Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

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Feb 13, 2006

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Today??™s announcements

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We are welcoming another new writer for Storytime Tapestry, D.R. Lawson becomes writer # 289.?  Please email him and let him know what you think of his story.?  I love so much when new writers jump right in and join a contest don??™t you?

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Now onto the good stuff!

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Today??™s Queue Stories

~**~**~

Romance? ? ? ? ? 

D. R.?  Rawson

Romance may have nothing to do with sex. Just as how you live your life has nothing to do with the work you do.

Let me be more specific. I personally believe that we "choose" who we are. I know that many people will tell you that because of this, I'm this. Because this happened, I'm now feeling like this. Everyone has a story.

There are, believe it or not, many people that have decided how they want to live their life. They've looked at examples from their youth, people around them, even TV and Movies and ultimately they said, "This is the way I want to live my life."

It took me personally a long time to figure out that I was not what my ex-wife or even my children thought. Just because my first marriage of 26 years was horrible with a capital H, I still knew I wanted a life that would include at the very least the companionship of a woman. Hopefully, it would be more, we'll see, was my thinking.

At the moment my first wife and I separated she took the kids and everything in our home except a chair, footstool, and the bed in the master bedroom. I kept my car, my clothes, and my few keepsakes from Grandparents and parents that died years before this experience.

At first, I was lost. That feeling lasted for about an hour. Then I realized that I now had the opportunity to be or do whatever "I" wanted to do. I could now live my life exactly as I want to. Then the panic set in as I realized that I had listened to so many people for so long that I didn't have an opinion as to what that meant. In other words, I didn't know how I wanted to live my life or even what I really wanted to do! Amazing! I was 45 at the time and didn't know what "I" wanted in life.

I spent the next 24 hours sitting and thinking. No paper, no notes, just thinking. I was trying to see if I could get a clear picture of what "I" wanted in all aspects of my life.

This included where I wanted to live, how I wanted to earn money, how I wanted to interact with fellow human beings, what I wanted people to know about me, what I was willing to risk and what type of man I wanted people to remember.

How does this relate to romance? Please be patient. (14 more paragraphs to go).

Ultimately, 24 hours and some change later, I decided or rather had fashioned for myself exactly who I was because "I" decided that's who I wanted to be. The decisions made over that period of time included every aspect of life I could think of. . . I thought.

Except how I wanted to relate to a woman.

Well, I was doing great! I changed nearly everything about myself. People I had known for years said, "You're a completely different person." My children said, ???Why are you so different Dad.??? I asked, ???is that a good question or are you trying to say, I don't like you as you are now?" They responded, to a person. Oh no, we love the way you are now. How come you weren't this way before? I said, as you each get older, you'll know why (I hope) and you'll be able to tell me. All but one has told me. He's the oldest and I doubt he ever will. That's another story.

I was doing fine until one day a woman asked me how the dating scene was going. It had been months since the breakup and I had been focusing on "other" things that needed my attention.

I said, "Frankly, I don't know what to do. I was married when I had just barely 19 and now the world is a different place. When I was in high school it was a different world. I dated anything that would successfully fog a mirror. Still it didn't prepare me for being 45 and single.???

I asked this beautiful young woman of 25 that now stood in front of me asking this rather personal question, ???Is it O.K to date women of any color, any race, any height or weight, any nationality, young or old???? She said, ???Mr. Rawson in today's world, you can do any and all of those things when it comes to dating and marriage. What do "you" want???? You know, I didn't know. But, I was sharp enough to say, "Take a beautiful young woman like you, would you go out with me?" She said, "Yes, I would." I said, "I'll pick you up at your home about 7PM for a dinner and a movie." She said, "Great." I blushed and left in a hurry to consider my good fortune.

I realized after I left her office and had asked all of those questions that I didn't know what I was doing. I didn't have any rules. I had not placed any limits on what I was willing to do and what I wasn't. If I didn't have self governing rules and guidelines, I couldn't possibly expect a good outcome. I "could" in the extreme fall for anything. "Love" has a way of making people do really crazy things that we regret for long periods of time. 26 years in my case.

That night I spent the whole night trying to think through the relationship process as I thought I understood it. I spent 8 hours on this before going to sleep frustrated that I really had no "useful" knowledge of women. I was certain of one thing, they couldn't all be like my soon to be ex-wife. They certainly didn't look like her at all. That part was great.

I spent all week researching. I went to the library, the newsstands, read dozens of magazines. I was beginning to get the idea that NO ONE person had a clue. That's when I realized, it was up to me to decide.

I did. I went on the infamous date. A year later I let myself get sidetracked and I almost married her. I think the deciding moment really came in a discussion of Presidential hopefuls and people from the past. I mentioned John F. Kennedy and she said, "Who?" It was all over nicely in a few days.

I went back on my self quest to understand what I wanted in a relationship.

I spent a weekend sitting on the sand at Manhattan Beach near the pier. I could see my home from the beach. Great place to sit and think.

I started in the morning and I finally realized it was very late at night when I rose up, took my beach blanket and walked back to my home. I had done it. I knew what I wanted.

Here??™s the part you??™re looking for on this thread. . .


I had realized I was looking for a woman that wanted the ???quality of life??? that I wanted. She wanted for man and womankind the same things I wanted. She would be someone who would understand and support what I envisioned for me.

I also realized that I would need to be willing to support her efforts to become all that she dreamed for herself. This meant she would be someone who knew what she wanted. She may not know how, she just knew what they wanted.

In order to support her, she would need to feel loved in every minute of everyday. She would need to know that no matter what happened, she had my love and support literally. The question became, how do you show someone that you are that committed to them? Many call this process romance. That??™s O.K.

For years I??™ve know that ???If you help enough other people get what they want out of life, you??™ll always have what you want.??? I reasoned, that for me to truly be happy and have what I wanted in a relationship, I had to let go of the notion that it was about what I wanted. Focus on the relationship with, ???If I help her get what she wants out of life, I??™ll always have want I want.???

I??™ve been right. Has it been easy? Not always. Has it been worth any frustration? YES!

Here are some of the things I do:

I cook when I can. I clean windows. In fact, I like to surprise her when I can and clean the whole house. I make the bed when she??™s in the shower.

I leave little notes on the back of my business card in places she??™ll be when I??™m not home. The notes give uplifting thoughts, something I??™ve noticed about her as Lee, a fellow ryzer suggested. Sometimes they give anticipation for some event later in the day when she comes home from work.

When I speak with her on the phone, I usually close with, ???I love you Toots or Margaret or babe.??? I wouldn??™t want to unexpectedly leave this world without her knowing that I??™ve loved her from the very first moment I saw her across the room.

I ???listen??? to her with real intent. I often ask, ???Do you want my opinion or my ability to listen????

Every moment this woman breathes, I feel better about my manhood. Every time one of the children (none of whom she gave birth to) ask to speak with her rather than me, my heart sings.

Every time she??™s near I know that long ago (11 years, 3 months and a few seconds ago) I made the right decision without having to compromise who I am, and what I want from life. To me, this is romance.

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DR Rawson

www.drrawson.com

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About the Author:

To learn more about him, please go to www.drrawson.com or to www.ryze.com/go/DRRawson.

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Additional business sites are:

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www.c4na.net

www.lightspeedVT.com/loannow

www.pointmeninc.com

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~**~**~

The Queen of my heart? 

Norma Liles

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She was an extraordinary woman who brought ten children into this world. Along with my father, she raised nine of the ten. I am pleased to say that i am number nine.

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As was a lot of other folks of my age, I was born during the depression years but with the love and care of my parents, I never saw need. We were without the nicer things of life but we didn't know the difference.

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This Queen had a way with people as well as her children. She lost her vision when she was in her middle fifties but continued to keep the home fires burning even though she lost my father to a tragic accident at the time that she was losing her vision.

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If that were not enough, she was left with one of my twin sisters who is a special needs person who was the light of our lives. She became Mother's eyes and Mother her mind. God does work in mysterious ways.

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Mother left us to join my dear Father in 1976 but the missing of her grows greater as the years go by. Especially at this time of year, I wish to dedicate these few words to a lady among ladies; Josephine Hackworth Hoop, my mother who was a Mother to all!?  May God rest your soul!? ?  I love you, Mom,?  Norma xo

NormaLee Liles ?©

hoopla214@yahoo.com

Norma Liles is a retired data entry

clerk/supv who is 76, a native of Ohio

and still resides there. She is very

outgoing and loves to make new friends!? 

Her hobbies are: writing poetry and

stories, living for Jesus, reading,
enjoying her family, and her use of

her computer.Her ambition is to add

pleasure to those who read her writings

as well as sharing her faith. She enjoys

Southern Gospel Music and loves to sing.

Her writings have been published on Starfish,
Driftwood, Sandollar, Morning Spirit Lift,
www.poetry.com, PrayerofGod, Jan Karon's
newsletter, American Poetry Writer's league,
Lucy's Inspiration, Faithful Hope reading room,
Poetry of Today publishing, Hope in Him,
Bonnie's Place, America will remember,
News Moose & Penworm prayer warriors as well as

a senior writer for Storytime Tapestry.

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~**~**~

1st Submission for Valentine's Contest 2006:

(Also the very first story I've ever submitted to any professional contest ever! And get this, I'm 48, which proves it's Never too late to get Started living your dreams...?  * / * ... and yes those Are stars in my eyes!

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? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  The Pit and Miss Pearl

Paula Booher? ? 

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? ? ? ?  Our family consist of four grown children, three? young men and a married daughter? already on their own plus? one grand daughter.?  Still at home are? one minor daughter? that will be 8 tomorrow plus 8 cats, 2 are females,? and a male? Pit Bull dog.?  Needless to? say? our life is Full of stories that would fill many books but lately it seems we have a paricular Love story developing between one of our cats and our Pit Bull that we didn't expect? yet we are totally enjoying.

? ? ? ? ?  Zeus, the pit came to us from my son Jake.?  First let me? back up a? bit.?  This is the second marriage for my husband and myself and we share 5 children total.?  I have a son and a daughter from my first marriage that are grown and on their own.?  My husband, Roger, has two grown? sons, also on their own.?  We? are coming up on our 9th married? anniversary next? month? but have been together for almost 12 years etc. etc. etc.

? ? ? ?  Getting back to the cat and dog story...

? ? ? ?  A couple of weeks ago our 8 month old female siamese Pearl? finally? ? let our? very friendly loving pitbull? Zeus get close enough to play and nudge her and suddenly they became fast friends.?  It's been a hoot watching them cuddle and play and they? are inseparable.? ? The only way to tell the story would? be in pictures or in video to do the story justice but I'm going to try and draw a picture with words...now that I have your attention let's 'imagine' what they Might? be "saying" in their language to each other...

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? "Hey Pearl"? ?  Zeus approaches slowly Trying not to frighten tiny Pearl.

? "Hmmm"?  Pearl eases away not knowing what the heck to expect.

"I won't eat you, I just want a friend to play with, I'm lonely".

"But you're a dog and I'm a cat, we're supposed to hate eachother and What will the other cats say?"

"Exactly my point.?  I'm the Only dog here and I'm so lonely.?  The cats won't give me the time of day and the people only have so much time to give me.?  You are so sweet and you seem to get snubbed by the other cats too...I just thought you might understand my delema...and...it's ok if you don't...

"No, I...I do, I mean, Pearl stammered, I Do understand..."

"You DO!" Zeus was surprised she started talking to him so calmly and didn't run from him.

"Of course I Do.?  They don't treat me good either.?  Have you seen how they rush over me to the food dish and how they always stomp on me because I'm the little one and don't forget I'm the one that got here last next to you".

"Well..." Zeus lowered his head and was sad for Pearl because he Did see how they treated sweet little Pearl and she was right.?  The other cats were enormous compared to her and they had been here a long time and towered over her.

"So, you see Zeus, I Do Understand more than you think I do and I would be honored to be your friend and I Don't care What the Other cats Think or Say!"

"Wow, I Have a Friend and we'll be Great Friends and I Promise they Won't Ever Treat you badly as long as I'm around because one thing is for sure Pearl".

"What's that?" Pearl questioned Zeus

"I Do have teeth and I Can Bite!"?  I just promise I won't ever bite you.?  And Pearl just one more thing..."

"What's that?"

"I hope you don't think it's weird or anything and I Know I'm a dog and all but I... a...well..."

"What Zeus?"

"Ah gosh Pearl...I love you Pearl...there I've said it".

"Why Zeus, I do believe you're blushing.?  I didn't know dogs could love cats...that's so sweet.?  And you're Blushing.? ?  I didn't know dogs could blush either".

"Pearl, just one more thing..."

"Anything Zeus".

"Happy Valentines Day".

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w Paula Booher 48 is a? wife, mother, home manager, and finder of lost socks...but her secret passion is writing.? ?  You can view some of those writings at places such as poetry.com and her book of poetry "Imagine-ings"? soon to be? released by Publish America.

General interest include decorating, gardening (when prayers for rain Are answered or the water hose Does get put back where it Belongs), and the occassional bike ride when the tires are not Flat...lol

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Some might remember me as Paula Honeycutt and yes I used to be a local DJ.?  KWND 'The Wind' and Q-96 when it was soft rock station? were the two radio stations I worked at in? Springfield, MO.? 

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Lots of other interest? but mostly I'm available for my family and friends on a full time basis.? 

Paula Booher

rappednword@yahoo.com

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Poetry Section

~**~**~

A Mother To All

Norma Liles

I had a special Mother, must special of all
Had a heart as big as all outdoors, not tall
Always there to lend a helping hand
Quite a lady, she was so very grand.

Very patiently accepting things as they are
Never one to argue or complain, had no car
Did much walking or took a bus
Arriving there on time considered a plus.

Taught us to keep the Golden Rule
Kept us very neat - never missing school
Of hard knocks we must suffer on our way
Wishing for us daily become leaders someday.

One day in the Great Beyond above the clouds
Jesus with his hand in mine will again aloud
Proclaim the day that we have waited
Our great reward. reunion with Mother, so elated.

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NormaLee Liles ?©

hoopla214@yahoo.com

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Readers Feedback

Thanks for running my article Box of Books today my friend.?  I don't get
to read to my children much anymore, but I haven't stopped reading myself.? 
Books can take us so many places.
Wishing you every joy, Joe

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Geo Rusu has a very interesting story.?  Part 1 certainly makes me want to read Part 2 and so on.?  What a fascinating life he has had thus far.?  So magical and yet an err of sadness mixed with a hint of, "What's this kid gonna be called to do in the future that he is being trained in such high things at such a young age?"?  I'm certainly intrigued and want to know so much more about him and his life...as do I Yours! Paula Booher

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Geo's narratives are really fascinating. Some of the places
he's been are also places I've been.
Thanks
Mark Crider

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What a wonderful look at how caught up in our own lives we are....its a shame that we can't even take the time to share a kindness with someone else. Point taken and a lesson learned...Thank you Doctor for sharing with us something that we find we are too blind to see.

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Tami

This is beautiful!?  I recall my mother, now dead, told me more than once of how she would call the night supervisor at the local hospital in the wee hours of the morning.?  They weren??™t really friends but she knew her fairly well and it was a huge comfort to be able to call in the middle of the night and fill a void and push away the haunting agonies of loneliness.?  We children were far away and she would never have disturbed us at such hours.

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Re To Catch a mouse.?  Thank you Joe.?  What a wonderful story!?  Now----I was told at one time by others with similar glue problems??”that one can take the glue strip with rodent and simply wash the critter off with a stream of water.?  I have not tried it.?  Louise Nomani

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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; Gilbert, Robert, Jr.; Goodier, Steve; Braun-Haley, Ellie; Harris, Kathy Anne; Hunt, Sharlett; Hymes, Christina; Jacobson, Gary; Kiser, Roger Dean; Kerens, Claudia; Kevin, Tim; Jenkins, Pamela; Liles, Norma; Lily Jodi Flesberg; Lock, Joyce; Mazzella, Joe; Morris, Deepak; Ojeibge, 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, Gordon, K; Walsh, Sue; Weymouth, Barbara J.; Whirity, Kathy; White Robert;

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Storytime Tapestry Staff

Carol Roach - Founder/publisher

Thelma Hartselle - Co-Founder, Moderator

Clara Westerfer ??“ moderator

Bob Johnston - moderator

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