STORYTIME TAPESTRY

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

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Nov, 2005? 

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Today's Queue Stories
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Dysfunctional Thanksgiving

by Sharlett F. Hunt

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? ?  Thanksgiving, instead of being a day for families to get together and share their blessings can be a time for some to realize they have no family.?  Since I was abandoned at twelve years old, I have been more or less estranged from my own family except for my wonderful

dad, who always stays in touch with me.? 

?  ? For many years past, I would start wallowing in self pity at very the thought of these family holidays.?  I would get so depressed and spend most of my time in bed.?  I made up my mind that this year would be different.?  I decided I would find a friend who was alone and at least go eat turkey at a restaurant or I would cook dinner.?  Somehow I was going to smell the smells of the season and be thankful and enjoy it.? 

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?  My friend Nelson and his partner, Jim, invited me over to their house for dinner.?  He said he had invited a couple more of his friends so I was a little leery.?  Sometimes it is hard for me to meet people, probably because I spend so much time alone.?  Our friend, John was cooking the turkey and I would bring my cornbread dressing made with chicken that everybody seemed to enjoy.?  It was decided that I would go.

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?  I woke up feeling so grateful the morning of Thanksgiving!?  I was counting even the smallest blessing that God had so graciously given me.?  The saying is true that it is hard to be stressed when you are blessed!?  I was looking forward to this dinner and the comradery of friends.

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?  Nelson picked me up early and nobody was there when I arrived, except us.?  He had already put the turkey in the oven and the house smelled delicious!?  There is something about the smell of baking turkey that enhances my mood.?  It's a happy smell.

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?  Soon John arrived and took over the kitchen and we relaxed to await the arrival of the other guests, munching on shrimp cocktail.? 

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?  I had already been told that these two ladies were a lesbian couple.?  Mary and Connie had each been married before but had formed a relationship together years ago.?  I didn't know what to expect.

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?  They finally got there.?  Nelson introduced us and they each hugged me hello.?  I started to feel comfortable.? 

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?  The table was just beautiful as we sat down to eat, all six of us, dysfunctional in our own certain ways.?  We all joined hands as Mary said grace.?  There was so much love and acceptance in that dining room.

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?  Family doesn't necessarily mean you have the same DNA.?  We all have the blood of Jesus flowing through our veins.?  We need to learn to love people, not for what they do but for who they are inside.?  Many times I have missed a chance of having a meaningful friendship by being judgmental.?  If there is such a thing, my greatest blessing is this knowledge God has given me.? 

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?  As Nelson and I were leaving to take me home, I had? the? comfortable feeling that comes with being with family.?  I was stuffed with turkey but also full of love and caring.?  I am looking forward to Christmas dinner, which I am told, will be at Mary and Connie's house.?  Mary is a hunter so there is no telling what kind of delicacies we will be served.? 

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Dysfunctional, maybe.?  I have never thought of myself as normal.?  I am heterosexual myself.?  I know that and it is all that matters to me.?  God loves us all, no matter what.? 

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Sharlette863 @aol.com


About Me:

I was born in Alabama, the middle of seven children. At about age four we moved to Central Florida and I have lived here most of my life. I am a Viet Nam Era Veteran. I have always enjoyed writing and as I get older it seems to come more naturally to me. I believe everyone has many stories inside them and some are blessed to be able to share them.
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Janice & Edith, follow up (Special People)

Sharon Bryant

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I received many emails after writing the story about my friends, Edith and Janice.?  Thank you all for telling me how much the story meant to you.

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You see, I always had the feeling that Janice was not what? you would call totally? "retarded."? ? ?  Her eyes showed me that she was taking in everything that people said.?  Janice could not speak words, though she tried.?  She even taught me a sign language that she had made up herself.?  She got so tickled when I began using her hand movements.

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Janice and Edith had nothing so to speak.?  Edith lived on a social security check that barely pays her rent, so naturally I had to take those two under my wing.?  If you really want to see what Christmas is about, give something to someone who has never had much in life, though worked hard to make ends meet.?  Watch their eyes as they open the gift, see and feel their tears, then always remember that hug they give you.?  That first year Janice about broke my neck when I bought her a new outfit and costume jewelry and perfume. ? She'd never had anything new, other than the clothes Edith made, which to me, was remarkable.

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I sat down with Edith one night and told her she had a talent many women dream of having, being able to sew the way that she could.?  I told her there was decent money in altering clothes, making wedding gowns, etc.?  She then told me a story, one that I've always remembered.

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She was sewing for a living.?  A city official found out about her and wanted her to make his daughter a Southern Belle outfit for her eighteenth birthday party, where several hundred guests would be attending.?  He told Edith that he wanted the best, a gorgeous gown, with a parasol to match.?  Edith took her own money and bought all the material needed.?  She told me in detail what the dress looked like.?  It? must have been? gorgeous.

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When she finished making the dress and parasol, she took a bus to the man's house to deliver the dress and get paid.?  She had spent $85.00 for the material.?  The man and his wife ranted and raved about the beautiful dress saying that their daughter was going to be simply gorgeous at her party.?  The man then said, "What do I owe you?"?  Edith told him to give her what he thought it was worth.?  He handed her a five-dollar bill.

Edith told me that was the day she stopped sewing for a living.

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Edith was raised in the mountains many years ago.?  She hardly ever got to "Go to town" and never met a lot of people in her life.?  She was shy.?  But she was protective of Janice.?  So many times she asked me questions about things.?  I remember one day she had me roaring.?  She had watched some television show the night before and early the next morning she was knocking on my door.?  I told her and Janice to come on it for a cup of coffee and a sweet roll.?  I poured the coffee and watching Edith, I knew something was bothering her.?  So I said, "What's up, what's bugging you today?"?  She said, "Is it true that women kiss other women?"?  My mind thought, "What has she seen now?"? ?  I said, "Well, yeah, there are some that do."?  She said, "Is it true that women will sleep with other women?"?  I replied, yes, some of them do.?  She then said, "What do you call those kinds of women?"?  I said, "Gee, let me think."?  I wasn't sure what I should say, so she said, "It starts with the letter L, doesn't it?"?  I said, "I think so."?  She said, "Tell me what it is??  And if you know any women in this neighborhood that are wanting to sleep with other women, you better let me know so I can tell them if they look at my Janice, I'm going to clobber them silly."?  I threw back my head and laughed then she looked at me puzzled.?  She said, "What's funny?"?  I said, "You."

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I was divorced when I met Janice and Edith.?  Edith decided on her own one day that I should not be living alone with my kids.?  I told her I was doing just fine and not to worry about me.?  A few days later she came to my house and kept smiling.?  Janice was grinning the whole time so I said, "Ok, you two, what's up?"?  Janice pounded her hands on the table and made a motion to her head, taking her finger to her own hair, patting her head, pretending to be combing her hair.?  I said, "Ok Janice, what did you mother do to your hair?"?  Janice shook her head no, and pointed at me.?  I didn't understand.?  Again Janice made the motions to her head, then pointed at my head.?  I laughed and said, my head was ok, or so I thought it was.?  Janice laughed and tugged Edith out of her chair then tugged me out of mine.?  Edith kept saying, "Janice, don't you say a word just yet."?  Janice motioned me to follow her to their house.?  The three of us went walking down the road and Janice ran to the door and ran inside and disappeared.?  She came running out with a hat, a large straw hat, with beautiful ribbons and beads all over it.?  It was a floppy summer hat.?  Thinking it was Janice's hat, I said, "Janice, that is a beautiful hat, you'll look so pretty in it."?  Janice shook her head no and plopped the hat on my head.?  She clapped her hands and tried to hum the wedding march.?  It hit me then, as Edith stood by grinning away.

"I made you a wedding outfit, you have got to find a man, and I'm going to be at the wedding, and I want you to get married on the mountain when the wildflowers are in bloom, everything will be so pretty, that's what I had hopes for that Janice would do some day."

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I stood there looking at those two when Janice ran down the hall and came back carrying the beautiful dress Edith had made.?  I sat them both down and explained to them that some women do ok living alone, and that sometimes they like being by themselves after a divorce.?  Janice turned her head sideways and looked me in the eye and shook her head no.?  I grinned and said, "Yes, I'm ok, and I'm not ready to even think about marrying again."?  Edith said, "Well, we're still going to look for a nice man for you.?  You're too young to be alone."?  Life changed after that day and Janice got me in hot water.

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Two days later Janice brought the UPS Man over to my house.?  He had no idea why he was standing on my deck, neither did I, and Janice clapped her hands, grabbed his, grabbed mine and said, "DO."?  It dawned on me what she was up to and I must have turned 10 shades of red.?  The poor UPS man never did realize what was going on, so I told him I was expecting a package and Janice thought it was coming that day.?  Janice violently shook her head NO at him.?  But she couldn't tell him the truth so he fell for the story I gave him.

After he left, I told Janice she could not bring guys over to my house to have me meet them.?  She looked at me with that WHY? look and I explained that it was not right.

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In a years time, she brought over an electrician, a welder, and then a preacher.? ? ?  How can I forget the preacher?? 

The preacher was single, and Edith told him so was I, then she invited him to dinner one night when I invited her and Janice to come over.?  When this man showed up at my door, I told him he must have the wrong address and he said, "No, this is the address I was told to come to.?  A lady by the name of Edith invited me."?  That Edith was hiding behind the shed, and I saw her peeking out.?  She had me in hot water all the time, but it was so cute the way she and Janice did things, you couldn't help but laugh.

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They had a dog named Randy, a big Lab, a beautiful dog.?  He was an older dog? when I met Janice and Edith.?  One night he became sick.?  Edith ran to my house and asked me to come quick, Randy was ill.?  I ran over to the house and knew Randy was dying.?  It was so hard to tell them both that Randy was old, and that it was his time to go.?  When he took his last breath, I had to hold those two when they cried buckets of tears.?  I buried Randy for them.?  And we had a service.?  It tugged at my heart when Edith laid the blue blanket Randy always laid on in the hole and asked if I'd wrap Randy in it.?  There we were, the three of us, crying our heads off.

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Of all the things I saw and did with those two, I think the Christmas of '87 was the most remarkable.?  Janice went to church every Sunday with Edith, and when they came home the month before Christmas, they ran over to my house to tell me Janice was going to be running for a contest.?  Janice was ecstatic.?  I bought? Edith material and she made Janice a beautiful dress.?  I attended church with them the night of the contest.?  Janice won.?  As long as I live, I will never forget the shine in that little woman's eyes that night.?  She was chosen for being the most loving, caring person who helped take care of the little ones.?  She was chosen because like with me, Janice won everyone's heart at church with her kind ways.?  She was chosen because God knew, she was one of His special people.

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And yes, my life has been blessed by meeting a mother and daughter who had a love for all mankind.? 

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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 26,
Amy, and a second son, Randy, age 24.

My main goal in life is to help those who
have lost a child. My website is: www.angelsremembered.tk

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MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

(BY Ellie BRAUN-HALEY)

Yesterday as I left the dentist's office I saw a rough looking man come around the back of the building where I was parked. He looked as though he'd been in the same clothes for awhile and he had a tough look about him.

I immediately locked the doors on the van. I felt vulnerable and threatened simply by the looks of this fellow. Then as I watched the man he moved over toward a garbage barrel and I realized he was rummaging for food or perhaps bottles to turn in for money.

It dawned on me this was a man down on his luck and I could help him. I grabbed my handbag and dug around for my wallet. When I found some money I looked up and the hobo had gone. I drove around the building looking for him but he had disappeared.

I felt awful. It seemed that I had indeed missed an opportunity to touch a life. Not only was I disappointed in myself but I wondered if perhaps God was a little disappointed too.
Ellie Braun-Haley
shaley@telusplanet.net

POST SCRIPT A day can seem so empty without the opportunity of making a difference in the life of another. Ellie Braun-Haley

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Ellie Braun-Haley
shaley@telusplanet.net

The book A LITTLE DOOR, A LITTLE LIGHT by Ellie Braun-Haley with Shawn Haley was published by Eagle Creek Publishers. That website is under construction and contact for books must be made to Ellie at shaley@telusplanet.net
or by going to Amazon.com

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ONE TREE

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

? ? ? ?  At the lake near my home there was an old tree that was truly majestic. It was 70 feet tall and set right at the water's edge. It provided shade to generations of fishermen and was home to countless squirrels and birds over the years. In the fall its colorful leaves were glorious to gaze upon. By the end of October they had covered the walk path in a thick, crunchy carpet that was a joy to the eye, a pleasure to the nose, and a delight to the ear. This tree was such a wonder to behold. It made the lake and the world a more beautiful place just by being in it.

? ? ? ?  A few years ago, however, erosion began to take its toll on the ground around the tree. There came a point when the dirt was so worn away by the lake water that it could no longer support the huge roots of this massive beauty and the tree fell to the ground. Amazingly, for the next year it still held on to life. The following Spring with only a few roots still in the ground this tree produced fresh leaves along its fallen limbs. Eventually, though, the tree died and its huge trunk began to slowly decompose. I was saddened by this, but took joy in remembering the beautiful life this tree had lived.

? ? ? ?  As I was walking around the decaying trunk today, however, I saw something that made my heart sing. Seeds had fallen into it and started to grow. Out of this dead trunk two new saplings were now growing. Even in its death this glorious tree was bringing beauty and life to this world.

? ? ? ?  May we all live our lives as beautifully as this tree did. May we all live a life that makes the world around us a better place. May we all live a life of such love, such joy, and such light that we touch countless lives with our spirit. May we all live a life of such goodness, such kindness, and such oneness with God that we continue to bring beauty, love, and life to the hearts and souls of others even after we have left this world for the next.

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Joseph J. Mazzella
joecool @ wirefire.com

Joe lives in West Virginia with his wife and three children. Various dogs and cats have adopted Joe and his family for their own. Joe enjoys his family, beauty, love and hearing from his email friends. Joe likes to take the time to smell the roses and enjoy the beauty around him as he goes about his daily life.
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Writers Feedback

What precious?  people you met?  and how precious they met in return as you took them under your "wing"?  and thank God he also is ready to "gather us under his wings as a hen would her chicks" if we only let him.?  God bless and keep you dear Sharon and all you love with HIS angels all round you all today and always? ?  hugs and love to you? ? ?  Leona ? ? 

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Prayer Requests and Updates

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? SENIOR WRITERS

Chief Writer: Sharon Bryant

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

Boda, Ginger;? ? Buhagiar, Victor; Cassady, B.J.;?  Cavalera, Robyn; Crider, Mark;? 

Deming, Barb; Doherty, Maria; Goodier, Steve; Halley, Ellie Braun;

Harris, Kathy Anne;? Hunt, Sharlette;? 

Jacobson, Gary;? Kiser, Roger Dean; Kerens, Claudia; Jenkins, Pamela;

Liles, Norma; Lilly, Jodi Flesberg; Lock, Joyce; Mazzella, Joe;? Morris, Deepak; Ojeigbe, Georgewaters;

?  Petry, Dianna Doles; Roberts, Susan;?  Shiveley, Debra; Shaw, Bob; Sims, Richard; Streidel, Saskia; Swarner, Ken; Vaknin, Sam; Verhoeff, Jan

Walker, Bill; Walker, Joe;? Warner, Gorden K; Walsh, Sue

Weymouth, Barbara; Whirity, Kathy;? White, Robert;

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