STORYTIME TAPESTRY

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

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Feb 1, 2006? 

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Today's Queue Stories
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A Little Story of My Life: Part I

Geo Rusu

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I? was born in 1956, on 10th of March in Bucharest, Romania. When? I was born my father was a dumb engineer and my mom a Romanian language teacher. They descend from? peasant families and they were self-made persons. This was first thing in my life which I become aware of it and the? important meaning of? All in my life? regarding me and my destiny. This became the? foundation of my? life??™s creed.

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First of my memories was that my mom came from shopping and she bought also 3 kg. bag of apples. But she forgot something she wanted to buy, so she? returned to the market.? I was alone at home and I took all the apples and jumped on my wooden fence. I gave all the apples to my little friends, the little kids of my neighbour, I was 3-4 years old.

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My mom returned from the market? and she? asked me ???where are the apples???? I said? I gave all of them? to my friends who lived on our street, because they are also poor...She said nothing, she just looked towards our wooden fence where all the kids were happy eating the apples.

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In 1961 my father was entitled to be a Romanian Economic Chief Agency. In that communism period the `healthy roots persons` only? could upgrade their life, my?  grandparents were peasants, so he had an `healthy origin` from that period??™s? political point of view.

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So, we? went to Japan via Moscow and New Delhi where we lived for 1 month at the Romanian Embassy there.

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In Moscow I visited the Kremlin and I saw Lenin and Stalin in the Mausoleum. I was very impressed as a child to learn about two men who changed the World History.?  I was only 6 years old only, but the effect of? all the? entrances ceremony was very big for me. We stayed only 3 days in Moscow.

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Then? we had a very nice and happy one month period at the Romanian Embassy when we? lived in New Delhi. I was very happy because? I played with monkeys. We were in the jungle and I saw elephants, giraffes, and monkeys,? all around me, like in? the fairy tales.

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It was warm there? and I like it better than cold, even though I was born in Bucharest which is cold more than 5 months per year. The cold is too much for me. Yes, New Delhi, with the very kind people, was the first fairy tales city for me, I felt Indian people very close to my heart.

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After one month we departed from India enroot for Japan and with this moment my life? had opened a new? and special? avenue of destiny? for me. We arrived in Tokyo and my parents were very busy to set-up the first Romanian Economic Agency there after Second World? World.

At that moment there were no established diplomatic exchange between Romania and Japan, and therefore no embassies. We were first step of Romanian Government? in Japan.

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So, as I said, my parents had no time for me, I was playing alone with Japanese children in the park in front of our building. I spoke to Japanese children in Romanian and they spoke to me in Japanese. We understood each others very well. In the short period of six months, I spoke Japanese well. I watched Japanese TV programs including Japanese cartoons.

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When my father saw that? I could speak fluent Japanese, at such a young age, he asked the director of Japanese school to admit me into their local neighbourhood school. The very next day, I was the only foreign pupil in that school. This was 1962, I was a very inquisitive child, and for the longest time, I was what they called `gaijin`.

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They were very kind with me and so I learned many interesting things from them and from Japanese educational system. This was another brick in my life. I? spoke very? well Japanese? and? I also? learned? Japanese syllabaries, Hiragana and Katakana ,the school counsel decided to promote me? to 3rd class of primary school the following year.?  Even though I skipped a level,? it still wasn??™t too difficult for me? 

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At last I passed 6 primary classes? at one of the? normal Japanese school where we lived in Tokyo. I have a lot of memories from that nice period of my life.? One the most important memories for me happened in1963, when Prince Akihito, actually His Majesty? Emperor of Japan, had visited a Romanian stand at Tokyo International Trade Fair. I translated from my father to His Majesty the explanations about Romanian products for export in Japan. The Protocol Department of Empire Court gave us the pictures with? that wonderful moment for me and I have it on my writing desk.

This was one of the greatest moments in my life.

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In 1962, Iuri Gagarin, first soviet astronaut in space,? had visited Japan.? The Soviet Union Embassy offered a big? reception in his honour ,and all the Romanian? Agencies and Embassy stuff (in 1962 Romania made first Embassy in Tokyo),were invited at this grand reception. I also have a picture taken with Iuri Gagarin.

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I was looking to him and I understood at that moment, how he is special because he saw the Cosmos. I learned a lot of about rockets and the cosmos from my Japanese schooling, even from watching Japanese TV cartoons.?  I? believed that even though he was a very strong man with tough features on his face, Gagarin? had? a kind and calm face and so? I felt he was a kind man.

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While I was taking my Japanese school courses, I learned from a Japanese master in private. I was taught calligraphy, and Shuuji for 5 years,? I liked music very much as well. Besides going to morning school three times per week,? I learned Japanese classic dance, choreography, and music theory at another special school also for 5? years. I have many things to say but I? do not have the space to? relate all my memories, feelings, and impressions? from my life in Japan,

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I want to relate to you the most unforgettable and funny moments of mine? during my first impact with Japanese society in 1961.

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In August 1965, my father had finished his mission in? Japan, so we returned to our country. We returned by ship to Europe via all Asia. We had a very nice and wonderful return travel from Yokohama via Hong Kong, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Bombay, Djibouti, Port Said, Barcelona, and the end of this adventurous travel? resulted with a French crossiere upon a tourist ship, in

Marseille.? 

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We stayed in? Marseille? for one week and? after that we? went by? train to Bucharest via the Azour Coast, Milan, Wien, Budapest. Finally we arrived in Bucharest after one month and half of? adventures filled with memories, feelings, and unique moments.? 

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I was? like I discovered the World at that moment of my life. I? felt I was like a big world discovery man, yes? I felt like I am? Marco Polo when? I went to Japan and in returning I felt triumphant, a victorious Caesar.

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I said that most of my childhood period and in fact all my life I was by myself, my parents? were busy people and? in the long evenings in Japan? I sat alone? watching TV, or? I was at cinema in my neighbourhood.?  I had a chance to see? Zorro, Marco Polo, etc, in that period of my life.?  All of these personages were very familiar to me and I loved all of them. I wanted to be an actor from very early in my life, however it was never meant to be.

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I love my karma as it is. In fact we had traveled twice? on this route,? by ship and train.

The first time was in1963, when my father had his first vacation after? 3 years of mission work in Japan. There were a lot of carnivals, and contests on board the ship? and I won Grand Prize from the Captain? for my unique? interpretation of Charlie Chaplin, Zorro, a Japanese young lady? secretary, and a.s.o.? I was 7 and 9 years old at that time.

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Geo Rusu

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geosays@gmail.com

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About Me:

I have three pets, Bella, a Pekinese mix with Chihuahua. She is my Belly dancer. Spik, Cairn terrier, snickers and one lady cat Alma. She is like an actress from Hollywood movie and now I have to feed them.

Have a nice day.

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~**~**~? 

Natural Gas Problems

Richard Sims

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This is a true story. And a warning for all of you who might have old gas lines under your home, if you don't know how old your gas pipes are get them checked, it could be a matter of life and death.

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Due to a very high gas bill we had our gas cut off for a while, we didn't know it at the time, but the gas lines under the house were old and leaking very bad. After getting the bill paid off, the gas company came to turn the gas back on for us. That??™s when the leaks were noticed and the gas had to be shut back off.

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We then hired a plumber to come and crawl under the house to fix the leak; it was more than one leak. The gas lines were so old they had rusted into in several places. The plumber, with no tools with him while under the house brought the gas lines out in pieces.

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All of the gas lines had to be replaced and the new ones had to be air tested before the gas could be turned back on. So to save yourselfs before it gets cold, have your gas lines checked, even

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About Me

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I am Richard D. Sims 48 years old, I was born in a small town called Granby, the oldest mining town is Southwest Missouri. I am the youngest out of five children ( The Brat )

I am just a simple back woods country boy, I wear Dan post western style boots and western shirts, wrangler jeans and my black western hat. I am a jack of all trades yet a master of none, I have found out I can do most anything and what I can't do? I am willing

to learn.

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I moved here to Arma, Kansas 3 years ago when? I married my lovely wife Jackie, I have two children of my own, Richard II ( Rick ) Sims 26 years old, and a daughter Rebecka Sissom age 22. A stepson James Morrison 26 who lives with Jackie and I because of his birth defect of Spina - Bifida.

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We have found a great church here called the Arma Family Christian Center, My wifeJackie and I are online prayer warriors so if you have a prayer request just send it to us

to receive a written prayer, please make sure you don't have your E - mail blocked.

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My hobbies are building quarter mile dragsters and drag racing at Asberry, Mo. at Mo-kan dragway. I also do wood working and wood crafts, Bow hunting and fishing, motorcycling, and just spending quality time with my family and spoiling my granddaughter Destiny Dawn Sims age 5.

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Richard Dean Sims? ? ?  armaksman@yahoo.com if it means having to spend? some money!? 

? ? ValueSpeak

A Weekly Column

By Joseph Walker

Valuespeak@msn.com

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TO CATCH A MOUSE

There was a mouse in the house.

Anita had seen it. Jon had seen it. I had seen it. And while Beth hadn??™t actually seen it, she was still walking on our furniture instead of the floors ??“ just in case she DID see it.

As near as we could tell there was only one. It probably snuck in to escape a sudden snap of cold weather. Of course, to say he "snuck in" is probably giving our mouse too much credit. The way our teenagers leave the door open around here, he could have hobbled in on broken legs and little mousey crutches. Getting in wouldn??™t be a problem.

Getting him out, however, was a challenge.

The first night Anita watched and waited by the door. When he got close, she opened the door and shooed him out. It was slick, and very benevolent of her. But the mouse wasn??™t interested in our benevolence. It was only interested in the nice warm floor beneath our refrigerator and all the little crumbs of food that seem to trail after Jon wherever he goes. As soon as the door opened again, in he came, making a beeline . . . er, mouseline for the fridge.

When I came home Anita??™s benevolent reign ended, and The Great Exterminator was ready to take charge. I set out a couple of traditional mousetraps, one baited with peanut butter and one with cheese. As near as we could tell, the mouse didn??™t touch the peanut butter, but he did enjoy the cheese. He even left a tip near the trap as a token of his appreciation.

After a couple of days of feeding our mouse a la trap, we purchased some higher tech traps. These are basically wide trays spread with glue strong enough to hold a mouse and certain small European automobiles. I placed one on each side of the refrigerator and left them there overnight, hoping that I would catch a mouse and not a teenager hungry for a midnight snack.

Sure enough, when I checked the trays in the morning, there he was (the mouse ??“ not Jon). The glue held him tight in scampering position, but I could see that he was alive. When he saw me he squealed and his little body flexed as he tried to extricate himself. But the glue was too strong. Even his tail held firmly in place. He was trapped.

But so was I. I hadn??™t really considered how I would dispose of a mouse that was looking at me with wide, frightened black eyes. I stood there in the kitchen for a moment considering the possibilities, most of which were too horrible to consider for long. Finally I just took him out to the garbage and put him in there gently ??“ trap and all.

"You what?" Anita gasped when I told her. "You??™re going to make the poor little thing sit out there and starve to death? That is so cruel! We need to put him out of his misery."

"But what am I supposed to do?" I asked. "I can??™t just . . . you know . . . kill him . . ."

She looked at me with that look I have occasionally earned during the 28 years we have been married. It seems to ask: "There was a reason I picked you over the future felon from New Mexico ??“ wasn??™t there?" She turned to Jon and asked him to retrieve the BB gun from the basement. "I??™ll take care of it," she said with steely determination.

"No, no ??“ I??™ll do it," I said. "I??™m the man. This is my job."

She smiled and handed the gun to me. "Thank you for protecting us," she said.

I??™m pretty sure she was being facetious when she said that.

I won??™t go into detail about what happened next. I??™d prefer not to think about it. Let??™s just say it took three shots, and even at that I think mostly I just scared the poor thing to death.

After the deed was done, I took a long walk. Alone. I thought about weighty things: life, death and is there really such a thing as a better mousetrap? And I remembered what I heard an airline attendant say as she announced that my flight was boarding some years ago. "Before you get on the plane," she said, "make sure that this is really where you want to go."

That??™s excellent advice, literally and metaphorically. But today I might couch it in different words: before you set the mousetrap make sure you really want to catch a mouse.

Who knows? Maybe you??™d just as soon have a mouse in the house.

? ~**~**~

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Writers Feedback

Healing from the Heart by Mary Ann Hodge is a beautiful story, so well written that I felt like I could hear this precious boy/man as he cared for the women he loved.

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Mary Ann, you are a wonderful writer. I hope that you will share more of these touching stories with us.?  Please.

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Barb

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Tell Mary Ann Hodge that is a beautiful story She is so fortunate to have found a mate that was so understanding and compassionate, Natalie

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This is a beautiful story!?  (Mary Ann Hodge) There are nurturers and there are healers.?  If we are lucky, we share our lives with both.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  Louise

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That is indeed a beautiful story and Mary Ann's husband must be an exceptional man.?  She is very blessed to have him.?  I just wonder if he did become a doctor or what kind of work does he do??  God bless, Sharlett F. Hunt

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I wish to welcome you, Mary Ann Hodge #283 to our Storytime_Tapestry's newsletter's family.?  Speaking for myself, Mary Ann, you will find a very loving 'family' of writers that will and do encourage you to keep writing.?  Do not feel shy with us as we have been where you are and glory in the fact that your husband is such an unusual caring and loving man!? ? 

Again, I say; "Welcome aboard!"? ?  Norma Liles? ?  aka Normie

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Mary Ann Hodge - Welcome to Storytime.?  Your story was a delightful read.?  What a wonderful thing for a thirteen year old boy to do.?  I know it is not easy having looked after my mother after a cancer operation.?  I look forward to reading more of your stories.? ? ?  Gabrielle Morgan.

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'My Favorite Food'?  - Norma, how delicious your mother's food must have been.?  I can taste that bread.?  Gabrielle Morgan.

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Norma has hit the nail on the head again with this story about immaturity when we seek out the ones to give our hearts to.?  She and I walked a similar path. It is so good to share these stories with others, each of us hoping we can make someone stop, look, listen before they marry.

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Hugs to all,

Barb

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Carol,
? ?  Thanks so much for running my "Colors of Heaven" in today's Storytime.?  I always feel blessed when I see my writings in such a wonderful newsletter.? 
I hope that you have a glorious week and that your own beautiful colors always shine through.?  Wishing you every joy, Joe ? 

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Prayer Requests and Updates

Dear Prayer Warriors

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Gilbert returned to ICU following his surgery this evening about 5:00 p.m.

His nurse said he is breathing on a ventilator and is sedated because of aggitation

when he was waking up and wanting to pull the tubes out.

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I don't have anymore details at this time as I'm not a family member and I got as

much as I could.?  I am so thankful he came through the surgery (which was quite long).

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When he is alert I will be able to tell you all more.

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Thank you one and all for your prayers for Gilbert.?  The Lord listened.

Now please pray for a full recovery and a delivery from the drug addiction.

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Love to each one of you,

Barbara

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply, Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

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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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