STORYTIME TAPESTRY

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

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Dec 29, 2005? 

Today??™s Announcements:

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We are nearing the end of the contest, Dec 30^th will be the last day.?  I will post the list of stories and writers separately so that you guys can vote. ? 

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

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Today's Christmas Stories
~**~**~**~

? THE PROMISE ? 

Sharon Bryant

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He'll be 80 on his next birthday.?  I look at the eyes that have seen so much? sadness in his life.?  His mother whose life was taken with cancer.?  His wife of many years who lost her life to MS.?  His daughter who lost her battle with cancer.

There are grandchildren, but they are too busy with their own lives to worry about him.?  I took him under my wing when his daughter died.?  I make sure he's got a hot meal to eat every night.?  I make him watch his sugar intake.? 

And I wonder why doesn't his family care enough to do what they should be doing?

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They know how to dial a phone and they do when it's their birthday.?  They know when it gets time for Christmas shopping how to contact him.?  And yet.....they never offer to take him out to eat.?  They never call and say, "Do you need anything?"? 

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Tonight at supper, I mentioned that I would like to drive around the city and look at the light displays at homes, businesses, etc.?  I looked at him and said, "Would you like to take a ride with us and see the lights this year?"

His eyes spoke before his mouth moved and I knew, he would like it very much.

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"I would love to ride around and see the lights," he said.?  "When my wife was here, we used to do that every Christmas.?  I always loved all the lights and how folks celebrate the birth of Jesus".

"Well, after supper tomorrow night, we're going," I said.?  He smiled and said, "I'd like that very much."

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Tomorrow evening? hubby and I will take this? gentleman out for a ride.?  I want to see his eyes when he sees the beauty of the lights.?  I want him to remember the good years when his wife was with him and they drove around looking at all the beauty of Christmas.?  I want to make him happy.?  I want to let him know how much he is loved by us.

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He is the little fellow who lives on the land in front of ours.?  And though he has family, he is still alone except for us.? 

He is not aware of the promise.? 

I will never let him know.? 

It all began with a promise over four years ago, but it's grown into much more than that today.?  Perhaps one day if I live to be his age, someone will make sure I've got food to eat.?  Perhaps someone will call me up and say, "Do you want me to take you to your doctor today for your check-up?"? ? ?  I think it would make me feel good to know someone is there if I need them.

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I promised his daughter before her death I would look out for her father.?  I've done that since the day we buried her over four years ago.?  He knows, if he needs anything, all he has to do is let us know.?  He never asks for much.?  He's a very proud man.?  He is proud he's a WWII Veteran, Marine Corp.?  I'm proud he lives near us.

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He was happy when he left our house tonight.?  Perhaps his daughter is smiling down from Heaven, nodding her head whispering, "Thank you for watching out for my dad for me."

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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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~**~**~? 

? The Waitress? 

B. J. Cassady
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? ? ? ? ?  During the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping during the
weekend before Christmas, my wife and I were feeling quite full of
the Christmas spirit.?  We were looking for to the next day seeing our
grandchildren in a Christmas play and we had just finished our shopping.
Supper time was upon us so we decided upon a nice Italian restaurant.
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? ? ? ? ?  Our waitress was very nice, young and she mentioned her
husband was working in New Orleans at a Walmart trying to get it
back in shape.?  She also had a seven month old girl at home but
Christmas would be lean this year as they lacked just a little money to
make it complete.? ?  After we ate, I pulled a twenty from my billfold
and wrote Merry Christmas on it and handed it to her as we were
leaving.?  Where those tears of happiness in her eyes?? ?  Pay it forward.
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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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? ? ~**~**~

Honey, it's Cold Outside? 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  Sharlett F. Hunt

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?  I woke up and the cold air hit me like water in the face!?  Have you ever awakened on a winter morning and just wanted to dig yourself down deeper into the covers??  It is so warm beneath the billowing country comforter but it was 5:30 AM? and? I decided to wake up.

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?  First of all, my entire life is built around sleep.?  Although we only sleep about six hours per day I like to ensure that mine is of the utmost quality,? had I been born a bear, I would never get cold.? ? 

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?  It's Christmas, well, almost, and? even here on my tiny peninsula, life becomes apparent.?  Time to kick out from underneath the covers and get on with it.

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?  I drink Columbian coffee as it has the strong aroma and taste of which I am accustomed.?  I enjoy the smell as I prepare for my day.?  First stop is my computer.?  As I enjoy my first delicious cup of coffee, I look for emails of people that I miss because I haven't talked to them since the day before.? 

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?  Life is good.?  I think of the things I must do today.?  Number one, make candy.?  I will not eat the delicious fudge and Divinity, that I am preparing.?  Yeah, right.?  I am making a fudge that was a recipe I saw for the old Chunky Candy, that I adore, there is no other way to describe this delectable goody, except to say that is?  mouth watering good.? ?  Also, I was sad to hear that Divinity is not made at all anymore.?  People are in such a hurry and for what?? 

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?  I needed some key ingredients for my candy so I decided to go on the bus to the Publix.?  It was raining, a slow, quiet drizzle and I cold smell Christmas in the air.?  I went to a shopping center which included Publix but I want to tell you about the miracles.? 

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?  I will attempt.?  On the way home I started talking to the bus driver.?  ? I am a? person who doesn't usually have a lot to say.?  I met a lady named? Stella and she is from Orange County, Cal.?  She simply loves Divinity and hasn't had it for some time!?  It is so filled with sugar and calories ? but she is thin.?  I will make her some.?  Then another of the passengers got involved and began telling me his bus schedule.?  Joey wants candy one day next week, I am not sure when, but you can bet your bottom dollar, it will be there for as many as I can make this silly candy for.?  They all want to taste the Divinity.?  It is beautiful!?  I will make it in different colors, blue, red, green and pink, some with coconut, some with pecans.?  If my gift is giving candy, I want to be there to enjoy it.

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? ? I had been home, maybe five minutes when who walks in but Nelson.?  I had asked him days earlier to please bring my baking pan from Thanksgiving.?  And he did.?  Along with my secret ingredient for Divinity, granulated sugar and vanilla extract.?  Joy is mine!? ? ?  The secret is in the egg whites.?  And the Love.

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?  Each day, God gives me something else that has to be done.?  Today, I have done everything ? has been put in front of me.? 

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?  Immediately, as I arrived home, my friend Coralyn was on the phone, telling me what a blessing it was to read my latest story, pertaining to child abuse.?  She had sent me, earlier, a picture,painted in Brisbane Australia.? It's so pretty.?  My little log cabin that I refer to in one of my poems.?  What a lovely lady and I can envision ,myself. walking around the Outback with her? We talk for hours, as if trying to catch up though I have never met her.?  My lovely friend!

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?  Then my dad called and life was complete.?  It might be cold on the outside but in my heart there's a warm glow.

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~**~**~

? Heavenly Divinity From Hell? 

?  Sharlett F. Hunt

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?  What a wonderful time of year!?  People who don't usually smile at you will greet you and even stop and chat for a while.?  It seems that Christmas is upon us and the spirit does, indeed, live on in the hearts and minds of those of us who care.? 

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?  With all the newfound Christmas spirit I could muster. I decided I was going to make candy and brownies for gifts this year, as I did many years ago when my children were small.?  I suppose I forgot one small detail.

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?  That was about thirty years ago and I had tried making? candy only? once in all those years and the memory of that day is still vivid.?  My dad and I?  laugh today about? that fudge.?  It started out well but something went wrong.?  I thought I did everything according to the directions but must have cooked it too long.?  ? It turned into a huge rock in the middle of the platter which I poured it on to cut into squares.?  Cut it??  I couldn't even lift it!

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?  This year will be different, I thought to myself as I was gathering all my ingredients to make not only chocolate fudge, brownies and gingerbread, but also some? delectable, mouth watering,? divinity.? 

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?  ? I told everyone on the city bus that I was making candy, and many, including the bus driver put in their order.?  I wanted to give some to my friends and neighbors but I would make more to share with these people I see on occasion and really spread some cheer.?  I remember perfect strangers offering me a small gift, never realizing how alone I was, and it meant so much to me.

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?  I finally had all? the ingredients I needed for this project.?  I had ransacked the Internet and? found many recipes for Divinity and? some for fudge.?  I studied recipes.?  I wanted to find the ones that suited me best so this candy would not fail.?  I already had the brownies and gingerbread under control.?  I was so leery of the fudge.?  I finally settled on a Never Fail Divinity and Five Minute Fudge.?  I couldn't go wrong.

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?  All I can say is the Never Fail Divinity failed.?  It was more work than I figured it to be.?  You had to boil sugar syrup and beat egg whites at the same time, taking care not to allow the syrup to overcook.?  Then you had to? whip it all together and it gets hard to beat.?  I probably didn't beat it long enough because by this time I was ready to beat my head against the wall!?  There were many don'ts.?  I should have known better, I suppose.?  It never did harden and my friend, Burt came over and ate some with a spoon, taking the rest home.?  I was so disappointed.? 

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?  I knew I had to try it again.?  I was a person obsessed.?  I read more divinity recipes and started asking questions.?  Come to find out, nobody makes it anymore, except fools like me.?  Everybody loves it but they don't make it and I think I know why.

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?  I decided to make an attempt at the fudge first.?  Okay, the recipe says five minutes.?  It took me an hour and a half but this time I had something to show for my efforts.?  I filled it with nuts and raisons and it was delicious!?  Now to try the divinity again!

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?  I nervously got everything I needed close at hand so I could work fast.?  The first batch was green with coconut so this time, armed with a new recipe, I decided to color it pink and use pecans and coconut as ingredients.?  I would call it Heavenly Divinity and I knew everything I thought there was to know about making it.?  I would even leave it out to? harden for the complete 12 hours.?  Maybe that is where I went wrong.?  This time it would be perfect!

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?  I decided to pour it out into the pan and cut into squares instead of dropping it on wax paper as I had done before.?  I was changing everything so this time it had to be right.?  It wasn't.

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?  Twelve hours of stress and checking every few minutes and it still didn't harden.?  So I decided to put it in the refrigerator, a big "don't", thinking if it gets good and cold, it will harden eventually.?  It is still in there.

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?  I will make another batch of fudge so I'll have enough goodies to go around.?  I have a newfound confidence in my fudge making technique.?  I will not think about the flop I made of the divinity.

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?  I learned that we all do some things better than others.?  I can't dwell on the fact that I failed at this one thing.?  In fact, I have failed at many things in life but? the point is I tried.?  God loves me even if I never make another piece of candy.?  He will provide more than enough of everything to go around.?  This Christmas will be the very best one I? ever had? no matter what failures or successes I may have.?  The spirit I have is deep down inside, given as a gift for me to share with others and? nothing can take that away.? 

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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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~**~**~

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A LITTLE JEWISH CHRISTMAS TALE

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By David Wainland

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As we approached the cemetery I could feel that familiar tightening in my chest. I almost turned the car around. Each time I visit my son??™s grave I am gripped with the same apprehension. Its two and a half years and I still can??™t believe that he is gone. Sometimes I pretend that he is off wandering around Europe as he did in his youth, but when I am faced with the headstone I cannot pretend and reality seeps in.

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Such was the case as drove through the gates on Christmas day. Yes I??™m Jewish, but it seemed like the perfect day to pay my respects. The air was clear with just a hint of a Florida December in the air. The temperature hovered around seventy degrees and there was a nice breeze, just enough to make the trees bow as we walked by.

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We had arrived in our Mercury SUV and when we stepped out it was with the usual reticence.?  Without turning I clicked the lock button on my key-ring and heard the comforting beeping sound of the alarm. As we walked the hundred or so yards my heart thumped loudly and I wondered what I would say this time to that uncaring bronze marker. My wife already knew, as she always does. Speaking to our son over Sabbath candles or at his grave-site is old news and easy for her. Generally I just read from a small prayer book and then sit on a marble bench next to a tree while Jamie chats away.

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I did the same that day and while I sat pondering my own life and what lay ahead I looked up and saw that for some reason I had left the driver??™s side door open. When Jamie finished I called her attention to it and she was surprised as I was. I don??™t ever remember doing that, at least unintentionally.

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As we closed the distance I joked to my wife and the emptiness around us, ???Jeremy I know you want to go for a ride, but you can??™t drive and will have to sit in the back.??? I slid into the driver??™s seat and reached over to open the door and suddenly the alarm started blaring.

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A coincidence probably, but I like to think it was the wise-guy spirit of my son having the last laugh.

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David Wainland

David @ DavidWainland.com

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About Me:

I am a professional artist and metal sculptor known as Sculptoons and I??™m the creator of custom tabletop items. I paint as well as cartoon. My work is displayed at art festivals in Florida.

My passion is writing and I have completed two novels, Matecumbe Key ?©, about the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane and Red Absinthe ?©, a murder mystery set in 1926 New Orleans. When I am not working on my art I write stories, poetry and essays about life.

I??™m married and the father of two. My son passed away in July of 2003 and left behind a beautiful daughter. Just one of my three grandchildren. My daughter and her family live in New Jersey

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Writers Feedback

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Geo Dan Rusu, this is a very interesting story. Well done and welcome to Storytime Tapestry!

Dianna

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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; Gilbert, Robert Jr; Goodier, Steve; Halley, Ellie Braun;

Harris, Kathy Anne;? Hunt, Sharlette;? Hymes, Christina

Jacobson, Gary;? Kiser, Roger Dean; Kerens, Claudia; Kevin, Tim 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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STORYTIME TAPESTRY STAFF

Publisher: Carol Roach-founder

Moderator: Thelma Hartselle-co founder

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