STORYTIME TAPESTRY

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

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Special Treat ??“ From Me

Feb 8, 2006

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Blue Ice

Carol Roach, M.Ed, B.A.

I open the jar of Blue Ice and drink in the smell.?  I remember the same strong odour assaulting my nostrils as a child when I was forced to wear a packet of camphor around my neck.?  It smelled horrible, and I could not see how it would help.?  How could something so foul smelling make a child well??  The pungent smell of it alone made me ill.?  I remember going to bed at night with this lump of disgust weighing heavy on my chest. I felt dirty and I felt sick.? 

Later as the years progressed the camphor was replaced with Vicks Vaporub.?  It was also foul smelling.?  The eucalyptus smell reminded me of the strong ammonia smell of a soiled diaper, or a dirty cat litter box. But I believed in its healing properties.

The healing hands of my beloved grandmother lovingly rubbed my chest and back while she applied the salve.?  Even if the medicine had no clinical effect, her loving hands transmitted the healing properties that I desired so very much.?  One touch from my grandmother and I was instantly cured, no matter how stuffed up or miserable I felt.

For me, Vicks Vaporub will always be associated with motherhood and love.?  When my child was young and congested, I rubbed him down with Vicks as well.?  A friend of the family had an instant cure for a cold.?  She would rub the feet of her children with Vicks and then dress them in heavy socks.? ?  She claimed that the vapours would seep into their bodies and by morning all tell tale signs of a cold were gone.?  I tried it and it really did work.?  Steven rarely sustained the symptoms of a cold in his life.? 

As I grew older, I too rarely contracted colds and ceased to keep the Vicks in my medicine cabinet.?  I had forgotten about it until this moment.

I take another whiff of the Blue Ice before I apply it to my aging arthritic knee.?  I rub my own knee; I do not have anyone to lovingly do it for me.?  But I do not distress, for this bottle of Blue Ice was bought by Darla just for me.?  She was concerned about my health and my well being.?  She bought that bottle out of love for me.?  She rubbed my aching joints and made me feel better.?  Even though Darla is gone now, her message of love is still here.?  More than anything else, through sickness or health I will always know that I am loved.

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Carol Roach

winterose@videotron.ca

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A Native of Montreal, Quebec, Carol is a graduate of Concordia, and McGill University.?  She holds a bachelor in psychology and a Masters in counselling psychology.?  Carol Roach is a published writer and newsletter editor.?  You can purchase her book: Picking up the Pieces: A Woman's Journey at www.publishamerica.com, or www.amazon.com.?  You can also go to your local bookstore and order it there as well.?  Carol??™s second book: Angels Watching Over is currently looking for a home. Stay tuned for details.? 

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If you are interested in other stories feel free to join her newsletter: Storytime Tapestry at: http://subs.zinester.com/98907 , or email her directly at winterose@videotron.ca and she will be glad to accommodate you.?  Carol enjoys email and responds to every inquiry.

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