STORYTIME TAPESTRY

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

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Jan 22, 2006? 

Today??™s Announcements:

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Happy Birthday chief writer for Storytime Tapestry, Sharon Bryant; we wish you a most prosperous new year.

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I have a friend who is a writer.?  I was not aware that she is now writing for Time Magazine.

She sent me an email tonight telling me Time wants stories about GOOD things.

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She submitted the information about Operation We Care and how many troops benefitted from the Christmas cards and DVD's I shipped over to Iraq.

If Time accepts this story, imagine how many more can be helped if more find out about it and help with cards for next year!

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Also, I'm doing?  Valentine's cards for the troops.?  So many are married, separated from their spouses, it may cheer them up a little.?  If anyone would like a soldier to get a card, please send them to me.?  I am shipping this shipment out on Jan. 31.

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Say a prayer that Time Magazine at least considers writing about the troops.

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Address cards to:

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A Soldier

Operation We Care

P.O. Box 208

Green Pond, Al?  35074

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

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

The Pretty Blue Jar? 

By

Pamela Perry Blaine

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This time of year the weather changes and many people begin to complain of colds and sniffles.?  The children are in school and bring home germs that their parents and younger siblings catch from them.?  Some people put up with it for a time, trying

over-the-counter remedies while others rush off to the local doctor??™s office.? 

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When I was growing up, a doctor was not called unless it was absolutely necessary and at that time many local doctors, at least in rural areas, still made house calls.?  Although I suppose that is a thing of the past, it seems at least that it kept contagious illnesses from being passed around through crowded doctor??™s offices.

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In our family, Momma always tried her home remedies first and if that didn??™t work then the doctor was called.?  Many people used home remedies and various ???cures??? that were passed down from previous generations.? 

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I learned early on not to complain too much or I was in for some of Momma??™s home remedies.?  However, Mommas have a way of knowing if you are sick even if you don??™t say anything about it.

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Momma had many home remedies including the well known, chicken broth but the home remedy that I remember most was the one Momma used for a cold, sore throat, or congestion.?  It was called ???a greasing???.? 

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At the first sign of a cold Momma would call to us at bedtime, saying, ???Before you go to bed, come on in here by the stove first and let me give you a greasing.???? 

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A greasing meant that Momma was going to get out ???the cloth???.?  The cloth was kept in a drawer where it was placed after Momma washed it after the last time we got ???a greasing???.?  It was just a piece of thick flannel that had been cut from an old worn out flannel nightgown or flannel sheet.?  It was cut to fit on the chest from shoulder to shoulder and extend down to about the waist.

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After she got out ???the cloth???, the greasing began.?  Momma would get out that familiar pretty blue jar of Vicks VapoRub and smear that smelly stuff all over our throats and chests.?  After we were properly greased, she would hold the cloth up to the heating stove for a few moments to allow it to get good and hot.?  When it was just the right temperature, Momma?  fastened it around our necks with safety pins. The cloth did feel very warm and comforting.?  In my mind I can still feel the warmth of that old stove and hear the soft popping and clicking sounds it made as I stood there basking in it??™s warmth while Momma rubbed me down with Vicks VapoRub.? ?  We would put our warm flannel pajamas on over the warm cloth and then we were tucked into bed with lots of cozy blankets.?  The pungent fumes from the Vicks VapoRub did help to open up our stuffy noses but whether or not it worked, we sure felt like we had been ???doctored up??? good.

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The next morning Momma would insist that the Vicks VapoRub be washed off completely because we couldn??™t go outside with it all over us.?  Vicks VapoRub was a strong menthol-like salve and it felt cool when the air hit it.?  Momma probably thought it would make us sick if we left it on but for some reason I got the idea that I would surely freeze to death if I didn??™t wash it off and the coroner??™s report would read ???Cause of death: Vicks VapoRub???.

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Sometimes if one of us had really bad congestion, Momma worried that we might get pneumonia so she would put a blob of Vicks VapoRub in a pot of hot water and we had to lean over the pan with a towel on our heads and breathe the fumes.?  Thus, the first redneck vaporizer came to be.

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Momma often told about the time that my brother got into the Vicks VapoRub when he was just a toddler.?  The pretty blue jar was just so attractive to him and somehow he managed to get the jar opened.?  Momma found him sitting on the floor with most of the Vicks Vapo Rub smeared all over himself.?  He was taking deep breaths that sounded like Darth Vadar with a terrible cold.?  He was breathing with his mouth wide open because the strong fumes were taking his breath away.?  Momma quickly bathed him?  and he was none the worse for the experience but Momma was more careful not to leave the Vicks VapoRub where he could get to it after that.

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We thought that Vicks VapoRub smelled powerfully strong but we got used to it.?  Momma often told us how fortunate we were to have a medicine that smelled so good because as a child she had to wear something called an asafetida bag that was worn like a necklace around the neck.?  Momma said asafetida was some kind of plant resin that smelled something like a skunk and was sometimes mixed with sulfur, garlic, pine tar, camphor, and no telling what else.?  She said that children wore this bag at night while they slept and some children were even sent to school with the asafetida bag dangling from around their necks.?  It was thought that this would keep children from catching diseases.?  It was probably true because no self-respecting germ would want to go near them.?  According to Momma, it would be difficult to catch anything at all since there wasn??™t a soul who wanted to be downwind from a person wearing the odorous asafetida bag.

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After I had children of my own, Momma gave them ???a greasing??? too if they happened to be at her house when a bad cold struck.?  I guess these home remedies do get passed down because I used Vicks VapoRub on my children too and they are all still living.?  I don??™t know if it was the Vicks VapoRub, the chicken broth, the warm cloth, or the extra love and attention that made us feel better but recover we did!

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My children would be the first to tell you to ???watch out for Momma??? because there is still a pretty blue jar of Vicks VapoRub in my medicine cabinet and ???the cloth??? is still around here somewhere.? 

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???There are some remedies worse than the disease???

Publilius Syrus

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By

Pamela Perry Blaine

?© October 2005

About Pam:

Pam lives in Missouri with her husband, Michael.?  She enjoys composing music and writing stories.?  She writes "Pam's Corner" for her local newspaper, The Edina Sentinel.?  Pam and her husband are active in their church where she plays piano and he is music leader.?  They have a CD available called, "I'll Walk You Home".? ?  The title song is about her lifelong friend who died of cancer.?  You can hear this song on her website:? http://blaines.us/PamyPlace.htm
Several of her stories have been published on the internet as well as in books such as The Miracle Of Sons, 2The Heart/People Who Make A Difference,? and A Tribute To Moms.?  Her goal is to write to encourage others and to write stories for her children and grandchildren? so that stories and family history will be preserved.? 

My Website:
http://blaines.us/PamyPlace.htm
e-mail: pamyblaine@blaines.us

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~**~**~? 

? YOUNG LOVE
Sharon Bryant

I noticed his platinum colored hair first as he stood there in the bright sunlight.?  He turned and I was looking at the most beautiful color of blue eyes I'd ever seen.?  His eyes caught mine, and I cast my eyes to the ground, not wanting him to know I was looking at him.

All day I thought about him.?  Who is he??  Where did he come from??  How old is he??  I was seventeen years old and I assumed he was my age.?  I'd never seen such a good looking guy before.?  Being shy, I knew there was no way I'd ever get to introduce myself and meet him.

I was typing some forms up for my father's trucking company when that gorgeous hunk walked into the office door.?  "Your father wants you to give me the keys to tractor number sixteen," he said.?  The keys to all trucks were on a peg board, and I had them in numerical order, yet my hands fumbled with key rings as I reached for the keys.?  He stood there.?  I handed him the keys, and those blue eyes locked with mine.

"What's your name?" he asked.?  "Sandy," I replied.?  "Well Sandy, my name is Dean, glad to meet you," he said as he turned and walked out the door.?  "Whew," I thought.?  I didn't know anything walking on earth looked THAT good.

Later that day, he walked back into the office, handing me the keys to tractor number sixteen.?  He stood there a moment and I thanked him for returning the keys.
"Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?" he blurted out.
Would I??  I'd have died to have dinner with him.
"I'll pick you up at six, if that's ok," he said.
"I'll write my address down," I replied.
"That's not necessary, I already know where you live," he said.
"How do you know that?" I asked.
"Oh, I asked around.?  I know you're the bosses daughter and I already asked him if I could take you to dinner tonight.?  He said if you wanted to go, it was fine with him."

That evening began a whirlwind of the next four years of having the time of my life.?  Young, daring, bold, and gorgeous, I was dating a hunk.
Young love and oh those memories.

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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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Jamie

Sharon Bryant

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Many years ago I used to work in a public school in a pre-school classroom.?  I was the aide and substitute whenever the teacher had a seminar to go to.?  We had three classes, with?  22 to 25 students in each class, ages 3 to 5.

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I've always been an outgoing person and love to meet folks.?  Whenever I meet someone who is shy, I know how much they are missing out on.?  In one of my classes, there was such a person, a little guy named Jamie who was four years old.?  I met his mom and she told me until Jamie was attacked by a dog, which left a large scar down his left cheek, he was outgoing and laughed all the time.?  But after the dog attack, he withdrew and became a silent little boy.?  Jamie never spoke one word in the classroom.?  When you spoke to him, he'd hang his head down.

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In the classroom, I always tried to get him involved with the other kids.?  When we drew I always told him I'd help him if he needed it.?  He would just stare at me.?  On the playground, he always stayed in a corner to himself, yet I saw his little eyes always watching the other kids.?  When snack time came, I often made cute things shaped like animals and characters, which the kids loved.?  But Jamie never showed any kind of emotion over anything that I did.?  He never uttered a sound.

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I told him mom I was trying to draw out the shyness out of him and she told me if I could do that and she could get her little boy back the way he was before the attack, she would be forever grateful.

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It was October and we were planning on a big Halloween party in the classroom.?  I decided to make pi?±atas for the kids.?  I made several, painted cute things on them and filled them with candy.

The day of the party arrived.?  The kids were all excited, everyone was bouncing around clapping their hands.?  Everyone but Jamie.?  He stood off in the corner by himself, his eyes watching everyone but no participation on his part.

I decided to hang the pi?±atas from the ceiling.? 

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I was standing on a chair.?  I'd dressed up like a clown for the party.?  My pants were? baggy with polka dots in different colors all over them.?  The kids laughed when they saw me.?  Everyone laughed that morning? but Jamie.

I was tying a cord to the ceiling tile with the pi?±ata dangling when I felt someone tug on my pants leg.?  It was hard to look down at the angle I was at, so I said, "Just a second."

I felt another tug on my pants leg.?  I looked down and Jamie was standing there tugging on my pants.

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"Well Jamie," I said, "Are you ok?"?  Those little brown eyes looked up at me and he nodded his head yes.

The teacher was in the room, and she saw and heard what I said.?  I saw her hands move up to her mouth and her eyes filled with tears.?  She knew something was happening.

I climbed down off the chair after tying the pi?±ata when Jamie said, "Can I see what's in that thing?"?  I smiled and said, "Oh, that's a secret, you have to hit it with the plastic bat first and break it to see what's inside it."

He looked at me and grinned and said, "Can I go first?"?  I replied, "You sure can."

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All the kids in the class saw and heard what Jamie said and did.?  Some stared at him, and one little girl yelled out, "Jamie can talk!"?  All the kids ran to him and circled him, reaching out to hug him.?  Jamie was smiling from ear to ear.

The teacher got me alone for a moment and said, "You broke the ice with Jamie.?  You never gave up on him."

I grinned and said, "He was missing out on so much."

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Jamie was the first one to hit the pi?±ata at that party.?  He got three hits in and on the last hit, he broke it open and the kids squealed as the candies came falling from it.?  Jamie was more excited that he'd clobbered it than getting the candy.

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When his mom came to school to pick him up, she stood in the doorway watching.?  I happened to glance at her and saw the tears sliding down her cheeks.?  She knew also, that something happened that day.?  Something about a Halloween party helped a shy little boy that day.

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The next day at school, Jamie ran to me and handed me a piece of paper and smiled and said, "This is for you."?  I opened it and it was an invitation to have dinner at his house three days later.?  He was looking at me when I bent down and hugged him and said, "Jamie, I wouldn't miss having dinner with you for anything in the world."

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I went to that dinner.?  I had a little boy sit next to me and he made sure I ate a piece of cake that he helped bake.?  When I went to leave, he wrapped his little arms around my neck and whispered, "I love you."

I hugged him back and told him I loved him too.? 

For the rest of the school year, I had a little munchkin hanging around me.?  So close to the age of my own little boy who died.

I'll never forget that party back in '82.?  I'll never forget a shy little boy who invited me to his home for supper.?  I'll never forget how one tug on my pants leg changed his life and mine.

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Writers Feedback

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Thank you Sharon for your wonderful story of toby. it reminded me of a Christmas that my children did something similar. jody wanted a pet mouse and I told him no. he and his sister bought it together and hid it in her closet. Christmas morning there was a mouse from santa. . My husband and i looked at each other wondering which one of us had gotten it. We have had many pleasant memories of that incident

Nathalie

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Prayer Requests and Updates

? Here is prayer for Barbara and her Mother Vera Wilson.

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Father God in heaven we come to you in prayer holding Barbara and

her mother Vera Wilson up for you to touch and heal with your almighty

hand. Father we ask that you heal Vera Wilson from pneumonia in her

lungs and heal her compacted bowels, father we ask that you bring her

through this as only you can do. We also ask that you touch Barbara

who is just getting pneumonia in her lungs, father heal her as only you

can and if she makes the trip from Arkansas to Tulsa, Ok. keep her safe

on her way and the trip back to Arkansas. Father you know their needs,

it is in the name of Jesus Christ the Holy Son that we pray. Amen Amen!!

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Walking In His Loving Light

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Richard & Jackie Sims? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  Online Prayer Warriors!!!

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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

Moderator: Clara Westerfer

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Send all inquires about the newsletter including submission requirements:

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