I remember clearly getting off the train and

going into the small station to wait for a different train to take us to

Denver(switching carriers was necessary as Sante Fe Railroad didn??™t go to

Denver from Wichita at least). 

          I remember the small pot belly cast iron stove in the passenger waiting

area.  Western Kansas can get down right chilly and that morning was no

exception.  The passengers were huddled around the stove trying to keep

warm.  A couple of hours later our second train arrived (don??™t remember the

name but the name The Denver Zepher pops into my mind).  The train was

magnificent.  It was the first time I had been in an observation car.  This was

my first trip to Colorado, my first time to see the Rockies in all their glory

and from a classic train ride.  Life just doesn??™t get any better than this.

B.J. Cassady

Guthrie, Okla

B.J. Cassady

BJ.Cassady @ af-group.com

B.J. Cassady is a Stephen Minister at

Edmond Trinity Church and ISD professional

in Guthrie, Oklahoma.  A disabled Vietnam

era USAF vet,  BJ enjoys giving back to

the world with his writings and is putting

together a CD audio collection of his best

writings.  For further information please

write: bj.enterprises @juno.com

Also look for his story 'Medals' in

"More Patriot Hearts" by Lt Col William

Coffey and "The Quilt".

 ~**~**~

The Dental Appointment

Dianna Doles Petry

Did you ever have one of those days when nothing seemed to work out right? I had one of those today. Normally, I decide to stay indoors and away from the world if the day seems to be headed downhill but I didn't have that opportunity today.

First of all, I didn't sleep much last night. I knew that I had a dental appointment early this morning and the thoughts of being cleaned, drilled, filled and made to drool just left me anxious. I know that I should handle the whole thing better but I'm very weak when it comes to my mouth. I know that I've seen some of the same tools the dentist is using in my mouth also used on construction sites where they are building high-rise apartments!

Anyway, I managed to get my tired and overly nervous body out of bed this morning and I strolled into the kitchen for a cup of hot tea. I filled a cup with water and placed it into the microwave just as I always do. I pushed the timer buttons as I always do. I expected to wait one minute and thirty seconds and enjoy my cup of tea, just as I always do. No, the microwave would not function!

First, I checked the circuit breaker box and all was well. I slammed the door of the microwave thinking something might be stuck??¦no luck. Then, I decided that since my crew of well-fed contractors was on the job site building my new addition and almost done with their breakfast break...Yep, a breakfast break...I would ask one of them to check the microwave for me.

For the sake of this story, I'll just call the guy "Bubba." He strolled in with his flannel shirt and worn out blue jeans like he had done this a million times before. He must have thought he was so sexy that I couldn't hold myself back. I mean, who wouldn't be lusting over a 275 pound, 4'5" tall man with hard-toed cowboy boots and smokeless tobacco lining the shape of his lips? He reached behind the microwave and pulled out one plug and plugged another one in.

"That'll do her there for ya!" He said in a proud voice that beckoned me to ask him to do something else.

Apparently, someone had unplugged the microwave to plug in the mixer! Duh, sometimes I feel so blonde! He stood there with his arms folded and I said, "Thank you," as I gave him the look that said, "this is all I needed, please leave now." (Okay, so I felt guilty about that but I couldn't help it!)

He started out the kitchen door and just as he stepped onto the landing a chipmunk came running past him and into the house. He turned around, took one look into the house and said to his co-worker, "Weasel, you better come this time, I ain't gonna fit 'hind no furniture."

In came poor little Weasel, a man that looked like his family had deprived him of ever eating at McDonald's and enjoying a good cheeseburger! As he stepped inside, his head tilted backwards and he took a big sniff of air. Like a hound dog, he was quickly on the trail of the poor chipmunk. Sable came running through the house at the same time and together, she and Weasel managed to chase the poor critter back outside.

I gave up on the tea and got myself dressed for my trip to the dentist. I always feel so cheap when I go there. I have on casual Khaki slacks and a light brown blouse with just simple earrings to accessorize. The dentist strolls in with two diamond rings that could buy my whole house and a gold chain that makes M. C. Hammer look like he's wearing a piece of tinsel around his neck.

"Dianna," he said, "I'm glad you're back. Let's see what we can do for you today."

"For starters, doc," I replied, "you can take off that darn logging chain around your neck. If that thing hits me in the face it will break my nose."

He smiled at me and said, "I think Dianna should be numbed for this procedure."

Me and my big mouth! The nurse came at me with a needle that I swear was six inches long, if not longer. Before I could say anything, she had poked me in the gum with that thing and I could not feel anything, including my tongue, within seconds.

I made it through the procedure and let me just say, no one should put off a cleaning for fifteen years.

Before I could leave, he had set me up with follow-up appointments that should carry me though my 70th birthday with no problem. Of course, I managed to set him up, too! His wife was in the waiting area as I left. The nice thing about small town America is that nearly everyone knows everyone else. His wife and I had attended school together.

"Hi, Deborah," I said. She used to be Debbie but since she married a dentist that was beneath her. "How are you these days?"

"Hello, Di," she answered.

I quickly cut her off with, "Oh, it's Dianna, I abhor having my name shortened."

She stammered, "Of course! I know exactly what you mean."

I said, "So when are you and Andy taking that trip to the Bahamas?"

"What?" she said in a tone that was more than excited. "Do you know something that I don't?"

"Oops, I bet it was a surprise! I saw the two tickets lying on Dr. Andy's countertop in the room where I had my procedure done. I was nearly green with envy!" I said in a whispered voice.

She was standing proud and feeling cocky now! "Oh, he loves to surprise me like that, you know! He doesn't think anything is too good for me!"

"What a lucky woman," I said. "I'll see you around, I have to get moving."

Just wait until she starts planning a trip and there isn't one! Even better, she might decide that there were really tickets but she wasn't the one going on the trip! Do I do paybacks right or what?

I came home to find one of the little girls I watch sitting in the middle of my dining room. She was covered in magic marker ink of varying colors and my rug had a pattern of marks with the same colors. Crystal, my daughter, was supposed to be keeping an eye on her with the help of her best friend. In all honesty, I guess they did watch her; they just didn't stop her! I had to use bleach to get all of the stains up and the poor child was still looking like a mutant when her mother came to pick her up.

I guess we all have days like this. I just have to wonder what Dr. Andy will think about his wife buying new bathing suits in November!

Proud founder of:
Women With A Unique Soul
www.womenwithauniquesoul.com
Webmaster of Short Stories
http://pages.ivillage.com/dianna40
Webmaster of Poetry From Life
http://www.geocities.com/diannawv/
Poems By Dianna
http://members.tripod.com/~poemsbydianna/PoetryofLife.html

~**~**~

Poetry Section

                                       ~**~**~

I Mourn My Body Past

Rita McGregor

I remember

Racing through the Minnesota grasslands

Playing wild horses with the neighbor kids

Until I fall

Rubber legged

Smiling

Rolling upon the ground

Too winded to laugh out loud

I remember

Teetering on two inches of wood fence

Encircling the dusty

High school ice rink in July

Watching dirty toes inch

With winged and waving arms until

Sweat trickling down my neck

I retreat

And nestle into the oak tree??™s arm

Jagged bark prickling the back of my thighs

As the breeze raises goose bumps

And the Meadow Lark sings

I remember

Evening calf muscles twitching

Red arms burning

Against rough sheets

After a day of pumping bike pedals

Standing upright

Slippery palmed

And panting another journey

Up the hill by the water tower

Working to earn

Two minutes of free-ride flight

I remember

Dancing

Heart in my hand

Music pounding

Pulsing up my body into my eyes

Light as clouds and air

And love

Until the rhythm and the moon retire

I remember

Carrying

In capable arms

Groceries and presents

One hundred pounds of feed

An eight-foot Mediterranean couch

Leaden boxes of books

Aquariums with gravel sloshing

Dinners and desserts

A marriage

And a seven-pound baby boy

But now I reside

In my body present

With musical knees

That slow me on the stairs

An injured arm

That will never hold a grandchild in its crook

Painful heels

That can no longer dance at dawn

And a constant pain

That steals my sleep and limits my days

I mourn my body past

But I remember

And I smile

Too winded to laugh out loud

Rita McGregor
soulcomfort1@yahoo.com

About Me:

My name is Rita McGregor.  I am 54 years old and recently moved to Fargo, North Dakota from Moorhead, Minnesota.  I am divorced, have a 30 year old son, Dagan, who has been married for 3 years and I'm crazy about my daughter-in-law, Leah.  Dagan just had his pacemaker replaced recently and is doing well.  I live with a new kitten named Karma, a cockatiel named Gracie, a 30 gallon fish tank with assorted fish, and two bettas (in separate bowls, of course).

I began writing-writing in college in 1999.  I've always been a letter writer and a story teller, but the actual writing is fairly new to me and I haven't written very much--only had time for what I had to write for college classes up until last year.  While in college I became disabled and I didn't finish my English Writing degree.  I have been published in literary magazines (due to the encouragement of professors of mine) and a few other places.  I only have 3-4 productive hours a day, but I hope to get back to writing again this fall.  I am still unpacking from the move in Februrary '05--but almost finished.  Life has slowed down considerably for me, but I am happier right now than I have ever been!  :)  Thanks for the kind words and the encouragement here at Tapestry!

BUSY?????

Gorden K. Warner

Look at all the people scurrying just like ants out of a hill

never stopping to say good morning and you know they never will

Rushing 'bout their business, they didn't stop to recognize

it's getting much much harder just to look them in the eyes

It's so sad to see this happen, it's so sad it had to be

more and more impersonal, it's like the blankest stare you'll ever see

Once we took the time to listen, once we took the time to share

it was grand back then to recognize that someone really cared

It was easy then to help someone when they really had a need

now we're all so in a frenzy and our lives are filled with greed

Greed for money, greed for power, for the things we never had

greed for all that's so unimportant and it really makes me sad

T'would make a world of difference, T'would be so very fair

if we'd only stop to listen and to show someone we care

Maybe then they'd try to smile and they wouldn't be afraid

and you'd have a chance to feel good for the little part you played.

Gorden K. "Pop" Warner

gkwppw1963 @cox.net 

~**~**~

It's Time to LIVE

Gorden K. Warner

Have you ever built a fire and watched the flames or smelled the smoke

have you ever ran along the sand or told a stale joke?

How "bout a date, how 'bout a lie, how 'bout an awesome fight

have you ever chased a dream or two or stayed out half the night?

Have you ever really tried to live, have you really tried to see

or do you sit home moping all alone afraid of what might be

WELL

Take a walk along a mountain trail, smell the rain that washed the pines

have you gazed in awe at a sleek new jet and took in all its lines

Wake up my friend, it's time to live, it's time to find the spice

unless you do you'll miss a lot cause it won't be offered twice

Don't be the one that hesitates when there is so much to do

don't be the one who commiserates about all you've been through

Take a chance and get involved, strive to do the best you can

all that's required from you is courage to follow the Master's plan

Remember "he who hesitates is lost" or so I have been told

don't be the one they're talking about you must choose to break the mold

Gorden K "Pop" Warner

gkwppw1963@cox.net 

To all of you, I want to thank you most sincerely for taking the time to read my material.

I just hope that some of it may help in some small way in your lives.  God Bless

Gorden K "Pop" Warner

Carol

Writers Feedback 

I love Norma Liles poetry.  Very evocative and vivid!

Get Up And Go ??“ Debra Shiveley - Thank you for making a perfect start to my day. . Nathalie

Carol ??“ your interview   I just read your Fireside Chat and it was so good and very informative!  You really are such a fantastic writer and huge help to me and so many others in furthering their writing ability.  God bless, Sharlett

Announcements

I would like to introduce you to Phil Evans and his business known the world over as People Stuff
Phil Evans produces PeopEmail - a FREE weekly inspirational e-newsletter and you can subscribe by visiting his website - going to Subscribe to FREE PeoplEmail button in the main menu - and following the simple steps.
There is also a virtual library of inspirational 'stuff' to be found by going to www.peoplestuff.com.au and checking it out.

Phil sends his love and good wishes to all.

Hey everyone if you have the time please help out a fellow member who is starting up

his own newspaper. 

Carol,

Just letting you know I have a website explaining the upcoming paper, should anyone ask. Thank you for running the ad for it.

www.christianlink.com/publish/mwwj

Thanks again, Jim

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; Swarner, Ken; Vaknin, Sam;

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

Whirity, Kathy;  White, Robert;

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