Archives at Zinester: May 28, 2005 - Storytime Tapestry Newsletter. Storytime

STORYTIME TAPESTRY

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

May 28, 2005

May 29th and 30th will feature Memorial stories and poems.

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

<p>Today's Queue Stories</p>
<p>~**~**~**~</p>

~**~**~

Hugging Someone

Roger Dean Kiser

The feeling that I get when my grandchildren come to visit is truly amazing. The feeling appears to become stronger and stronger as I watch the kids learn and grown.

Sometimes I sit on the porch swing and I watch them as they play. I see how innocent and free they are. I know that each and everything that I say, and do will somehow influence their lives.

Sometimes I wonder why no one had these same feeling for me when I was a little boy. What it me that caused this to happen? Was it them? Maybe it was no one's fault.

Are these the wonderful feelings that most people have felt most of their lives? Are these the feelings that make life worth living, even through difficult times? Is this the wonderful feeling that I have always been missing in my life?

They say that many who were abused as children will also become abusers themselves. If this is true then why did I not turn out to be an abuser of my children? Other than those who were killed...I know of very few who were physically, mentally and sexually abused more than I was.

I suppose the main reason that I did not abuse my children is because I felt that I would actually be abusing myself. That what would be left of me, through my children and grandchildren, long after I was dead, would be the same feelings that I have had to bare my entire life-time. One day I made a promise to myself that those horrible feelings of abuse would one day die, along with me. I have by no means been a perfect father. How could I be? I never knew what a father was supposed to be. What is the father's role in life; other than to work and take care of his family? Not one single day in my life was ever spent in a house with a mother or a father. There was nothing in my life except the orphanage.

When I became a father I was just a man who had a child because he had had sex with a woman. I had no feelings about my children at all. I was somewhat amazed by the miracle of birth but that was about it. All I knew was that I had a job to do and that I had taken on a major responsibility.

I was always kind and I never abused my children. I cannot even remember spanking one of them. I supplied a good home and all the comforts. We did, and had anything and everything that every other family in the neighborhood had. At least that is what I thought.

I never hugged my children...not one time. I did not see the purpose in hugging. What did hugging someone mean anyway? Was there a feeling that goes along with wrapping your arms around someone? If there was I never knew about it. The act always seemed so stupid, and rather embarrassing to me.

For some strange reason all that has now changed. I hug my grandchildren hundreds of times every week. I hope that they get the same feeling from me that I get from hugging them.

I suppose that my mother and father thought that I was not worth hugging. I felt that to be true for many many years. But as I now look back upon my life and try to understand why I did not hug anyone. I can clearly see that when an adult does not hug a child that it is actually the adult who is the one who is not worth hugging.

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

~**~**~

GAIL'S LESSON
Ellie Braun Haley

Life is filled with challenges, and many of those have lessons for
us. When I met Gail a singer who is blind I saw a new challenge and
thought I was going to be the teacher. Strange how things turn out.

I was a dance teacher for a local college and had been learning a
series of new dances to introduce into the communities in the area.
My partner and I decided it would be fun to practice to a live band
at a lounge. We didn't know we'd been the topic of interest where the
band was concerned until they approached us during one of their
breaks. Admiring our footwork, they asked if we could spend time
with the three female singers in the group and teach them some of
our steps. It was felt that the steps would enhance their singing
routines. Thinking it would be a fun morning and give us more
practice we agreed to meet at their motel the following day.

My partner was interested in working with two of the singers and
suggested that I work with the third singer, Gail. The challenge for
me would be to accurately describe each move for Gail. She had the
greater challenge, to process, interpret and simulate. Being blind,
Gail had never seen us dance but she exuded confidence. She also
trusted her fellow singers that the steps would be fun and a great
addition to their act.

I went from feeling sympathy for Gail to admiring her. She was able
to accomplish all that her sighted colleagues had in the same amount
of time. She was an amazing woman and the session with Gail taught
me more than I realized.

A few weeks later, while I was teaching a group of adults a Line
Dance I noticed that most of them spent a lot of time looking at my
feet, or their own feet or the feet of someone in front of them. I
wanted them to feel confident on the dance floor but I could see
that they were relying too heavily on others. A memory of Gail came
to mind and as I thought of her I realized that she had learned so
quickly because she did not use her eyes. The message went from her
brain straight to her muscles.

I told the group about Gail and suggested we try something new; to
pretend we couldn't see. We went over the steps a few times and I
matched each combination of moves with a trigger word or phrase.
Then we focused on a spot on the wall, never looking down and went
through the dance again using only the trigger words to remind our
brains of what we wished our feet to do. Invariably and with
unbelievable consistency the students learned the dance quicker than
usual.

I never saw Gail again yet her dance lessons taught me something I
would use again and again over the years. The lesson eventually
helped hundreds of students to learn better and to thereby feel more
confidence. I realize today the gift of insight Gail gave to me.

Without Gail I doubt that I would have discovered a new method for
teaching dance. Her attitude showed me that we should not be afraid
of the things we can not see and do not know. Gail didn't see
herself as courageous, learning to dance in spite of blindness, no
instead she saw new challenges as an opportunity to taste more life.
Gail laughed at her mistakes. She lived in the moment.

Ellie Braun-Haley

shaley@telusplanet.net

~**~**~

Did You Know

Sharon Bryant

We all get emails that we look at and simply delete because we don't know who the person is that sent it.

I recently received an email like this. Then, something happened, and what was starting to be a crazy person..........well, here's how it went:

Last week I got an email from a woman named T. I didn't recognize the name or email address. It simply said "Hi Sharon."

I looked at it and the contents were telling me that she once had a best friend named Sharon, then there was a wreck, Sharon was killed, she herself (T) was injured, was in a coma for over two months, and she now has brain damage. It also said Sharon died because she married this T's old high school sweetheart. And she ended with "Merry Christmas."

Since I didn't know who this was, I sent back an email saying, "Your email landed on my desktop, do I know you?

I then got a reply, "I thought you were my best friend."

I then replied back to please not send anymore emails and take my name and address off her mailing list.

I received a reply "I'm Miserable."

I replied, "Grow up."

I received a reply: "I am grown up and I have a brain injury. Does that make you happy. I was in a roll over truck wreck , so if you don't want me to write, I won't." And then she told ME to grow up.

I didn't respond, thinking this was some kind of prank.

The next day I received a email from her mother, telling me she went into her daughter's computer to see who she had written to, and saw the emails she had sent me. She then explained that T. has been in a wheelchair for many years, has had a brain injury, is 36 years old but sometimes sends some emails out that can get folks going off the deep end.

Not knowing if this was a prank or not, I responded, and sent my Angels site address. Two days went by, and then I received another email from the mom. She told me that she and her daughter viewed my site, and both said how sad it was that so many had died so young. And T. after seeing how many have died in vehicle wrecks, now thought she was lucky to have survived hers.

The mom then told me she was sorry that her daughter had bothered me and unless I said it was ok, I would not receive anymore emails.

My brain kicked in, remembering long ago what a doctor told me in the emergency room that night my son lost his life. "If he could have survived, he would have had severe brain damage, he would have been a vegetable."

I kept thinking about this girl and her mom and something told me to write again. I did.

Today, T. now sends me emails daily. She's spent many hours browsing my angel site, thanking God she survived her wreck. She has told me she is sorry that my son died, and she does not know why God chose her to survive and live after her accident. She told me how when she was 16, she went out with some friends. The driver began drinking, ran into the path of an 18-wheeler, and two lost their lives in that car that night.

Needless to say, I am now corresponding with this girl/woman who is overjoyed that I will write. I send her cute jokes, animations, cards, and just a "Hi, how are you doing today." Her mom has told me if I receive an email that makes no sense, to please try and understand T's brain does not work properly all the time.

Today I received an email thanking me for being her friend and for making her laugh.

Do I know her? I didn't, but I'm getting to know her and I'm getting to understand her.

She has told me how much it means to have someone write to her.

They say people come into our lives for a reason......I'll just accept it that God sent her to me.

Once again, through Him, my life has been touched.

God Bless,

Sharon Bryant

1946 @bellsouth.net

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

Poetry Section

~~~

A Touch of Love

Norma Liles

When your heart is aching
And you feel all is lost
Just turn to the Savior
He'll touch you with His Love.

No matter what the reason
No matter what the time
Our God is always faithful
He'll touch you with His Love.

Many hearts have broken
So many many ways
Yet there is a solution
Let Him touch you with His Love.

As the song goes around
How He touched me again and again
Keep your soul in tuned to
The touch of God's love.

He touched me long long ago
I am so humble that he saved me
From the pits of satan's grasp
Because He touched me with HIs love.

Norma Liles ?�

~**~**~

Frustration

Gorden K. Warner

I've often wondered what it would take to belong to the human race

or what was needed by any of us so that others could save their face

Do we belong because of ties we have to a family full of pride

and if we dare not fit their mold are we to be quickly shunted aside

Is it true that there's no end to the things that one must do

to protect the name of the family regardless of what you must go through

Is common sense such an important part or is it only meant to divide

or do we ignore what we've been taught so the others can't deride

Aren't we supposed to get along and support our commonality

isn't it time that we reflect pride in some sense of individuality

What is it that lends to families that bonds them tighter then glue

what strength do they find amongst themselves that always sees them thru

Is there really any virtue in the vociferous rhetoric they expound

or is it meant as a cover up for what they're lacking all around

It's a curious thing to watch them as they often postulate

on why they find it so easy when they choose to denigrate

Who says they're right or challenges them when they choose to act this way

who dares step forward and presents his side or demands to have his say

Couldn't we make life so much easier if we just tried to understand

wouldn't it make it simpler if we just chose to simply extend a helping hand

Is it really all that important just to prove how right that we can be

Is it really all that important that this becomes our reality

What happened to common sense or values that really should show our worth

have we lost it, is it gone, are we content to play second fiddle while we're here on earth

Take stock my friend and search your heart, is this all that life can give

is this the pinnacle, have we reached the top, is this how we're supposed to live?

Gorden K. "Pop" Warner

Do hope that you enjoy my offerings. Each one was done after a lot of thought.

Please feel free to contact me at gkwppw1963@cox.net if you would like to share your thoughts or have questions.

God bless you one and all

Pop Warner



ANGEL

Gorden K. Warner

We need to talk of Angel so you will understand

why my Son always tried so hard to lend a helping hand

She was a very lovely girl bu5t she thought her life a mess

and each time that she had tried to die it was because of all the stress

He spoke of her so kindly, her friendship meant so much

it was his first experience of this kind and our heart strings were so touched

Even though he was in trouble, she gave him her respect

he thought his decision was the right one, even better than you'd expect

Because for once he as a person for once he fitted in

at last he'd met somebody that convinced him he could win

She treated him as an equal and her friends did the same

granted they weren't that much better off but he didn't suffer shame

At last he felt accepted though his future was so bleak

to her it didn't matter tho they met just twice a week

She told him that he'd saved her life cause she was bent on suicide

it made him feel even determined and he was so glad that he had tried

It didn't matter what it led up to, he was so sure they'd understand

after he explained to them the importance of lending a hand

In the end it simply didn't matter, to the judge it made no sense

so they packed him off to prison to pay his recompence

Angel died just six weeks later because he was put inside

and it broke him up and tore at him and he felt stripped of all his pride

My Son was taken from her and she felt she couldn't win

and it left her with an emptiness she just couldn't face again

Gorden K "Pop" Warner

Writers Feedback

New writer ??� Stacey Graham - welcome Stacey for this nice story...

Joyce

New writer ??� Stacey Graham -Totally wonderful!

Dianna

Days Of My Life Little Girl is a really sweet story by Bill Walker. He sure knows how to read a dogs mind :) Little Girl is a very lucky little one to have you as her owner.

Sandra Woodward

Hi Sharon......I just read your story,and it brought back a lot of memories. That feeling of everything spinning is the reason I don't like to drink.The first time I got drunk,and should have been the last,I was 14,and living in Brooklyn,NY.I had gone to a party,and one of the guys asked if I wanted to go outside...We ended up at the part across the street,and he had a bottle of Southern Comfort......OMG,I can still taste that perfume...Well,I drank some straight,and boy,talk about getting sick later.I never drank before that,and it took a long time for me to do it again.I'm so glad I remember the feeling. Thank's for the great story.

Joyce

Announcements

Hello Everyone,

I could not help myself! I had to send this email it is so awesome. The good news below highlights one of the biggest achievements my daughter has made so far in her life. Since she was a toddler Teresa has been focused, determined, aware of what she wanted, and very involved in her studies (even in Pre School she excelled when she began to learn to read at the age of 4). Teresa has been involved since first grade with church (although she has been attending since long before she knew what church and God are), and as she got a little older church functions, school functions, fundraisers, and is very spiritual. All these awesome qualities my little girl, who is actually 3.5 inches taller than me and still growing, posses have given her strength, courage and conviction to want to succeed, and do good with her life.

So with that said, please read this great news! I am sorry this is not too personal, meaning I did not email all of you one by one, but there were so many people I wanted to share this with. Heck, I want the world to know what a great kid I have and how proud I am of her!

Some of you know that Teresa submitted an essay and interviewed for the student counsel recently in which out of over 30 students she was one of the 15 students selected to be on the student counsel when the new school year begins in August of 2005. When she made the student counsel she decided to run for the position of "Commissioner of Religious Affairs" and campaigned for a couple of weeks. The students were only allowed to make posters, Teresa and her cousin Vinnie, came up with the "It's Your Motto 2 Vote for Damato", and spread word of mouth; NO flyers, buttons or other "political" propaganda or tools were allowed. She self promoted! She is a great promotions person by the way as she had made flyers last year announcing she was looking for more baby sitting work, gave references, and other important info on the flyers and hit the neighborhood up and some stores, promoting the baby sitting services, and scored some great baby sitting jobs. She is a very busy young lady.

The voting is done by the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th graders. Today was the BIG DAY. The winner was to be announced tomorrow, Friday, May 27th, but the teachers and other faculty members did not want to "torture" the kids and make them wait, so before the day ended, the new leaders were announced, and YES, my daughter TERESA WON the position as leader of Religious Affairs which is a big deal and requires a great deal of dedication.

Teresa is also a Track and Volleyball Star, and plays on the basketball team too. She is a cheerleader for the St. John Fisher Falcons Football team. Teresa is also on the Service Group team which volunteers time to help the needy, work at shelters, visit the sick, and many other awesome things that make a difference in people's lives. Besides that, Teresa participates in other school activities, and is an alter girl on appointed Sundays and goes to church regardless, every Sunday. She enjoys being a part of the drama club, was a costar in "Guys and Dolls" this past April, and has performed in other plays through school and the Beverly Art Center.

My dear daughter also happens to be a baby sitter in high demand, both parents and children want Teresa to baby sit. All the while she is pulling A's and B's in her studies, plans to attend Mother MaCauly High School, and has an abundance of good friends. She enjoys singing, and dancing and is good at both. Like myself she was blessed with the gift to write and writes amazing, and touching poems.

I am so proud of her, and she has achieved so much. She plans to work even harder in 8th grade as a student, athlete, leader on the Student Counsel, and in the drama club. She will be attending special functions in the coming school year, as well going on an 8th grade ski trip, an 8th grade Great America Trip and making her confirmation before graduating from 8th grade.

Teresa will be celebrating her 13th birthday this Sunday and is a child that all Mom's want. She is loving, caring, thoughtful, innocent, and always helpful. Everyone constantly compliments my Mother and I on how wonderful she is.

This accomplishment of becoming commissioner of Religious Affairs was very important to her, and with her hard work, happy demeanor, creative and witty mind, as well as a happy personality, she did it. I never thought she wouldn't. I just knew she was going to get this. Like me she is a determined young lady who once gets her eyes set on the prize goes after it.

If you got this already from the other email address, I apologize, but I had added a couple of more things and wanted yous to know! This is my BABY GIRL!!!!

Thanks for listening to me brag ...

Peace,

Dina D.

PS: As a side note any of you who email me here and copy me at the pretty address, please continue to do so until the address is no longer working as I am going to be closing that account in the near future. Thanks so much. So really that goes to about all of you except for 5 maybe.

Prayer Requests and Updates

Dear prayer warriors:

I am saddened to report that Bobby Walker has gone home to be with our Lord.   Please keep him and his family in your prayers...

Love,

Barbara

Dear Prayer Warriors

Please keep this family in your prayers, they are in need of our Saviors mighty strength and healing.

Thank you for your prayers for this family...

Love,

Barbara

here is a note from Judy:

Wanted to let everyone know we just got the call that Butch's Sister's (Liz's) hubby Bobby Walker is dying..

Dr's have given up and pulled all life support. Just a matter of time now..Dr said it could be tonight or two or three days.

We are in the middle of calling all of Butch's 7 other sisters too let them know. Then we are leaving for the hospital..Don't know when I will be back home..   Please pray for the family.

Hugs

Judy

please pray for my friend, Alberta, she is 86 and is growing very frail...

She needs to see a doctor and her family isn't insisting on getting her there.

I feel like she is giving up. With the right encouragement she would be back

on top again.

She is have some work done on her home tomorrow (Friday) please pray that

it will go smoothly. I don't think she can take much more...

Please help me pray that she will get medical help soon. She is a wonderful

Christian, and loves the Lord with all her heart. She has always been a blessing to me.

Thank you for your prayers and love,

Barbara

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;

STORYTIME TAPESTRY STAFF

Publisher: Carol Roach-founder

Moderator: Thelma Hartselle-co founder

Moderator: Clara Westerfer

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