STORYTIME TAPESTRY

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

June 5, 2005

Happy anniversary goes out to Charles and Anne Glover

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

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

Special News Report

Tink, Poo, and all the Gang

The Mississippi Grand Daddy

tinkerpoo2000@yahoo.com

This is a special news report from all the gang: Pops. Randy, Gracie, Buff, Annie, Auggie, Sadie, Fang, Fancy..... well from the whole crowd. Princess the horse was really steaming about this; this is an outrage. And we are going to tell you, us little people here at the Bridge is none too happy to think this happened to one of God's creatures.

Here we have a most beautiful spring, it makes Poo and me think of Big Spring in southern Missouri. You know, the largest spring in all the world -- on all of earth. This spring here, the run-off flows into the big river that flows under the Rainbow Bridge.  

We was setting here close by watching those crazy cats doing their thing down by the water. You know fishing, they never give up old habits, always trying to get a fish. All at once here they came running by us like a freight train passing a tramp. Thomas was one of the last. He said, "I don't believe it," and kept right on traveling. So we went to see what this is that put them all in the fastest run we've seen in a long time out of any of that bunch.

There in the water has to be the Granddaddy of Catfish; he was just splashing about, having a good old time. One of the gang that understood fish talk got closer and asked Mr.Fish a few things. We learned a lot, and we went to work.

Granddaddy Catfish said he lived in the Old Man River, the Mississippi. Said that was home to him for many years, he lived right around the part where the Missouri and Ohio Rivers join up with the Mississippi. He had traveled up and down those parts in his younger days, found a spot he liked and kind of stayed close to that.

He was doing pretty good, just living his life, doing his thing, when in a weaker moment he got snagged by some fisher person. This person made quite a deal of it all, and in the end Old Granddaddy found himself in a tank of clean clear water. Now any fool would, or should, know Catfish like muddy water. Why would Mr.Catfish now like to live in clean clear water? It was more than he could stand. His system is not geared to this type of living, he just couldn't take it, so here he is.

Granddaddy Catfish asked if there was a nice muddy water spot,  so we went to work and found him a place. Oh is he happy! The thing is some fool, or fools, killed him off trying to make money. Is money all some people think about? Guess so when it comes to big named sports people. Pops said he was into money a lot for a while, till he had that accident.

You know what is funny, well strange. Most people wanted this Catfish to be returned to his home on the river. Someone thought how they could make a show of him, and maybe get people to come into their store and buy things while there. Well, now look what happened!!!.

Between the stupids at Cabala store and the State of Illinois Department of Natural Resources, they killed off this guy......  Like we said, take a creature out of it normal life style, you can't expect it to live very long. Those people needs to have their heads opened up and see what kind of mush they have for brains. Maybe sawdust would be more like it.

Well, that's our late breaking news from here today. Hope Ma Baker don't blow another gasket. She might get all heated up and forget to work on our book -- ding, dang it all.

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
~**~**~**~

 A SATURDAY??™S LIE

(January 2005)

From: Georgewaters Ojeigbe ??“

Lagos, Nigeria gojiegbe@jhplc.com

One of my experiences as a lad was the route of escape from house work which led to disciplinary action.

You see, each Saturday used to be marshal (karate) practice day.  My cousin and I were both registered into the society.  We were both not registered there for self defense but just for the fun of it.  To my cousin and me it was a kind of an escape route; at least a time to be free from those eagles eyes (mum and dada) always monitoring our steps.  Also, Saturdays used to be the days for house cleaning which means lots of jobs to be done at an endless pace.  We both quickly fished out an idea to escape that particular Saturday??™s home tasks. 

We told daddy and mummy in quote that we are always flogged for coming late and as such we have to leave home very early enough to be there before coach comes.  Although, we were in both the karate and the scout organizations which had an hour interval; the karate used to be the first followed by the scout training (SCOUT ISSUE TO BE RELEASED LATER).

One particular Saturday my cousin and I decided to go to a friend??™s place to watch movie instead of practice.  Not knowing that we forgot our fees at home and that a grown up was sent later to check on us who paid the money to our marshal act commander.  When we returned back home daddy asked for the progress of our practice.  My cousin and I displayed to him all forged styles and each style was given a forged name which we told him to be a Chinese name.  For example, we would raise one leg up and the two arms backward telling daddy that this style is wunshishi wunshasha or shangata shangota; you know those kids??™ lies now.  He was looking with keen interest as one who had a hiding agenda.  Finally, he asked us to keep displaying the different styles that we were taught while he goes in to look for a karatian brochure which he once used in England.  On his return he was holding a wipe made of horse skin before us. 

Daddy standing in front of us said to us ???you these kids have gone haywire, you have even told the lies beyond level to the extent of giving false claims of practice today.  Now will you both tell me the truth of where you have been to all day long?! He barked at us.  We always knew when the situation is tensed especially when he has the white wrapper cloth tied around him and those hard words of bloody fools starts gushing out of his mouth, yes we always knew this that TODAY NA TODAY, YAWAH DONE GAS AND EGBE DONE NAKE. Before we could say Jack Robinson mummy was behind him shouting beat them, flog them, these liars.  She was calling us mumu and ode (fools).  We were seriously dealt with for telling lies that very day.

If only they actually knew one of our reasons for avoiding the training, they would have beating hell out of us the more.  One of the reasons was my first encounter in the group, a girl of my age who had been in the group maybe for 1 year or more was asked to welcome me on the first time there.  Her welcoming ceremony was killing as she kicked and jumped on me tossing me backward.  My back landed on the grass field with a sharp pain right by my right shoulder.  My cousin seeing this never ventured to step forward to receive his own welcoming ceremony from another selected member.

Just an experience of life anyway! That is now gone by.  I wish that girl would come for a re-fight now; at least I am now stronger.

THE END

Georgewaters Ojeigbe

gojiegbe @jhplc.com

BIO-DATA

I was born on 21^st April, 1970.  I live in Lagos, Nigeria the most populous city in Africa. I sing in a Church music group where I fellowship.  I love sports.  I love admiring the heavens and other wonderful works borne from Jehovah??™s hands.  I discovered the power of writing stories, encouraged by Carol.  Thanks for her existence!  I am pet lover minus snakes; I so much hate this creature called snake but others I prefer.  I like to do lots of home works like creating my art works, gardening, making some home furniture, fitting electrical appliances etc.

~**~**~

 Keepsakes

Pamela Blaine

In days gone by, before there were photographs, people found other ways to try keep the ones that they loved near to them.   For some people it was a matter of keeping letters and poems in scrapbooks.  For others, perhaps a piece of jewelry, a handkerchief, or a scarf would be given to a family member or a special friend.  It was a keepsake, something to be held close and touched in order to remember the other person.  People took great pride and a lot of time to create objects that were meant to express deep feeling from the heart.  Jewelry was engraved with many different designs and symbols and nearly everything had a symbolic significance.  Some of these engravings were religious symbols such as crosses and doves, but there were all kinds of symbols used on jewelry and other objects that had meaning.  Some of these were:

Ivy = Friendship, fidelity, or marriage

Weeping Willow = mourning
Forget Me Nots = Remembrance
Dogs = Fidelity
Butterfly = Soul
Arrows = Love (Cupid??™s arrows)
Doves = Holy Spirit or devotion
Daisy = Innocence
Lilac = First feelings of Love
Clasped Hands = Friendship or Lasting Love
Musical Instruments = Harmony
Flaming Heart = Passionate Love
Crowned Heart = Love Triumphant
Roses = had many meanings depending on color, such as:

 Red meant love, yellow meant friendship or joy

Specific gems had specific meanings, for instance:
Amethyst = Forgiveness
Diamond = Love
Emerald = Faithfulness
Ruby = Passion

Sapphire = Virtue

Pearl = Purity

Jewelry could often be read almost like a book.  Sometimes feelings were expressed in words or symbols that only the people involved knew their significance.  The stones themselves had significance but even the order of the gemstones on a ring or necklace could have special meaning.  For instance, if the order happened to be a diamond, emerald, amethyst, and ruby, the first letter of each gem spelled out the word ???DEAR???.   Occasionally, words found in other languages were used on a ring or piece of jewelry so the code was not easily deciphered.

Another very special object that was frequently given in times past was a lock of hair.  It was a common practice to snip a bit of hair from a baby's first haircut or a few strands of hair might be sent to someone living far away.  Many pictures, jewelry, and keepsakes were even made from hair and some were meticulously woven into chains and earrings.

A woman would sometimes weave a tiny delicate wreath, intertwining her own hair with that of her beloved.  It was a way of feeling closer to the loved one by actually holding in one's own hand a lock of hair from the very head of the person so loved and cherished.  Lockets were often used to hold these beloved keepsakes, these wisps of hair tied with ribbon. 

Taking a snip of hair from a loved one was also sometimes part of the grieving process, especially in the Victorian Era.  Mourning jewelry was made from hair and intricately woven into scenes of weeping willows and other symbols of sadness.  These creations became memorials that were made into broaches or kept in shadow boxes to indicate that love outlasts death. 

It has been documented that even Beethoven's friend kept a lock of his hair to remember him after the great composer died.  In recent years, with the study of forensics now available, Beethoven's hair was tested and found to contain lead, which may have led to his illness and death. 

Keeping locks of hair is a practice that has somewhat gone by the wayside in modern life today.  There are so many ways to communicate almost instantly today with telephones and computers but that was impossible during those times.  Yet, there are some of us still keep those locks of hair tucked in our scrapbooks, diaries, and baby books in an attempt to hold those that we love close to our hearts. 

It is one of the things from the past that might be good to be revived.  Many people today are making special scrapbooks that will be heirlooms to be kept for future generations.  Perhaps including a wisp of hair tucked in those scrapbooks would be a special touch.

It doesn??™t have to be Valentine??™s Day, an anniversary, or a birthday to let someone know that you care.   A keepsake is something to keep, touch, and to make a connection with someone we love.  It can be as complicated as a code engraved on jewelry or it can be as simple as a lock of hair. 

As I end this writing, I will close it with a symbol that was often used on jewelry.  I hope you can decipher it.  The Word is:  ???MIZPAH???

By

Pamela Perry Blaine

?© February 2005

Pamela Perry Blaine

pamyblaine @ blaines.us

About Me:

Pam lives in Missouri with her husband,

Michael. She enjoys composing music and

writing stories. She writes "Pam's Corner"

for her local newspaper, The Edina

Sentinel. She and her husband are

active in their church where she plays

piano and he is music leader. They have a

CD available called, "I'll Walk You Home".

The title song is about her lifelong friend

who died of cancer. You can hear

this song on her website:

http://blaines.us/PamyPlace.htm

Her goal is to write to encourage others

and to write stories for her children

and grandchildren so that family history

will be preserved. Her website is at:

http://blaines.us/PamyPlace.htm

Poetry Section

~**~**~

PRIVATE THOUGHTS of a G. I. JOE

Leona Ebling

It??™s not a game anymore ??¦ it??™s horrible and it??™s for real!

I am over here in a sandy hell and it??™s hard to tell you what I feel

My uniform is not the nice dress one I felt so proud to wear

It is one of combat, with helmet, gas masks, and all kinds of protective gear.

I am only one of my age, 19, some are older like 20, 21, 23,.24.

And there are others who have already served and fought in other wars

There are even girls here, they were proud to join to serve our U.S.A.

But man this is really rough, this war we are fighting here today.

We are not classed as race, color, or creed in our thoughts and hearts

But we are one in goals and thoughts each trying to do our part.

No black, white, red, or yellow in skin separates us in caring,

Not male or female, not rich or poor, we each are joined in sharing

And each night when I think of things besides if I will make it tonight alive

I pray and ask God to help us military people here to just survive.

And I think about what it would be to just be back there in our own land

Then I ask God to protect us and give us a helping hand.

Like maybe there could be peace again, maybe this war could cease

If people like old Saddam would see what terrible times??¦ these.

But if he does not stop his cruel and violent pursuit of ruling and of power

I will pray and steadfastly stay and fight representing our military in this hour.

If I should not come home remember this was my choice and I, a G.I. Joe.

Proud and honored, though I am scared, that this day could be my last and so,

I just leave this message with whoever thinks of us here as we join together in this fight

We are your military, support us, pray for us, that we will come home all right.

Leona Ebling
wwjdleona @aol.com

~**~**~

SEEING

Leona Ebling

You're looking at me and I'm looking at you

I am thinking as I look and you are too

But I can not tell as I'm looking at you

What you are thinking , though I am thinking too.

I see things as I look at you,

You see things as you are looking too

But what you see and what you do

May not be the same as when I see you.

You may see a house, a bird or a tree

and I view the same things as plain you see

But you may notice windows, colors or how tall

I may see shingles, hear singing  and think how small.

You might think of what it needs as a home,

or how pretty or what a nice shady spot.

I might think of the family who owned it,

what it eats or who planted it in that lot.

I might see a story  I could write,

you a picture to paint

But one thing I can tell you

to see everything alike-- we ain't.

But though we see things differently

 and explain them different too

each of us can be right about

 the things we see and do.

So if you hear someone reminisce

 about a memory you have shared,

and they tell it so differently

you would think you were not even there.

And you say to yourself

what's wrong with them that did not happen

for I was there too

Remember each of us sees and remembers things

from our own point of view.

Leona Ebling
wwjdleona @aol.com

~**~

Poetry

Leona Ebling

Art scetched with words,

written on page in colors from our minds.

Our pens indelible and eternal

 but able to erase;

when mistakes it finds:

Poetry

Words more fluent and able to describe

the picture of art we chose to portray;

art formed from the avenues of my mind

routed on thoroughfares I traveled on my way.

I see it this from my minds view,

but it may be seen entirely different by you.

Poetry is art and it is where we can see,

the scenery told with words plain as any painting can be.

Leona Ebling
wwjdleona @aol.com

About Me:

Leona Ebling I have five children, 18 grandchildren and 18 greats going on 19
and more to follow I am sure. I have been for soon to be fifty years a full
time wife, mother, gramma and worked as personal companion and caretaker for
over thirty years. I write as a loved hobby and I am in the process of two
books being published and another to follow shortly I hope.

I write fiction, non-fiction, inspirational novels and short-shorts. I also
write children books and love writing poetry.

Prayer Requests and Updates

Having quiet a struggle  but believing for complete victory... Still not on my computer as much as I would like to be  but have to set with my legs elevated because of circulation problems.. Great grandbaby Michael"s seizures have stopped and we are believing for a complete miracle healing for him.  Thanks for the prayers and enjoy your mails...and your writings.

I did finally get my manuscript sent in to be published of my book  called "Dancing With Life" which is a "memories" book with blank pages every so often for people to write their memories down as they are jump-started  lol  It is being done by AuthorHouse.

  Hugs and God bless and keep you and all you love with HIS angels all round all today and always..Leona

This is Jackie's cousins sharon's grandson, his name is Tanner and he is 8 months old.

He has been taken to several doctors in the past few days and possibily over medicated.

He was taken to childrens mercy hostipal in K.C. Mo.

The doctors told Jenny his mother they didn't expect him to live, he is said to have

whooping cough and his little lungs are filling up with fuild. All payers for Tanner will be

deeply appriciated and god bless you all for your prayers in advance!

Again we thank you all for you 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; 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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