STORYTIME TAPESTRY

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

June 1, 2005

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

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

Powder Room Entertainment

Karen Brookbank

As I sat in the powder room in the wee small hours ~~
my beloved 4-legged friend entered there in ~~
after chasing and dancing with a single bit of litter ~~
on the slippery ceramic tile floor ~~
she looked around to see what more ~~
then into the litter box she did climb ~~
fresh litter apparently fair game for litter hockey ~~
or was it basketball she played ~~
pile it up in readiness for the pounce ~~
a swat and into the corner it shot ~~
a swat with the other paw and on the floor it did go ~~
this went on for several minutes more ~~
good that I sat upon the appropriate seat ~~
the laughter that these antics drew ~~
I was able to keep things nice and neat ~~
when the score had been read ~~
she settled down to do what she was there for instead ~~
never a dull moment this 4-legged creature has spent ~~
since entering my home ~~
and making this her playground ~~
she is happy and filled with content ~~
a lesson to be learned of this I'm sure ~~
take pleasure in the small things ~~
let your heart be glad ~~
each moment a gift to enjoy to the fullest.
?© Karen L. Brookbank ~ April 13, 2002
LADYBLUE@webtv.net

Thank you, my beautiful, little SanDee for the love and laughter you
bring to my life.

Karen L. Brookbank
aka Blulady
62 years young

Two sons, Dennis and Scott, angel Roberta Jo, Scott's wife Kristi and
granddaughter Samantha Marie, and a new baby due in July.

I live in southeastern Wisconsin where I have resided since June of 1961
~ born and raised in western Pennsylvania.

Went on WebTv in November of 1996 and created my first web page in 1997
and have, over the years, created quite a large web site that covers
many, many topics.
~ The Wonderful World of Blulady ~
http://wtv-zone.com/Blulady/TheWondWrldBlu.html

There is also Blulady's Gif Shoppe which offers a wide variey of gifs
offering graphics on a couple of topics not normally covered in a
grapics collection.
~~ Blulady's Gif Shoppe ~~
http://wtv-zone.com/Blulady/GIFS/BluladysGifShoppe.html

Recently diagnosed with lung cancer I decided to keep an online journal
of this experience and that is available at
http://wtv-zone.com/Blulady/8MyJourney/TheExperOfLungCancer.html

I write poetry and occasional short stories,
create web pages, love my cats Cali Jo and SanDee, do crafts and love to
flower garden.

Welcome to my world!!

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

~**~**~

 Fear

~Bill Walker~

The weather is storming this morning. Lightening right and left and all in between. And of course when it's lightening, we have the boomers.
You say, "What are you talking about?"  Well, I remember as a child, I didn't like the boomers. I looked for a mother's hand and words to tell me that it??™s all right.

It will soon pass!

Now I have two little dogs. One, the boomers don??™t bother at all, the other looks for a hole to get into. If he can??™t find the hole, he goes to work and tries to dig one in a corner somewhere .... He has a fear.

We all have a fear of something. I guess it??™s build into our system somewhere. What you fear may be no fear to me, or to others. What I fear you may laugh at.  Most of us out grow some fears and maybe just about all. But somewhere you will find one you can't shake.
I do not care who you are, how poor you are or rich for that matter.....  You got a fear.

The poor have a fear that the pay check wont go far enough. The rich have a fear the stock market is going to fall, and they find themselves in the poor class.

Now most of us were not around when the stock market fell through the floor in 1929. But you talk about fear, Brother that was fear! Lots of people lost ever thing they had. Money, homes, fancy cars, jobs, heck it didn't make any difference if you were a person with a big degree from some collage or not. There was no job.

Your bank closed its door, and your money was gone with it. Mr, Mrs, Miss, or Mz.....  You had fear.

It was nothing to hear, "Mister can you spare a dime?" And the one doing the asking a week before smoked big cigars.  Well, enough history.

Now my little dog looks to me to do something about the boomer. Well, I cant. All I can do is give him a pill which will after a bit put him in a state of not really hearing the boomer, well it does something I guess. He also knows I'm not going to leave him.  My question is do you have someone who is not going to leave you. When the boomers of this life gets to much?

If your not sure. Go get that Old Book you haven't looked at for a long time. The one in the back, The one with lots of dust on it. The one that says Holy Bible on it... Read. It tells in there "I Will Never Leave you Nor Forsake You," so who moved??  Think I??™ll go get that old book and wipe off the dust that has piled up on it. And read a bit. Boomers are getting bigger and louder

Bill Walker

wildbill6807@yahoo.com

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.   

~**~**~

I REMEMBER THAT!

Sharon Bryant

I'm the second oldest cousin in my family.  My older cousin, Pat, is almost 63, I'm 59, and the one next to me is 57.

Through the years, like a lot of families, once we grew up and had our own families, we became distant.  I've always tried to stay in touch with this one or that, but it's not been easy.

Last week I found my cousin younger than me.  His name is Randy.  His wife sent me a response when I asked if he was related to me.   Lo and behold, it was he.

His wife then told me Randy was doing research on our family name and any information I could give him would help.

I'm a pack rat.  And to those who love to fill garbage bags and throw things out, I relish the thought of hiding everything.  You just never know......when you're going to need something.  Tonight I'm patting myself on the back for being a pack rat, because something I've got put up sure came in handy.

It's my grandfather's birth certificate from 1896.  It's plain and simple with someone witnessing a birth.  My grandfather's grandmother filled it out and was his only witness.  Where his mother was, I have no idea.  She may have died at birth, I just don't know.

My cousin Pat told me to call my one aunt, Lil, who is 82, that she probably could give me some information.  So I dialed a phone number 900 miles away and said, "Hi Aunt Lil, it's Sharon."  "I don't know any Sharon." she said.  "Sure you DO, we used to live together in Detroit." I said.  Bingo, she remembered.  And then I took a trip down memory lane like you read about.

She knew I was living in Alabama, but never being here, asked how our climate was, did the hurricane come near me, etc.  I told her yep, I was in a tornado shelter all that day last summer not believing what I was seeing.

She then told me she has a photo taken around 1951 when I was five, and my cousin Pat is in it and Aunt Lil herself.  My aunt knows nothing about computers but her son, another younger cousin does.  So she's having him "Blink" that photo to me.

I asked her if she had a VHR player and she said, "What's it look like?"  I laughed and said a box, probably near your TV.  "Yep, he's got a few of those," she said.  Then she said, "He (her son Donnie) has these circle things he puts in this box and it plays music and you can watch shows on it."  I told her that was called a disc.  She said, "Hey, I'm 82 years old, I don't know anything about these befangled contraptions of today."  I laughed and told her that was ok, just describe it to me and I'd tell her what it was, if I could.

And then we began.......on our life in Detroit when I was a child.  Aunt Lil is my dad's sister.  Her husband, my Uncle Don was my mom's brother.  It was pretty cool having a sister and brother in the same house as I was growing up.  Uncle Don was an artist and I spent hours on end sitting on a stool watching him paint portraits, and pictures.  He died in 1990, and I know she's been lonely without him. 

She then said, "Remember when we used to go up to grandma Kroli's house and she'd have that sauerkraut on the back porch fermenting?"  I told her yep, I always called that my stinky grandma's place!    I then told her we have chickens and roosters and she said, "For a city girl, you sure became a country girl."  I laughed and said, "I love to watch when they all fly up in the trees for the night." 

She was silent, so I thought she was fiddling with something then in her Polish brogue she said, "What chickens stay in trees?"  I said, "Ours do."  I nearly fell off my chair when she said, "You "nipping" on something down there in Alabama tonight?"  I reminded her I've never been much of a drinker and no I was not nipping on anything.  She said, "Chickens do NOT live in trees, I lived on a farm when I was growing up and I never saw a chicken live in a tree."  She got me laughing and I said "Honest, Aunt Lil, these chickens DO live in trees.  She then said, "You sure they're chickens and roosters?"  I laughed my head off and said, "They LOOK like 'em."

Then she started laughing and said, "I've never heard of such a thing, but maybe Alabama chickens are different than Michigan ones."   She had me rolling.

On and on she kept saying things about our past when I was a kid.  I just kept yelling out, "I REMEMBER THAT!"

We both laughed our heads off over and over.  It felt SO good, and it was wonderful to talk to her for over an hour on the phone.

She didn't give me any information we needed, but she told me she hadn't laughed like that in ages and it felt so good.  And I felt the same way.

So.......the moral to this story is:  If you have an aunt that is elderly, someone you haven't touched base with in a long time, pick up that phone and take a trip down memory lane like I did tonight.  You won't regret it.

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

 ~**~**~

The Power Of The Tongue

Robyn Cavalera

I don't know about anyone else, but I sure do get tired of hearing the same thing over and over. Ever feel like that? Well, I am about to become guilty of doing what I hate the most. Repeating a valuable truth.

The other night I babysat my Grandkids. early in the day, we were fine, but as the day wore on they became absolutely unbearable. They seemed to get louder, and rougher with each other, as the night progressed. At one point I found myself SO Angry that I began to pray out loud. Now mind you, it was a prayer for Peace and Quiet, and discipline. As I Spoke the prayer, quite loudly mind you; so that the kids would hear and notice, The Lord hit me square in the face. I was praying Blessings, but with a voice of cursing, because of the anger. "Out of the same mouth comes Blessings and curses, Beloved it should not be so...". I realized that I am not really Blessing them at all. I am not remaining calm and Peaceful, amidst the circumstances, but I was using a "Prayer to God," to try to make them listen and obey. GREAT WITNESS HUH? WRONG!! It was a very poor Witness. I realized the kids were just going stir crazy in my small place. Instead of trying to talk calmly, and perhaps do something constructive with them, I was trying to use Prayer to God as a weapon against them. Oh Father, forgive me. I am supposed to be the crown of Glory to my Grandchildren, not the wrath of God. I pray the Lord will teach me, and show me each day, the very power that my words have. As I speak, I am speaking with the very Breath of Jesus within me. Let that breath and those words, build up great men of God in my Grandkids. Men who revere and Worship a Loving God. Lord let me think before I speak. Let my thoughts and Words be Peaceful, Kind, Loving, Compassionate, gentle, forbearing, and always Glorify You lord. Let them BUILD UP, and NOT BREAK DOWN...

Robyn Cavalera
321-268-0390
robyajesusfreak@bellsouth.net
"Wake up oh sleeper from your slumber and arise,
for the great day of the Lord is upon us!!!
MARANATHA

Writers Feedback

Both issues of your Memorial Day tribute are outstanding! My thanks to each of the authors who shared their thoughts, memories and prayers with readers.



In this second issue, on Memorial Day, how appropriate to use two different articles with reference to that wonderful poem "In Flanders Field."



Ron Gold's "Why Don't We Listen?" hit a cord of agreement within me. As a child, I also was taught about the terror of wars part. And yet, as Mr. Gold reminds us, we keep right on entering that dark territory. I doubt if we will ever learn. We will continue to send our young to die...for what? These latest wars have proven the futility of taking up causes for other countries--for the most part the ordinary people do not want us there and when we leave, in triumph (Kuwait) or with our tail between our legs (Vietnam) or with a stale mate (Korea), those countries survive--in their own way.



Mr. Gold, I hope that you will continue to ask "Why Don't We Listen?"

I promise to do the same.

Barb Deming

Kathy,
How I agree with you! They never even announced in our papers that the catfish had died. How disgusting! No common sense in this country!

Barb Deming

B. J. Cassidy, you touch my heart with your words. I am proud that I stood in the hot sun today, saluted our flag and hugged my WWII hero (hubby) who (at my insistance) stood with all the local Navy and Marine veterans in his Army cap with ribbons. (In San Diego County he is one of the very few Army guys!)
Thank you for your beautiful writing.
Barb Deming.

The White Rose Wreath by Kay Seefeldt brings back memories.  It also brings questions to mind.  Why ? have so many of us let the let the Holiday slide into something it was never meant to be, just a day off to be spent with little thought to the sacrifices made for us all.  Freedom has, and never will be free.  It's price demands blood, pain, fear, and respect for those who, not only gave all, but also to those who gave some.  The song by Billy Ray Cyrus pretty well says it all - All gave some...Some gave all.  Thanks Kay.  And to all the writers that submitted their excellent efforts for this day, thank you.  Bob Shaw CapeRabbit@semo.net 

Prayer Requests and Updates

My sweetheart son-in-law, Ron, who inherited his father's heart disease will be under the knife at one o'clock tomorrow afternoon (probably will have to have open-heart surgery at the young age of 45!) and I'm a bit distracted just praying and worrying and thinking about him. 

Ray and I feel like he is our son too and knew he would do anything and everything for us that he could.  They are in Florida, too far away to be much help as this is a sudden decision--were going to do more tests on June 6 and a "procedure of some kind."  But he has lost so much breathe capacity and is now on time-released nitroglycerine so they decided not to wait.

Please pray for Dina Dimato and her family at this time. Lord send your loving spirit to protect and heal them from all the ailments at this time.

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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