STORYTIME TAPESTRY

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

June 16, 2005

Today we introduce yet another new writer for Storytime Tapestry.  Martha Jette, from Ontario, Canada is writer #217, for Storytime Tapestry.  An accomplished writer and investigator of the paranormal, she has written three wonderful books, my stories as well as Kathy Baker??™s are in her latest one.  Many of us have believed for a long time that children have a special relationship with Angels, and Martha knows for a fact.  She has written a book about it.  Today she showcases her wonderful writing skill with a story about her online friend from India.

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

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

Dog walkers, a hearty bunch

Donna Stebbins

hibbsand@hibbsandheekspetcenter.com

I don't know if you know any hard core dog walkers but I do.  There are certain people in my neighborhood who have commited to walking their dog every day no matter what the weather.  There is not much that will stop this bunch from completing that goal.  Ah, a little rain won't hurt you, you won't melt and neither will the dog!  Snow is just a small obstacle, as long as you are dressed for it.  I can't tell you how many times I have been walking in the snow with my head somewhat down to keep the blowing snow out of my eyes and I see another dog walker coming from the other direction with the same posture.  The bone chilling cold is another thing we prepare ourselves for and conquer with extra warm clothes and a brisk pace.  The walk must go on!

Now heat is the problem for me and sometimes for the dogs.  I still do the walk but it is sometimes very draining.  I see my fellow dog walkers trudging along as well.  We stop and talk for a moment with sweat dripping down our brows.  Even the dogs barely greet each other in anticipation of continuing on to cool down or perhaps get into the pond to soak the belly.  

One of the dogs is a Labrador Retriever named Ranger. He runs in headlong and swims in the pond.  His person will throw something for him to fetch and off he goes into the water happy as a lark.   Ranger is walked at least once and sometimes twice per day.  Hibbs, Heeks and myself walk at least once per day.  Now that the sun is up until later in the day we often walk after supper as well.  The morning walk is the one where they both come.  Hibbs will often sit out the evening walk. 

There are morning and afternoon and evening dog walkers in my neighborhood.  Some of the dog walkers are around during the day so they walk in the day time.  Many of the walkers take the dogs out for a walk in the evening after work.  I am not sure about the others but for myself the daily walk is as much for me as for my dogs.  Not only are we getting exercise, we are socializing with others also.  Hibbs and Heeks get along with most of the dogs we see on a regular basis.   Some of the breeds in the neighborhood include, Maltese, Irish Setter, part Great Dane, Alaskan Malamute, Llasa Apso, Poodle, Pugs, Rottwieler, Beagles, Cocker Spaniels,  several Labradors, as well as others that are walked less often than once per day.   

Yes, we dog walkers are a hearty bunch.  We have to be to continue our pursuit of a healthy existence for ourselves and our dogs.  Come rain or come shine, we will perserve! 

Written by Donna Stebbins of
http://www.hibbsandheekspetcenter.com

Donna developed her website to offer information on many types
of pets. Above you will find some of the
reasons why Donna thinks cats are
beautiful. Holly has her own page on the
website as do all Donna's personal pets
with listings of websites offering
information on each type of pet as well as
places to purchase items for your pets or
yourself. Hibbs and Heeks Pet Center also
offers a free monthly newsletter that you
may subscribe to with stories and tips
regarding pets. If you would like to
subscribe to our newsletter which
comes out around the fifteenth of each
month please send an email to
hibbsand@hibbsandheekspetcenter.com

with the word join in the subject line.

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

 Also Carol, here is a story that you can use in your newsletter. I wrote it about six months ago and have been trying to find places to put it, as it is not within the paranormal realm. This is a true story. Jayantee is a member of Ryze. I only ask that you put my info at the bottom as is.

Thanks,

(((hugs))) Martha

Family Survives Fury of Nature

By Martha Jette

marthajette@yahoo.com

     Jayantee held her mother close, as they sat on the dining room table. They could hear the winds howling outside. Within minutes, the table seemed lighter and chairs began floating away. Here and there, papers, small figurines, books and other valuables floated by them.

     ???Momma. I??™m scared,??? she cried.

     ???If we can make it up the stairs to the terrace, maybe we can get help,??? momma suggested.

     Her father, who had managed to fight his way out of the poverty of India, looked furious. He had worked for a civil construction firm for many years and recently, moved the family nearer to a new job site in the coastal area of Paradeep. There they lived in the only pukka house ??“ the rest were just huts ??“ encircled by lush green paddy fields and a few coconut trees. Being the only wealthy inhabitants in the village, they had already been threatened with their lives for money. One night, the house was attacked by villagers, but the huge main doors managed to keep them at bay.

       Twenty-four-year-old Jayantee and her momma were virtual prisoners in their new home, unable to go outside anymore. The day the rains came and the winds picked up, her father??™s company shut down early. The storm had intensified and the winds were reaching record strength. He was happy to be at home with his family, but no sooner had he arrived, when anxious neighbors pounded on their door.

     ???Sir, it??™s raining heavily and our huts are almost breaking away,??? said one old man from the village. ???Will you please let the women and children take shelter in your house????

     A kind hearted man, Jayantee??™s father ushered dozens of people into their drawing room and verandah. Some of the children were crying, so Jayantee and momma brought in food to settle them down. It was getting dark, as they attempted to move about with only a kerosene lamp and flashes of lightening to lead them. Within a few hours, water began seeping into the house. When it was knee high, the villagers became restless. They realized they were standing in seawater! They quickly decided to leave and seek a safer refuge from this raging storm.

     ???We know nothing about this place!??? cried her father. ???Please take us along with you.

     ???Babu, please wait,??? replied one of the old men. ???I??™ll come back and take you all to the safer place.???

     Hours passed and no one came. In the meantime, Jayantee??™s father became feverish. Soon his behavior became erratic and out of control. As he watched a lifetime of hard-earned possessions being soaked up by the onslaught, he raged like a wild man. The water was just over a meter high in the dining room where Jayantee and her mother were perched on the table. But their temporary refuge would soon end, as the seawater continued to rise.

     With the first wobbles of the table, they stepped into the cold, waist-high water. Joining her father and Shankar, they slowly made their way across the room. Thunder clapped, as the wind and rain slashed at the windows. Outside, they could see huts and huge trees being uprooted and thrown from one side of the village to the other. Suddenly, the kerosene lamp toppled over. Darkness surrounded them. Shankar hurriedly lit a half-soaked torch, as Jayantee reached the door and struggled to open it.

     ???Ohhhhhhhh!??? she shrieked, as a water snake slithered by her leg.

     Fortunately, the venomous creature slid away. As soon as all of them had waded into the livingroom, they pushed the door hard, to keep the rest of their belongings from floating in. Then they heard a loud crash, as a bookcase slid over in the den. Sweeping back her long, dark hair, Jayantee saw her beloved harmonium half in and half out of the mirky water.

     ???No, momma! Grandma gave that to me,??? she sobbed.

     Through her salty tears, she could see that momma was crying too. The wind and rain were relentless, shaking the house and rattling them with fear. Then a tremendous crash shook them again and they quickly turned around. A huge coconut tree broke through the ceiling and onto the staircase. They realized that they were now trapped inside this swelling onslaught. Their escape route up the stairs and onto the upper terrace had been blocked.

     ???Help! Help! Someone, please help us!??? they seemed to shout in unison.

      Now the pounding rain thundered through the opening, pelting them with its fury. Jayantee grabbed at a curtain and tore it down. Covering momma, they huddled shivering on the wet staircase. All of them held hands tightly and prayed for dawn to arrive. Every so often, they resumed their cries for help, but to no avail.

     It seemed like forever, but finally light peered through the ceiling, giving way to a new day. But the wind still raged and the rain poured down. Worst of all, the water had crept up the staircase near their feet. Doors had been flung open overnight by the surging water, which was now nearly over Jayantee??™s head. Many of their possessions had escaped out the door, including her university degree certificates that had been hanging on a nearby wall.

     ???We have to get out now!??? yelled her father.

     With Shankar??™s help, Jayantee managed to follow her father and momma toward the big front doors. Once outside, they saw no one. However, they felt they had a fighting chance, if they could just make it to the highway some 100 meters away. The driving wind seemed to push them on, sometimes wading, sometimes swimming along. Their hearts sank, as they saw each hut that they passed deluged with water. Every so often, carcasses of animals floated by. Had anyone or anything survived?

     Somehow, they reached the highway. Drenched and frantic, they raced barefoot along the wet pavement. Finally, they reached a local mess hall and struggled to make it up the stairs to the second floor. What a huge relief! They saw not only people, but also dogs, cats, cows and other animals that had been brought to shelter there. Exhausted, Jayantee sank onto the wooden floor.

     ???Praise the Almight! We made it! her father sighed.

     It was then that they recalled the song they heard playing in the mess hall, as they climbed the stairs. Though in Hindu, the translated words they heard were:

???I am a Nomad, oh friend. No house, no whereabouts, and have to go on and on and on??¦.???

     They hugged each other and even Shankar was crying now. They knew that their prayers were heard that night and if they could survive this, they could survive anything together.

     Now 27, Jayantee recalled that night of terror.

     ???We were saved by the Almighty,??? she said.

     Jayantee Mukherjee currently lives in Bhubaeswar, Orissa, India where she works as a Development Officer at the Silicon Institute of Technology. Here goal in life is to stay focused on remaining positive and finding success in life through honesty and integrity. Here is one of her favorite poems.

Martha Jette is an Editor/Author from Hamilton, Ontario. She has now published three books. The first, "Glimpses" True Stories of the Paranormal presents a collection of strange, but true paranormal tales. The second is a children's book entitled "Talking To My Angel" that lets little ones know its all right to talk about their heavenly visitors. The third, called "Glimpses 2" It Could Happen To You, features a whopping 90 amazing paranormal tales from around the world. For more information on Ms. Jette or her books, please visit http://www.para-books.com or write to marthajette@yahoo.com

Join Martha's paranormal discussion group "Mystics and Merrymakers" on Ryze Business Networking: http://www.ryze.com/networkindex.php?=mysticsandmerrymakers

  ~**~**~

Nanci L. Stroupe

Over the River and Through the Woods.

I always looked forward to singing that song on Wednesday morning in the old auditorium at our Elementary school. Over the river and thru the woods to Grandfathers house we go. the  horse knows the way to carry the sleigh thru the white and drifting snow. Oh..... Now that takes me back a long long time and you know I hardly ever hear that song anymore, I wonder if the children even sing it anymore. Thanksgiving is and was a time when we really gave thanks for all our blessings. I know we should do  this on a daily basis but on THanksgiving we are more apt to remember all of our blessings and Give thanks for them.

I would be remiss if I didn't remember all the good food that Mama cooked for the big day. She was such a good cook and the dishes she prepared were something else. I used to think that turkey we had  was huge but as I look back at some of the pictures now I realize it was probably a big hen we had and not a huge turkey like I fix nowadays. Mama saved her stale bread,  corn bread, and rolls and made the best dressing you ever tasted.  Nothing was wasted at our house. We always had a newcomer at the table too. It was tradition to invite someone like a sailor, or soldier who didn't have a family around to share our dinner.   I had six big brothers in the military and Mama liked to th ink someone on the other side of th e world would be kind to one of her sons too.

Mama   baked for days before Thanksgiving. Pumpkin Pies, Chocolate, Cocoanut Cream, Lemon Meringue and always a huge broiler pan full of Apple dumplins with a crust on top and icing on top of that, and that was the best thing I have ever tasted.

She always had me dust that big ole round table with the fancy leg in the center of it. She said no one could make it shine like I could. She used a bit of psychology on me and it worked. She was a wise woman. Well, now I was the last of ten children so I guess she got it down pat when I came along. If a couple of the brothers didn't get home for the big day then Mama would pack them u p some goodies and send them to wherever they were. My brother, Tommy said he received many a box of cookies that were nothing but crumbs by the time they got to him in Korea but he ate every crumb and shared with his buddies too.  We always sent care packages to our brothers no matter where they were.

Well, today is Tuesday and I have already baked t he small ham we a re having and I will cook the big bird tomorrow and most of the fixin's.  There will only be six of us at the table this year. My youngest daughter and her husband and four of t heir girls have been going to Florida every Thanksgiving for at least seven years now and that is fine, they have made their own traditions but for me,  home is the place to be and it would be so very nice if one more time I could hear the strains of that old song as we looked forward to our feast on Thursday and gave thanks for all of our blessings. Over the River and thru the woods, oh how the wind doth blow, it stings your nose and bites your toes as over the river we go.

Nanci Stroupe

Nanci has written stories for the past five years for Heartwarmers, Stories for a Womans Heart, Ripplemakers and others. Writing and reading are two of her passions. Cooking and eating make a close second.

onenoni@aol.com

Carol has published four of
Nanci's stories in the past.
Nanci has written for Starfish several
times and for other inspirational sites
also. Three of her stories are in print
in Heartwarmers, Stories for a Woman's
Heart and Half Full. She shares her life
with her husband, Doug for the last 46
years and her hobbies besides writing are
reading and spending quality time with her
dear husband.

~**~**~

LEARN TO LIVE  

Steve Goodier

Charlie Hough says, "Listen to everyone. Learn from everyone.
Nobody knows everything but everyone knows something."

At her citizenship hearing in 1967, Immaculata Cuomo (mother of
Mario Cuomo) was asked by the judge how many stars were on the US
flag. She said she didn't know, but could she ask the judge a
question? After he agreed, she asked him how many hands of
bananas were on a stalk. He admitted he didn't know, so she
proudly said, "Well, I do." Her citizenship was granted. Here was
a judge who wisely realized that everyone has something to teach.

"Live to learn and you will learn to live," says a Portuguese
proverb. For life cannot be lived well in ignorance. In fact,
those who live life to the fullest have a PhD in living! This is
what a PhD in living means:

P is for "poor in knowledge." Those who live best realize that
they can never learn enough.

H is for "hungry to learn." Those who hunger for knowledge will
always find plenty to eat.

D is for "desire to succeed." Those who desire to learn and
improve, and those who persist in spite of obstacles, will live
fully.

Realize you're poor in knowledge, become hungry to learn and
desire to succeed. Everybody and every occasion can become your
teacher, and this is the PhD that will open the door of success.
__________
Life Support will donate $4.00 for EACH of Steve Goodier's books sold
to UNICEF'S Tsunami Relief fund! Find out more here:

<a href="http://lifesupportsystem.com/books.html">
http://lifesupportsystem.com/books.html </a>
(877) 344-0989
__________