STORYTIME TAPESTRY

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

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July 25, 2005? 

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

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Because It Is Mine To Give? 

B.J. Cassady? 

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? ? ?  Last weekend I made a trip for healing, healing for my soul and

healing for another.?  I traveled to where my ex-wife lived.?  She had a

serious drinking problem which caused our marriage to dissolve.?  My

step-son took me to her house, little more than a shanty, to see his

mother.?  I asked Linda if she would step outside for a minute.? 

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? ? ?  Outside I told this lady, who has suffered three strokes and has a

poor liver, that I forgave her for her misdeeds, that I had no ill will

towards her in any way.?  She was quite moved and apologized for her

behavior of the past.?  The magic we had between us is gone, however

the dignity of the past is mine to give her; my forgiveness is mine to

give her; and lastly my understanding is mine to give her.?  I imagine

with her liver, strokes, oh yes and lung problems, she will be lucky to

make it to 55.?  However, when that day comes, she can pass on with

peace.? 

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? ? ?  I would implore anyone who can to forgive those who have

offended you.

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BJ Cassady

Guthrie, Oklahoma

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B.J. Cassady

BJ.Cassady @ af-group.com

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B.J. Cassady is a Stephen Minister at

Edmond Trinity Church and ISD professional

in Guthrie, Oklahoma.?  A disabled Vietnam

era USAF vet,?  BJ enjoys giving back to

the world with his writings and is putting

together a CD audio collection of his best

writings.?  For further information please

write: bj.enterprises @juno.com

Also look for his story 'Medals' in

"More Patriot Hearts" by Lt Col William

Coffey and "The Quilt".

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~**~**~? 

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ValueSpeak

A Weekly Column

By Joseph Walker

Valuespeak@msn.com

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REJECTING REJECTION

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? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  Elizabeth recently tried out for the top choir at her high school.?  She didn't make it.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  Of course, that's OK with me.?  She's still one of my all-time favorite singers, along with her big sisters Amy and Andrea and Nat King Cole.?  I've already asked her to sing at my funeral (which may come sooner than expected if she reads this).?  I don't care what choir she's in.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  But Elizabeth does care.?  No matter how hard she tires to act otherwise, I know that she's disappointed.?  So I tried to comfort her by telling her about Abraham Lincoln, who lost more elections than he won.?  "But this wasn't an election, Dad," she said.?  "This was a teacher who I respect evaluating my talent and saying that I'm not good enough."

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  So I told her how Fred Astaire was once dismissed by a talent scout, who said of him: "Balding, not much of a singer, can dance a little."

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  "But Fred Astaire could go to another studio where they appreciated his talent," she said.?  "This is the only choir like this at my high school."

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  So I told her about Wilbur and Orville Wright, who invited dozens of acquaintances to watch them fly into history at Kitty Hawk.?  Only a handful came.?  "But the Wright brothers could fly anyway and prove everyone wrong," she said.?  "I can't force my way into the choir."

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  So I told her about my week, which included ???sorry but we??™re moving in another direction??? notices from two newspapers that previously carried this column, a letter from my book publisher reminding me that I still owe THEM for the book they published a few years ago and a meeting with a potential new employer that resulted in . . . well . . . nothing.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  It didn't help.?  And by the time I was through with my litany of personal rejection, I was almost depressed, too.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  But not for me.?  I've grown accustomed to rejection.?  Sure, it stings a little.?  Sometimes it stings a lot.?  But I've learned that the sting eventually fades away, and that there is very little that a good night's sleep -- or a good meal or a good movie -- can't help you forget.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  But watching my children face rejection is something else.?  Like most parents, my natural inclination is to try to protect my kids from life's vicissitudes.?  But you and I both know that that's impossible.?  Everyone experiences rejection sometimes.?  Great actors have lost great roles.?  Great writers have received rejection notices.?  Great athletes have been cut or traded.?  Great scientists have heard their theories ridiculed.?  Great cooks have been asked to pass the ketchup.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  And even if we could protect our children from all trauma, it probably wouldn't be the right thing to do.?  Life is about learning and growing, and the sad reality is we probably learn more from the bad stuff that happens to us than we do from the good stuff.?  Adversity brings texture and depth to our lives, and makes our triumphs -- when they come -- all the sweeter.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  Besides, who's to say that occasional rejection is a bad thing??  It keeps us humble -- and hungry.?  It's only when we allow rejection to discourage us from trying that it is fatal to our dreams and aspirations.?  But if we take the pain and frustration of rejection and channel all of that energy into renewed determination to achieve our goals by working harder and more effectively, it can actually turn out to be a positive thing.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  It worked that way for Babe Ruth, whose best years came after he was rejected by the Red Sox and traded to the Yankees.?  It worked that way for Albert Einstein, whose world-changing discoveries came after he was rejected by teachers who thought he was ???peculiar.????  It worked that way for Margaret Mitchell, who finally published "Gone With the Wind" after being rejected by dozens of potential publishers.?  And I suspect it will work that way for Elizabeth.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  Whether she makes the top choir next year, or not.

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~**~**~? 

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I PLAYED THE CYMBALS

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Sharon Bryant

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I was never good with musical instruments.?  Oh, I could pluck out a few tunes on the old piano grandma had when I was a child, learning to play by ear, but as far as anything else, except the accordion.......I couldn't play an instrument.

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In high school, I was a baton twirler.?  Now that I could do.?  I think that's why I'm not fond of football.?  I remember twirling my baton and marching in the cold fall days in Michigan, freezing my rear end off, wishing I could have my slacks on or my heavy winter coat.

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I've been to many school events where my two remaining children have played instruments.?  My daughter played the trumpet and my son played the trombone.?  I still smile when I think of how proud I was when each did a solo at the Christmas program just a few years ago.

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When I was young, I remember my brother who was almost four years younger than me wanted to play the drums.?  Mom and dad bought him a set and put them in the basement.?  I can recall day in and day out, my brother beating those drums until I wanted to strangle him.?  But when he struck the cymbals, we all jumped from the sound.?  Eventually we got used to it, and eventually he learned to make rhythm with that drum set.

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This past Sunday I remembered all of these things.?  For it was the first time in my life that I played the cymbals.?  Or at least it SOUNDED like I was playing them.

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I was at a large flea market.?  My husband walked into a booth with me, which was large and had many kitchen equipment things I was interested in.?  My eye caught a roasting pan, so I headed for the table with all the pots and pans on it.

There was the couple who owned the booth and another couple looking at some other items.

I walked into the booth ahead of my husband.?  To my right was a large row of tables that held all those metal burner covers for stoves.?  I remember seeing some covers? with chickens, flowers, and designs on them.

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I was walking and did not see the big tree root sticking out of the ground.?  My sandal caught on it and pitched my body forward.?  I grabbed out to the table with all the burner covers as my body struck many of them.?  My husband tried to grab me but it was too late.

As I crashed down on all the metal covers and they slid into one another, crashing many to the ground, it sounded like a whole lot of cymbals being struck.?  The older couple that was looking at items screamed.?  The owners of the booth yelled out, "Oh my goodness," and there I laid across that large table among all those metal burner covers.

I felt like a fool.

Then the lady who owned the booth said, "I told the flea market people they have to cut that tree root out, others have tripped over it."?  With my face as red as a beet, my toe burning like you read about, I said, "Boy, didn't that sound like someone playing the cymbals?"?  Everyone laughed and kept saying, "Are you ok?"

I replied "Yes, I'm ok, but I was never good at playing drums and cymbals.?  Besides, I didn't even have any drum sticks!"

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? Sharon Bryant

1946 @bellsouth.net

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About Me:

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? 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

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~**~**~? 

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Poetry Section

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Childhood

? Dianna Doles Petry

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Always so full of mystery and curiosity,

Dancing to make believe music full of mirth,

Slaying dragons, playing house on the lawn,

Their tears can move mountains here on earth.

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Reading fairy tales, passing down family lore,

Listening to wishes and allowing them to dream.

Each day is a chance to learn through play,

How short the days of childhood always seem.

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In the flash of an eye, they're all grown up,

The innocence and giggles start to fade away.

They want to expand their world further,

We cry as we watch them go on their way.

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Hold on tightly to the magic while it's there,

Never take it for granted or wish it away.

Enjoy those small arms around your neck each day.

I wish I? could hold onto childhood and make it stay.

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Dianna Doles Petry

?©4/18/2005

Dianna59@charter.net

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Music playing is Keeper Of The Stars

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~**~**~

My Dream

Dianna Doles Petry

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Last night, I found myself wandering in a dream,

I thought I saw shadows dancing around me.

I was walking through the forest on a clear day,

Your smiling face kept appearing for me to see.

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The longer I walked, the more serene it felt,

Then I found a beautiful flower on a hill.

I felt peace fill my heart and a tear? fill my eye,

For a moment in time, the world stood still.

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I knew then that you will always be here,

Living in my heart, touching my life each day.

You sent this flower to me in my dream,

To remind me that you're never far away.

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From the first day we met, we became friends,

I knew that I could always talk to you.

This friendship is the kind that never ends,

Nothing could ever make me forget you.

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I woke up this morning thinking of you,

Hoping that I've shown my love for you each day.

Being thankful that we had time to laugh together,

Remembering the thoughtful things you would say.

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Last night, I found myself wandering in a dream,

I heard you whisper my name in the dark of night.

I felt your love reassuring me of your presence,

As you walked slowly towards a heavenly light.

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Love,

Dianna Doles Petry

?© May 7, 2005

Dianna59@charter.net

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~**~**~

In light of the many things going on in our lives here lately, I wrote this poem tonight. I hope that all of you will take a moment to light a candle, say a prayer, or send healing light to all of those we love who are hurting in any way right now.

I had many thoughts go through my mind today and the one that seemed to be the most important was a voice that kept saying to me....."Memories build up with the time you lived. When it's all said and done, more people will remember your smile, your touch of kindness and your attitude towards life instead of what you were dressed in when they said good-bye."

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Hello God

Dianna Doles Petry

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Hello God, I thought I'd talk with you tonight,

I'm not sure if you'll remember me, it's been a while.

I am hoping that you will look over my family and friends,

They all seem to be going through so many trials.

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You see, I don't always understand this life,

So many people have to go through? sad times? alone.

We all need your love and your guidance,

Please don't let anyone ever feel like they're alone.

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God, I know you are already aware of the pain we feel,

So I am asking that you keep our loved ones safe and sound.

Please fill our hearts with love and our lives with confidence,

So that we might face whatever fate for which we're bound.

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Dianna Doles Petry

?©May 9, 2005

Dianna59@charter.net

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Proud founder of:
Women With A Unique Soul
www.womenwithauniquesoul.com
Webmaster of Short Stories
http://diannapetry.tripod.com
Webmaster of Poetry From Life
http://www.geocities.com/diannawv/
Poems By Dianna
http://members.tripod.com/~poemsbydianna/PoetryofLife.html

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Writers Feedback

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Hey Kath,

Nice to see this cemetary story again ?  This really is a hoot!!! Kathy Whirity

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Kathy Baker has done it again with her wonderful sense of humor and ability to describe an ordinary? situation and make it interesting!?  I really enjoyed her story, Shortcut to the Cemetery, as I do all her stories.?  Thanks and God bless, Sharlett Hunt

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Prayer Requests and Updates

To All;

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Mom says to tell you all thanks for your prayers for her, and God bless you all.

She is doing a lot better now and she is able to eat! praise God for that. They

went and stretched her esophagus and took a picture of it it is still 40%

blocked.

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So if you all would please keep up the prayers for her, they are being answered.

God bless you all!

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With His Love

Richard D. Sims

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SENIOR WRITERS

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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;

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STORYTIME TAPESTRY STAFF

Publisher: Carol Roach-founder

Moderator: Thelma Hartselle-co founder

Moderator: Clara Westerfer

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