STORYTIME TAPESTRY

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

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Aug 19, 2005? 

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We welcome Tania Puma writer #236 to Storytime Tapestry.?  I am so pleased with all the writer talent going on here lately.?  Please take the time to email her and tell her exactly what you think of her poem.

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

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

? ~ Peace Makers ~

Joyce C. Lock

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? ? ? ?  Some of the most beautiful people, in the world, are known as ???peacemakers??™.?  They're often labeled as lazy because they don't match the energy and drive of a doer.?  Instead, they are more likely to rise to the occasion out of care, compassion, and concern.

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? ? ? ?  The peacemaker is tender hearted and generous, with a heart of gold.?  They're the personality we're most drawn to when we need a listening ear, or some sort of help.?  There's a sense of serenity in their presence because we're most likely to be received unconditionally.

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? ? ? ?  "Near to the heart of God" can often be said of a peacemaker, as their relationship with Him is often quite intense.

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? ? ? ?  The peacemaker is just that, a PEACE MAKER.?  Though they're often quite successful in their profession, their personal life is far from beautiful.?  They have a tendency to get crapped on, manipulated, taken advantage of, and used; to back down from most any stand, reject a higher calling, to do whatever it takes for the sake of peace.

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? ? ? ?  Being emotionally bound, the peacemaker may have great difficulty in making or keeping a commitment, as their emotions change at least daily.?  And, whatever commitment is made may be overruled by the objections of another.

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? ? ? ?  It seems sad that the peace maker has so much more to offer, yet lets fear of adversity rule; that others get to call the shots for their life, while they ache inside for what might have been.

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? ? ? ?  Perhaps we could be more sensitive in considering the plight of a peacemaker, to not push our will on them and not to hold them back.?  We might, gradually, teach and guide them toward becoming stronger in taking stands; drawing on their faith in God to see them through.

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? ? ? ?  Otherwise, when they stand before their Maker, there will be no one standing by their side; no one else to blame.?  When God asks why they didn't follow His callings, their only answer might be, "Well, I thought about it."

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? ? ? ?  Then, God just might turn to us and ask where we were when the peacemaker needed us.

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?© by Joyce C. Lock
http://our.homewithgod.com/heavenlyinspirations/
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~**~**~? 

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Going Down For The Last Time

? A True story
By Gwen Tweedy

As I sat down in the church lounge I was thankful to be off my trembling limbs. Oh they were not trembling in fear, dread but pure excitement for what this momentous day held. The pastor soon came in and? spoke to us shaking each one's hand in encouragement and saying a prayer.

Soon I entered a small dressing room where I prepared for my baptism. There was a? girl helping us that day who wore noisy shoes on the tile floor and I vowed and did find what kind of shoes they were
because I was into noise. But that was the? practical I was riding much higher on a title wave of emotion
that I hoped and prayed would never wane.

As my turn came, I stepped gingerly down the three steps that led me into the waters of baptism.
I was not afraid. Though I? should have been fearing water as I so? often did but somehow today was different.

When I came up out of the waters, I felt renewed alive and so clean. Oh not water clean for that was only surface but cleansed forever in that crimson fountain that still flows so freely from Calvary's hill for one and all even today.
The End.

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~**~**~? 

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? Who knows what goodness lives in the hearts of men?

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THE SHADOW KNOWS

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By Ron Gold

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???Come on, Ron, you can do better than that,??? Dick yelled as he burst

through the door and snapped the lights on in our off-campus?  apartment.

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? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  This same scene played out almost every Sunday at five.?  I??™d listen to

???The Shadow??? on the radio with the room lights turned off so I could watch

my Shadow?  ring glow through the darkness.? 

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? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  ???You know how it??™s going to end.?  There??™s a criminal loose.? 

and Lamont Cranston chase him.?  But he corners them.?  Lamont becomes the

Shadow, hypnotizes the crook so the bad guy can??™t see him.?  The good guys

win and it??™s tune in next week for another same story with different villains.

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The weed of crime bears bitter fruit.???

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? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  ???But you don??™t understand, Richard,??? I said.?  ???This is not another joke..

There??™s more to it.?  It??™s more profound.???

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Dick laughed.

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Dick Handler never let up on his ???you can do better??? or ???you can get

more??? attitude, which made him a superb editor at our college newspaper and,
later,?  at The Hartford Courant, the oldest continuously published daily

newspaper in America.

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? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  Because Dick had a good eye for byline names, he changed mine.?  He

hated ???Ronnie???.?  ???Not virile enough. Sounds like a sissy show-tune singer???.? 

So he dubbed me ???Ron???, the name I??™ve chosen to use ever since.

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A year or two after my graduation from the University of Bridgeport, I

received a phone call from Dick.?  ???Lamont,??? he said, ???I??™m getting ready to tie

the knot. You??™ll be my best man! We??™re being married up in Carole??™s home

town, Gloucester, Mass. this summer.???

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???You could have picked a better time,??? I told him, commenting on the

heavy Summer humidity in the fishing town.?  And you could have picked a

much more fragrant city.?  But you couldn??™t pick a better wife than Carole.? 

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She??™s?  a charmer and she??™s got a good head on her shoulders.???

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Dick said ???thank you??”but you could have said it better--without the

cliche. Carole deserves more than hackneyed imagery from you???.

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One of my best man??™s assignments was to buy milk shakes for the

bridal party.?  New Englanders believe milk shakes ward off hangovers.

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I ambled up to the drug store??™s soda fountain in my formal white dinner

jacket.?  Sweaty men and women stared as I ordered.

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???You must be going?  to?  a wedding,??? one?  female customer said.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  ???Yes.?  At the Jewish temple.???

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  ???I??™ve never been to a Jewish wedding,??? a second girl said.

? ? ? ? ? ? ?  ? ? ? ? ? ???Then come on over.?  I??™ll see you there.???

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After saying their vows, Carole and Dick walked up the aisle.

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? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  ???Who are those two girls in t-shirts, Levis?  and tears???? Carole asked.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  ???I don??™t know, ???Dick responded.?  ???Probably some girls Ron picked up in town.???

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Life went on.?  We wrote and telephoned each other often.?  And Dick

and Carole visited me in New Jersey each time they drove to Florida.

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? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  Six years ago I called Dick from my hospital room.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  Dick sounded cheerful. ???How ???ya doin??™, Lamont????

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? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  ???To tell you the truth, Dick, I just lost my leg.?  Went through a

below the knee amputation. Nothin??™ to laugh about.???

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? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  ???Lost your leg??  That??™s tough.?  But I can do better than that.?  I??™ve got

cancer: Stomach.?  Liver.?  And Esophagus.?  I start Chemo?  Monday.?  They gave

me six months.?  I??™ll do well.?  I??™ve got Carole and my boys.?  I just want a good

quality of life.

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He got his wish.?  He retired from The Courant, became a gardening

freak.?  And he and Carole followed the UConn Huskies basketball team.?  They

also developed a fondness for Scottish Highland Games and local Indian Pow-

wows.

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? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  Less than a year later, Carole phoned.?  ???Lamont,??? she said, ???he has very

little time left.???

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  Knowing I couldn??™t drive to Waterbury, I wrote my dying friend:

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???Dear Dick,

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  ???You have been up front in my mind and in the forefront of my

meditations and prayers.

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? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  ???For more than forty years, we have gone our separate ways. And we

always managed to keep in touch.?  We knew what we both were doing.?  We

care about each other.? 

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???I remember the image of Lamont Cranston I gave you.?  The Shadow

is still my hero.?  And now, with your cancer, you are Lamont Cranston.? 

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You won??™t have to be seen to remain effective.?  What you have done in

your life??”and with your life -- will be seen and felt and treasured by? ? ? ? 

our future generations.?  You have been wonderful??” and wonderfully

blessed.?  I love you and I will miss you.?  God bless you.

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? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  ???Ron???.

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Ron Gold

outthinkresumes@aol.com
About Me:
Ron Gold has been writing professionally for some 50 years--in public relations,
advertising and motivation agencies. He now writes
inspirational and humorous stories for the Internet. He also creates
professional resumes from a recruiter's viewpoint, ethical wills and
personal love stories. He also edits college essays students submit
to undergraduate and graduate schools. He was graduated from theUniversityBridgeportin the U.S.West OrangeNJoutthinkresumes@aol.com

, He can be reached at Army. He resides in and served as a Public Information Specialist of

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Poetry Section

~**~**~

Scatter the Joy

Tania Puma

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I will one day embrace the shadow

That lurks and menaces from afar

Always wondering maybe tomorrow

One last breath, I touch my heart.

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Will they lay me with flowers?

Will they sing words of love?

As they look, one wonders

Will she smile from above?

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Do not shed tears when I fly

Speak your truth, don??™t be coy

I will be dancing with the most high

Just remember: Scatter joy.

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Tania Puma

pumatania@yahoo.com

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? ~**~**~

GOODBYE DEAR DAD

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Sue Walsh

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I never ever believed this day would come

After beating the odds so many times I thought he would surely live to one hundred and ninety one

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For a man who loved change, challenge laughter and life

He was a constant, always there for his children and his wife

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He loved people and to make them laugh and to entertain ??“ that was dad

And whatever the story he told it always began ???Well the funniest one we ever had???

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No matter whether it be Phil and Glen and the tailing of the lambs

Or one of the boys and their many scams

Or when the tractor was bogged for over a week

And he was so mad he could scarcely speak

He looked back and it was all one hell of a joke

That was dad ??“ simply a delightful bloke

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He taught his children how to enjoy life and the difference between right and wrong

And at the most difficult time of my life we knew how to stand together and be strong

He would be proud of the legacy he left behind

The most loving and supportive family you could find.

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I know in my heart that we each believe our dad is the absolute best

Now I know how terrible the pain when we watch them ascend to rest.

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As I flew home at 40,000 feet a few hours too late

It felt as if I helped the Angels lead him home to Heavens Gate

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He??™s on a new journey, a new challenge, I bet he can hardly wait

And knowing how he loved a new audience he would want us to celebrate.

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If he were here he would thank each and every friend

For taking care of Cynth and being here right to the end

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Goodbye dearest dad, Goodbye dear Joe

It??™s very comforting to know

That we??™ll see you in heaven when it??™s our time to go!

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Sue Walsh

Adelseal @senet.com.au

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Bio

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My name is Sue Walsh - I live in Adelaide, South Australia with my husband and two children.?  I worked as a Legal Secretary for 25 years and then my husband and I started our own engineering import/export business.?  I love to learn about spiritual subjects and have study many different areas.?  I love to write spiritual/religious poetry and peace prayers, I am also endeavouring to complete a novel.

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? ~**~**~

WITH TEARS IN HER EYES

Sharon Bryant? 

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She stood there watching

As he walked away

He was leaving her again

She tried to be brave

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Her heart was heavy

Her face tried to hide

The fear in her heart

She longed for him by her side

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She turned her head

As he boarded the bus

She waved her hand

Trying not to make a fuss

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He promised he'd write

Promised he'd call

She tried to smile

Remembering it all

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Her son was going

To a strange land

To fight for freedom

Please God, hold his hand

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She waved good bye

With tears in her eyes

Her little boy was now a man

A soldier, her pride

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Sharon Bryant

2005

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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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Writers Feedback

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Dear Carol;?  I must agree with you about "beef."
I getting older with my appetite for beef,?  I can eat a little piece of
it now.? ?  I can't eat the beef here in Florida, cows don't graze on good
grass as the north.?  I am Pennsylvania product and I guess I am spoiled.
I don't eat the chicken with relish as I do up north.? ?  The vegetable
taste lousy too.? ?  They are grown in the sandy soil.
Faye?  Zabelsky

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East Meets West ??“ Deepak Morris - Not fair.?  Did they ever find the beast?? ? Louise

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Carol,

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I am not much of a red meat eater--maybe because I didn't grow up eating it or maybe because my first husband wanted it 7 days a week!? 

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However, just reading your piece has whet my appetite and I'm going out tomorrow and purchase two rib-eye steaks to grill outside.?  Add a baked potato with sour cream and some fresh tomatoes from my garden and we will feast!? 

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Thanks for the mouth-watering treat!

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Love,

Barb

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I love Bernice Becker's reflections. Sounds like my
mom and gramma are talking to me about the good
old days.

Tammy Clarks hubby had better pray everynight that
he wasn't married to my Cherokee. He would have
never needed another haircut.
Mark Crider

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? SENIOR WRITERS

Chief Writer: Sharon Bryant

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? Agee, Vance;?  Apted, Violet;?  Baker, Kathy;?  Batt, Al;?  Berry, Nell;

Boda, Ginger;? ?  Buhagiar, Victor; Cassady, B.J.;?  Cavalera, Robyn; 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;?  Shiveley, Debra; Shaw, Bob; Sims, Richard; Swarner, Ken; Vaknin, Sam; Verhoeff, Jan

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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