STORYTIME TAPESTRY

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

July 14, 2005 

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

The Old Timer

Bill Walker

wildbill6807@yahoo.com

I don't know if I'm an old timer or not, I have seen older timers, some going real strong.  Maybe they are what one could call better older timers. Maybe one could call them better builds.  Maybe they took care of their bodies better.  We could get into a lot of maybes here.

I had a lot of friends that never made it; that is live to the age I am now. There are lots of things that happen in this life.  Some would be accidents, war, sickness, and so on; things that take a person out early in life. I am sure there will be some that I grew up with will live after I'm gone.  I am a rooster, as a rule the hen live a bit longer, tougher one of the breed you know.

What got me on this nutty story was a joke about the old rooster out smarting a young rooster.  Seems the young one thought he was young, full of pep and so on and could take over the duties of taking care of all the hens on the farm. Old rooster was fighting to keep his job of looking after the hens. I think any one understands the duties of a rooster. Old rooster out smarted young one, and seemed to keep the job. In this case it was the third young one that got out smarted in about a week??™s time.

Now I think the story here is a person learns things each and every day on how to stay alive another day. As you grow older you find something, or learn something new.  I remember back lot of years ago. Even as a brat, I started to think I knew a lot. Then came the day of the party out to the park; last day of school. High School.  We all had a good time, we had made it, all that was left was to get that paper saying we were SMART. Some were going on to more schooling, some were done with school, and going on to some job, but the thing was we all were SMART.

Really no one had a degree of smarts, when one thinks back.

I fooled around and worked a job for about 6 months, and joined the Air Force.  Came home, thought I would go to a school and learn how to really work on cars.  Went and did just that, after some time I was a holder of a paper, saying I knew something.   I went hot rodding for home with the thought in my head, I was SMART on cars. After about 6 months trying to work on cars, it came to me, you dummy, sure know little. About all I knew was, yes there is an engine, why don't the valves valve, and why don't the pistons piss, why don't the crankshaft crank,  got no clue?? I learned something every day, seemed like. I also learned some fool somewhere is always making some change on something. One had to always keep up with the late new things.  Oh sure things for the most part worked the same on new, as did old. The thing was things just got changed, like the spark plugs got moved to a harder to get to place, more burnt fingers trying to get the old one out, and a new one in. I also learned there were cars I liked to work on and there was some I learned to hate see pulled in.  That was the one I seemed to have a lot of work to put up with; the ones that were a bear to work on. I hated to see a brake job on a Studebaker; needed about 6 hands to hold all the parts together which was the way I looked at it. They had a hill holder thing for the brakes. It was a bear to put together. And if you made any screw up, hill holder, either didn't hill hold, or it locked up, and didn't un hill hold.  Ding bat thing. Then you had to tear back into it and find out which wheel was messed up.  Sure it would be the last wheel too. When I was running the stations,, I got smart.  One of them suckers come limping in for a brake job or about anything else, I said take this thing to Paul Logan's place, it right up the street about 2 blocks. See that is called learn something.  Learning that thing would take up space that a paying job could take up, and also less headaches.

The thing is when a person stops learning, they are dead. Now maybe not dead, dead as in took last heart beat, but dead between the ears. I have learned that smart people do a few things; such as look at something and think how and what are they looking at.  If someone is talking, the one hearing must do a few things.  He should keep the eyes open, keep the ears open, and keep the mouth shut.  It may help to plug up the ear away from the talker. That way what they say, don't run through one ear and out the other.

I remember Mrs. Worden, the sage of Beatrice South Grade School. She told one time about making a trip to Washington D.C.  There was in the Capital building. Now Mrs. Worden I know was a democrat. The two senators from Nebraska were of course of the other party. Her little group happened to run into a good republican of some fame.  The senator up on learning these three were from Nebraska, said he would fetch senator so and so.  Mrs. Worden told him never mind, they liked talking to a man that had smarts, not sure about either one of the two from Nebraska.  Senator Vandenberg, grinned a bit, anyways that is what Mrs.Worden said.

I once knew a fellow who said he needed more schooling for the job he had.  I wonder does anyone ever get all the schooling for any job? Seems to me there is always a first or something new to learn.  Like some young Dollie telling me something I didn't know.  I think there are a couple that think I don't know a thing. Well that is another thing. Play dumb, maybe Dollie will tell something.

~**~**~

Hello from Ellie Braun-Haley
My most used address is
shaley@telusplanet.net

I have learned over the years we shall find laughter in the most unlikely places. Perhaps it is because we have such a great need for it. Perhaps it is a reflection of the sense of humor our Heavenly Father has or maybe we are all just a little weird. Whatever the case may be I do believe laughter will always bridge gaps, heal emotional spills and ease our burdens for moments in time,

ALWAYS ROOM FOR LAUGHTER

Ellie Braun Haley

The day before my father's funeral, when we were at the funeral parlor viewing my father for the last time one of the great grandchildren looked at the body of my dad for a long space of time then walking over to the officiating clergyman, he tugged on the man's trousers and
said, "Excuse me sir, but is God going to recycle grandpa?"

Ellie Braun-Haley

May this day and each day hold some smiles for you, a bit of giggling and hopefully some fall on the floor laughing. And if you come across something funny, share it with me and with those you see around you who truly need to laugh.
Be Well,

AND KNOW THAT YOU ARE OF INFINITE WORTH

TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER,

FROM

ELLIE BRAUN-HALEY

P.S.
In Chicken Soup for the Traveler's Soul J. e. Hall said:

"I was developing a rural pottery project in Nicaragua when I met a local woman who told me she hadn't owned a mirror in years. Curious, I asked her what it was like not to see herself regularly. She replied, " I know who I am inside, and that's what I see every day."

Greetings from a stranger... Hi its me... Ellie

Please forgive me that I have not written. Between trying to help my daughter, waiting for this wrist to heal and meeting other work committments I already feel as though I am more than a split personality! LOL

THIS MONTH I was asked to lead a Sunday night group in an examination of JOY. Basically we looked at how the GOSPEL has brought joy into our homes. I immediately thought of the incident where I was somewhat ticked at a lady (for her thoughtless and mean remarks aimed at me) and had decided ???no more nice cards for her???.

The morning after making that decision I was reading the scriptures
and the last scripture I read hit me where I live. I knew it was aimed at me.
I realized as I read it that I had held anger in my heart AND I would be held more to task if I did not forgive the lady. GOD was speaking to me through the scriptures and I listened. As soon as I said ???well maybe I??™ll send her a little card now and then, a dark shadow left me and I felt uplifted. Now there was more room in me for JOY. God brings us JOY in so many ways.
May your week be joy-filled.
Ellie Braun-Haley
shaley@telusplanet.net

P.S.

LOVE/RELATIONSHIPS:
Not to love is not to live, or it is to live a living death. The life that goes out in love to all is the life that is full, and rich, and continually expanding in beauty and in power.
--Ralph Waldo Trine

LEADERSHIP/SUCCESS:
The message is to choose life in this moment, not to try and live forever.
--Bernie S. Siegel

~**~**~

My New Friend George Is Gone Now

Susan Roberts

Last September I wrote about a new friend I had found, George with the beautiful smile. This morning at 8:25 he passed away. I will no longer be able to see his smile and hear his sweet voice. But that is ok as I have them instilled in my mind forever.

George had some complications from bedsores that just could not be overcome. He had broken his neck 9 years ago and was either in bed or his wheelchair.If you remember he had little use of his hands and could only use them to control his chair. He and his buddy Mike would race in their chairs and scare the wits out of the nurses!

I never saw George in a bad mood. He always had that smile that would light up a room, and a laugh that made you laugh or at least smile when you heard it.

I got to see him yesterday morning, for the last time. He was in the last few hours of his life. He didn't respond to anyone or anything that was going on around him. But I pray he could hear what I said to him as I bent close to his ear and whispered to him. "George, this is Susan. Don't forget that as soon as I get to heaven, you owe me a dance." that was a little joke we had between us. He had once told me I could sit on his lap and he could use the controls on the wheelchair to dance to the music. In a way, I wish I had taken him up on that one! but then the poor man would have had crushed legs!

I remember one time when I was at the nursing home that I had taken my mother in law some sausage gravy and biscuits in a picnic basket and George saw the basket and asked if that was my purse. When I told him it was the remains of sausage gravy, he asked if there was any left over and could he have some too. Of course I fixed him a big ole biscuit and put lots of sausage gravy on it, and fed it to him. He ate all of that and asked if I would think he was a pig if he asked for more. I fixed him a SECOND BIG BISCUIT and he ate every bite! I said I had one more left and he said "No, I better not, I have to watch my figure!" and he laughed that laugh of his! He told me that was the best sausage gravy he had ever eaten. He said "I have two things I love the best, sausage gravy and biscuits and ham & cheese omelets." I told him some day I would fix him that ham & cheese omlet and more sausage gravy. He gave me that big "melt ice" smile of his.

At Christmas I took him down some home made cookies and mashed potato candy. He loved the coconut candy and ate 3 pieces of it. He was in a sad mood as his buddy Mike had been able to get into an apartment and had left the nursing home. He missed Mike a lot.

I didn't get back to the nursing home to see George again, but thought and prayed for him often. Now I will only be able to see him in my mind and dreams. But what beautiful thoughts those will be. I will NEVER forget my new friend George and that smile he had. Please say a prayer for his family and his friends, we are the ones that are hurting for we miss him already.

Susan Roberts

twofamily2 @earthlink.net

About Me:

I am now married to my second husband.
We live on five acres outside of a little
town in the Florida Panhandle. I take care
of my 92-year-old mother in law. I have
two living children, two stepchildren and
seven beautiful grandchildren. I am an
author of a recently published book
GOD and The Hillbilly, published thru
publishamerica.com, about a
young woman I met online who was in a
very abusive marriage with two
little children. It is based on her life
and what happened when she
reached out for help and got out of the
situation. She was a blessing to know. I
have been blessed so much in my life with
wonderful family, friends and online
friends. If you go to
publishamerica.com and click on "search,"
that will take you to the
book site. If you click on the reviews,
you will find that I have
two pages of reviews, all giving the book
five stars. There is a
review from the Victim Advocate for the
Wakulla County Sheriff Dept.
as well.

Poetry Section

~**~**~

A walk in my garden
Maria Stepek Doherty

I have walked in my garden,
Wind blowing fresh against my skin,
Delicious coldness wakening my soul.

And in that wakening, I see such beauty
Feel its steady beat inside me
Like the discovery of a new heart.

The yellowness of tulips astonishes;
Were they so brightly intense last year,
Or did I walk, windows closed to my soul?

So many shades of pink to feast on,
Who knew what perfection pink could be,
In all its tints and hues?

I breathe in the colours of the wallflower,
Mahogany, red and yellow, each distinctive scent,
Carried across the spectrum just for me.

I thank the dying daffodils for their gift,
The sunshine light they filled the garden with,
Chasing away darkness and lingering sadness.

Oh, my heart is filled with flowers,
It overflows with magic colour and delicate form,
Spilling out into the world a madly happy smile.

Maria Doherty

mariadoherty@blueyonder.co.uk

~**~**~

~**~**~

Sapphire Night
Maria Doherty

A deep, dark sapphire sky,
Glitters with crystal starlight.
Pale moonlight illuminates
The curvature of his spine,
Tempting hands to trace
Delicately, sensuously,
Each tingling vertebrae
Until they blaze afire.

Contained passion rises
As obtuse signals clear,
Gracious, he responds
And gifts his pleasure.
Lips couple, tongues tango,
Ecstatic moaning builds
To crescendo peaks
Of bellowing climax.

An ancient magic stirs,
Celestial spells are cast.
Trusting he sleeps,
Surrendered in her arms.
Her eyes shine, black as jet,
Wildness raging in her blood,
Hidden goddess laughs
Triumphant in her power.

Maria Doherty

mariadoherty@blueyonder.co.uk

~**~**~

Writers Feedback

Kudos, Carol!

Yours is a wonderful talent for looking forward and backwards while living in now.

Peace, Ron Gold

It is so wonderful how smell can bring alive a thousand memories

to us.  This one was great.  Keep up the wonderful writing.  Wishing you every joy, Joe

A Single White Sock by Carol Roach: Yes, a great circle of life this life is.  I have just talked about similar issue at the office canteen during the lunch hour before reading yours.  I was telling an old friend who now coincidentally works in the same company with me about my cousin and the circle of life.  My cousin??™s father was a business man until his death and now my cousin is into doing business.  His mother was a food seller (canteen) and now his wife sells food.  His mother??™s first child was a girl and now his wife gave birth to a girl as her first issue.  There is another experience of my elder sister who gave birth at a tender age and now her first daughter also gave birth at a tender age.  They both had similar experience at that age (having to be pregnant for a careless man who also was very young).  Re-circle of life!

CHILDREN AND ANGELS By: Joseph J. Mazzella:  True children have the mind
of angels.  Once here in Nigeria two families have been against one
another for over a year.  The children of both families remained friends
for real until one day one of the party's child said to the other
party's mother "why are you always avoiding my mummy when Chinere and I
always play together at Sunday School?".  This question reunited the two
families once again.

George from Lagos

Information by Sharon Bryant:  Beautiful story!   That man could have
been me.  There are many memories in our heads.  Some are too hard to
forget.  Some bring you to memorable tears. Yet life still goes on
GEORGEWATERS OJEIGBE - LAGOS, NIGERIA

Dear Carol,

Just want to thank you for being the inspiration you are to me. I don't  write for a while and get an email from you that you are  printing one of my stories and that encourages  me to write again. Thank you so much. And you do this for so many of us. You are very special.

Because He Lives,

Nanci

Nanci L. Stroupe

Dear Carol, A Single White Sock

Such a wonderful description of both what love is and can smell  like...or so methinks...Hugs leona

Hi Carol, - A Single White Sock

You paint such a vivid picture that it can even be smelled, what a great job.  Thanks, bette

I'll get even with you   (inspired by Sharon Bryant's story about her
brother)
by Norma Liles:  I could just imagine you believing you were being
advised to a safer place only to turn around and fall underneath the
chin of the one you are running away from.  It is like running around a
circle wall and at the end you come face to face with agunu (masquerade)
that you have been trying to dodge.  No the ground couldn't open to
swallow you instead the whip came down on your flesh.  I have acted the
scene in my mind and it is a terrible thing to experience, at the same
time it is funny; just like a comedy.  I am sure Paul kind of derived
pleasure from such acts.  He amuses himself that way I guess.  Where you
shivering at your hiding place and how is he now?
 

The Old Stone School House and the Changing of My Life by B. J. Cassady:
You have many stories to tell to the world.  This is just one of them.
So beautiful and quiet;  so remembering and so real.  The turn of one
man is the beginning of another soul.  You have said it all, nothing
stays for ever.  Everything shall pass away including our abilities but
we as souls will be left.  A WONDERFUL STORY.

GEORGEWATERS OJEIGBE - LAGOS, NIGERIA

Announcements

Carol, I got the address from the page link with Rachel's Story and I will be sending whatever I can. I also sent the page link through WWAUS and I'm sure the ladies will do whatever they can to help this two out.

Love to you and thank you for bringing this to our attention.

Dianna

Proud founder of:
Women With A Unique Soul
www.womenwithauniquesoul.com

Prayer Requests and Updates

here is a note from Bree:

Joyce,

I need all your prayer warriors

here and in other group and in their

other groups.

Pray that my 14 year-old daughter,

Rachel, comes home from her visitation with my ex-husband,Karl.

He wrote today that he was enrolling her in Pearland,TX in 9th grade.

She is overdue on visitation and I cannot speak to her. I have custody.

Since all things are possible with the Lord, I pray he returns her her by registration time for Aug.2 . School starts Aug. 11 here.

She is all I have.

Thank you

Blessings,

Bree

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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