STORYTIME TAPESTRY

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

July 7, 2005

Happy Birthday goes out to our wonderful aussie writer Violet Apted.

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

Lady Bird

By Bob Shaw

It was about half past 1967. I'd just returned from a tour of duty in Nam, and Ronni and I were happily moved into a little mobile home near the Base in Tennessee, and getting to know each other again. The dollars were few and far between, but we wanted a puppy to sort of round things out.

There were few litters to choose from, but I found out that a neighbor's dog had puppies, and we took a stroll over to see them. He wasn't home at the time, and I told his wife that we'd be back later that evening. They were English Setters, bird dogs, and only two puppies were left. If these weren't the prettiest ones, I'd hate to have seen the others. The one I had my eye on was a beautiful little brown and white spotted pup. She was a little butterball.

Then I asked him "how much"? At the time, I didn't know gold grew fur. Then I spotted a little movement over in a corner. It was a little black and white spotted puppy. I asked him about that one, and he told me that she had been born with some problems, and was probably going to have to be put down. Ronni gave me that "deer in the headlights" look, and I began to ask some questions. She had a hair lip, and a few other things, but nothing I could see that would be serious. Breeding problems.

I told him that what we were interested in was a pet, and not a hunting or breeding dog, and wanted to know if he would sell her to me. No papers. He gave it some thought and said he'd take ten dollars for her. Good enough. We stooped down and called her to us, and she came out slowly, sniffing our hands. I guess she was satisfied, and started wagging her tail. Not back and forth, but up and down like a pump handle, with the end of her tail bent down like a screen door hook. But her eyes held a soul. And it called out for some one to love.

Ronni asked me about a name. I said "how about Lady the Bird Dog"? She thought about it for a minute, and said "how about Lady Bird"? And Lady Bird pumped her tail up and down. She'd found her people.

We took her home that night. She whined a little, then settled down in her new home. With love and attention, she started coming out of her shyness. And with some good food, she started putting some meat on her little bones.

We lived close to a large field, and Lady Bird loved to go there for a run, and practice her hunting skills. I've never seen a dog that had a better instinct for hunting. If there was a bird in that field, any bird, she'd find it. She wouldn't try to chase it, just slowly go to her stance, with that silly bent tail, and look at it. And quiver. As soon as the bird would flush, she'd try to run after it, jumping and barking, and having a ball.

Her favorite place was Mom and Dad's farm. They had a few acres more in the country than in town. We called it "Almosta Farm". It was there that Lady Bird was in her element. Lots of birds, and the two other people she adored. Every time we headed there for a short visit, she'd figure out where we were going, and settle down in the back seat for a rest. She might have been shortchanged on a lot of her parts, but she had a good mind, and the best pair of eyes I've ever seen in a dog. She could spot a bird in the air before I could.

On her last visit to the farm, she'd been running and birding as hard as she could, loving every minute of it. Dad and I were sitting in the garage when she came staggering in. She slumped into my arms, trying to get her breath. I was afraid she had something caught in her throat, but there was nothing there. I grabbed her up and headed for the old Plymouth, and floor boarded it toward the Vet. We were about half way there when Dad said "she's gone son". With a heavy heart, I slowed down and turned back toward home. We figured it was her heart.

We only had her for a few years, but they were good years, and she was happy. She was put to rest on the farm. There was no other place she would rather have been. Some day, we'll run the fields together again, in a place called The Rainbow Bridge. There's a lot of my friends there. Waiting.

Written by Bob Shaw

CapeRabbit@semo.net

Bob and wife Ronni live in the Cape Girardeau, Missouri area. They'd love to hear from you, and invite your comments on the story.

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

The Paratroopers

Bob Shaw

Growing up on a farm, watching War movies about Paratroopers, and finding Grandma's big lawn umbrella turned out to be a dangerous combination. Dean, my best friend, came by after the movie, and we decided to play Paratrooper. The big fence post by the gate, leading to the barn, was just high enough to feel the thrill of jumping. I volunteered to be first, after all, it was my airplane, and made the jump just like the heroes in the film.

We took several turns jumping, and it started getting a little tame. Then we started looking for something a little higher. We spotted the hay loft in the old barn about the same time. I soon discovered it was a lot farther down than it was up. But that was OK. It was Dean's turn to jump.

Dean took the big umbrella and sat in the open doorway. He looked down, took a deep breath...then took another deep breath...and I figured he'd just figured out what I'd already discovered. It was a long ways toward down. I looked at Dean and said "you sure you wanna be a pairtrooper"? Well, that must have done it. He leaned forward, holding onto the umbrella, caught a splinter on the seat of his pants, and hung there all spread eagled and hollering.

The umbrella flew off to one side, and he hung there for several seconds before he went straight to the ground like a big rock. The ground broke his fall, and the...for a better choice of words, shall we say horse droppings, softened that. Unfortunately, he was face down in that. I heard the mumbling from the topside, and when I made it down the ladder to his side, I was horrified to see he'd broken both arms in the crash landing. He couldn't raise himself out of it.

I rolled him out of the "stuff", and cleaned him up a bit, then went for help. When Grampa got there, he asked me what happened. I told him his pairshoot didn't open. I received a rather harsh crash landing myself about that time. It took awhile before I could sit comfortably.

Dean took it all in stride. It was quite some time before he had to do any homework or chores, and he was pretty popular around the school yard, having both arms in a cast. Everyone wanted to sign his cast, starting on one side, and continuing on the other. But we both went out of the paratroopin' business. Safer in more ways than one. Besides, there were lots of other things to get interested in. It was a horse farm, and there were lots of cowboy heroes, too.

By Bob Shaw CapeRabbit@SEMO.NET

Bob and wife Ronni live in the Cape

~**~**~

?� The Tow Truck Driver

Barbara Weymouth

Just before Christmas 2004, I backed my van out of the garage to discover I had a flat tire. Oh joy I thought, it was dark, cold and raining and now a flat tire! I locked up the van and went back into the house to call for service. Well, that didn't go too well either as it was over an hour later that the tow truck driver finally arrived. And he wouldn't have arrived that soon had he not called me directly for directions. It seems the tow company dispatcher couldn't read a map. The poor tow truck driver had been sent everywhere but to my house.

The driver told me he had been on duty for twelve hours that day. He told me he had volunteered to cover another driver's shift, as they were short handed. I'm certain this wild goose chase, was the last thing he needed that night. As he was working to get my tire changed, he told me the following story:

He told me his two children were in the tow truck sound asleep. He had left the tow truck engine running, to keep the kids warm. There they were in the truck, two little boys, 2 and 3 years old, sound asleep in their jammies, cozy and warm. He went ahead to tell me that he had just won custody of the children after fighting a lengthy battle in court with his Ex-wife. He said that he chose to drive nights so his wife would be with the children at night and then he would be with them while his wife worked days. He said he didn't want the boys to be in childcare.

He told me a couple of nights he got off early and came home to an empty house, no sign of his wife or children. He had not received a phone call and there was not even a note. He said she lied and made up an excuse, he decided to give her the benefit of the doubt this first time. He said the second time it happened he realized that something was very wrong. He said he also talked with neighbors the next morning and found out this had been going on for sometime.

He said he found out, that while he was at work his wife had been going out to bars and leaving the kids with whomever she could find. She would make sure to be home before he returned from work.

Here this man was working a twelve hour day to provide for his children and had them right there in the tow truck with him. He was doing the best he could at the time. He said he had found a trustworthy childcare provider earlier that day which would care for his children starting the next day.

He was so happy, and had a big grin on his face as he was telling me his story. I could tell he would move mountains for his little boys if need be. I admired and respected him for these things. As he drove away, I thought to myself, there goes a real daddy, thank you God. Lord, please give this man the strength of two parents and please throw in some special blessings for those little boys too. And Lord please let them always know how much they are loved!

I will never forget the story this tow truck driver shared with me that night. I truly believe that my tire was flat for a reason, for this man needed to tell his story.

My name is Barbara J. Ervin-Weymouth; I was born and raised and still reside in the beautiful state of California, USA. I am a Christian and a proud mother of one son, Eric who is married to my daughter-in-law Dawn, together they have given me two beautiful gifts from God, I call my grandchildren.

I have one very spoiled Staffordshire Terrier, Rosie, who doesn't know she's a dog, shhh! I have worked in public education for 26 years. After 22 of them I decided to become an Adult Education Teacher. It has been the realization of a life long dream. I have been substitute teaching for the past five years. I'm still praying for a classroom and students of my own. I am truly blessed beyond measure.

In my spare time I enjoy writing true-life short stories and poetry and trying my hand at webpage design: Short stories and poems: http://snicklefritzmuffins.tripod.com/

Email: Weymouth@cwnet.com

I am published on the following E-Sites:

Storytime Tapestry

Starfish (ripplemaker.com)

SFPNN

Hearts With Soul

Pearlsoup.com

Women With Heart

Poetry.com

http://skywriting.net/

<p>Poetry Section</p>

<p>~**~**~</P>

NATALEE HOLLOWAY

Sharon Bryant

A beautiful smile

Seen around the world

A parents heartache

For their beautiful girl

A mother's heart broken

Tears shed by the day

Hanging onto hope

That her child is okay

A family in torment

Lives torn apart

Praying for a miracle

With love in their heart

A candle lit

By others who feel

The loss of a child

The pain is unreal

If we all light a candle

All around the world

Perhaps this family will feel

The prayers for this young girl

When a parents heart is broken

And they feel all alone

Prayers from strangers mean so much

Praying to help bring their child home

Sharon Bryant

www.angelsremembered.tk

In memory of all our children

Will you join me in lighting a candle for Natalee Holloway on

Thursday July 7, 2005?

My prayers are with the Holloway Family

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 Flow of Love
Jodi Flesberg Lilly

What we really are
Is Love
The light that shines
From our eyes is Love

The flow of Love
Straight from the Source
Runs through the heart
The life force

The heart feels the beauty
The eyes perceive
A whole new tapestry
Love can weave

Moving us forward
With passion divine
Love fills our life
And opens our mind

Love clears the cobwebs
Throws open the doors
To the rooms
We hadn't noticed before

It changes everything
In the blink of an eye
It gives life meaning
And opens our mind

All in our life becomes
Shiny and new
Such is the magic
That love can do

Copyright ?� 2002 Jodi Flesberg Lilly

~**~**~

The Power Of Love

Jode Flesberg

What is the power of Love?

How can it make us see

That which we've forsaken

Unbeknownst to what would be

How in the world does it find us

Shrouded, on our knees

Only Love would look beyond

What anyone else would see

And pull away the curtain

That covered up the truth

When we were young and led astray

By ignorance and youth

The arrogance and swagger

That we adopt in place

Of wisdom and understanding

Can lead us to disgrace

As we grow we begin to know

The folly of our youth

And if we are wise

We will look for ways

To replace it with the truth

Love is the truth of who we are

It knows us though we hide

Love permeates our masks and fears

And casts away our pride

Reminding us of all we are

Regardless of disguise

Love brings us to our essence

Bowing on our knees

To the God of Love

To God above

We humbly say

Amen

Jodi Flesberg Lilly is a writer and intuitive astrologer living in San Ramon, CA. She founded and leads the Creative Writers Network at www.Ryze.com (an online business networking site), as well as offering intuitive astrology readings, leading workshops, and teaching classes in spiritual and personal awareness. To subscribe to her monthly Light In Motion, intuitive astrology newsletter please send an email to info@lightinmotion.net and write "subscribe" in the subject line.

lightinmotion@yahoo.com

~**~**~

Writers Feedback

Carol,
Poetry doesn't have to be structured and set up in a certain way. All
poetry has to do is touch the heart with the magic of its words and images.
I think you are a true poet my friend. Your new story today, "Autumn Dance"
felt like a glorious poem to me when I read it. Wishing you every joy, Joe

I love Autumn too, Carol.

It's the best time of the year.

Only, in Brisbane, we have our Winters more like your Autumns.

Must be because we're sub-tropical.

Which explains why so many go 'troppo', I guess.

lolol

How are you getting on with the book?

Rob (<:

Michael Smith, I loved your story about Blackie, beautifully written. I really could see and sense that dog. It was especially poignant to me as I have sadly just lost my black dog, Jaz. Thanks, Gabrielle Morgan.

Tim Kevin, there was real wisdom in your writing. A friend of mine died recently and I had been promising myself for so long to take a trip to see her and now I feel devastated that I will never see her again. Well done.

Gabrielle Morgan.

Carol -- Candle Of Love

You have become a true poet my friend. Your words bring the images alive in our hearts and minds and that is the true test of

any poet. Wishing you every joy, Joe

Announcements

Hey,

I have a question. Or I want to ask you for help.

I write a kids story right now. I will publish the book on my own, because all the money the book makes should go to WORLD VISION. Maybe you know them. If not, look at www.worldvision.com I pay for a child in Mongolia. And I can say that Worl Vision really does a lot there. I always get pictures of the little boy, he draws for me.... Cute!

Well, and I wanted to help them more. But I do not have much money. I pay about 30 Euro a month for the child. For that I quit my contract for a massage studio I had. So I had the idea to write a book. I never wrote a kids book before so it was also a journey for me....

Well, the story is about a little boy - so far I call him Kevin - who just moved from a small village to a big city, because his dad found a new job there. Kevin is not happy at all.

And there are moon ghostes. They watch the earth, the humans.... They help the fairy??s on earth to keep the balance. But they know that there will be a problem soon. They do not have enough energy anymore to work for the balance, because the humans and the ghosts and fairy??s on the earth do not work together anymore. They ignore each other ....... So there is one young moon ghost, Lola LaLuna who decides that she will go to Kevin and ask him for help to collect enough energy to help..... A lot of adventures, etc....... trust needs to be payed.....

That sounds confusing, but I do not have much time right now to really write more about the story.

Well, anyways, the point is: They need to find good wishes for the earth, for animals, plants, other people. Good wishes that are not selfish at all. And then they have to get the energy of this wishes to the wondertree of balance.

And the good wishes should come from kids. A few kids I know already send me good wishes. They wrote things like: I hope that no delphine will ever get killed. I hope that there will be freedom and peace on earth....

Cute, isn??t it?

Well, I am happy for every good wish of the kids. I will use them all in the book and - if they want - publish the name of the little writers.

So if you know a kid that wants to help....

THANK YOU!

Saskia

Prayer Requests and Updates

Dear Prayer Warriors:

Bama's daughter, Donna is in need of our Savior's healing touch! She is in the hospital with abdomenal pain for two days and they don't know what's causing the pain yet.

Please agree with me in prayers that our Lord will guide Donna's physician's every move leading to a diagnosis and complete healing. I pray these things in Jesus' precious name, Amen and Amen....

Thank you for your love and prayers,

Barbara

Here is a note from Bama:

Barbara, I need prayers on behalf of my daughter, Donna, she is in the hospital in a lot of pain in her lower abdomen. For a couple of days now, they have not found what the problem is. She is also the daughter that has severe migraine headaches. Thanks, Bama

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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