Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

? 

Feb 23, 2006

? 

Today??™s announcements

Happy Birthday to my sweet grandson, Tyler Anthony Henry Roach is 10 years old today.

I am announcing another new writer. Debbie Sodenberg Kirshner becomes writer #296, for Storytime Tapestry. ? Isn??™t it just wonderful, to see all the new talent we have been getting lately.?  Please email her to let her know how much you like her story.

? 

Now onto the good stuff!

? 

? 

Today??™s Valentine Contest Stories

~**~**~

First Taste? 

Debbie Soderberg Kirchner

? 

I remember when I was a young Teenager, my parents threw another? of their fabulous parties.... ? I was allowed to help prepare, and serve the food... My mother bought me a lovely apron, which she tied into a cute little bow at the small of my back... I helped cut up and arrange the fruit, vegetables, crackers and cheese on various platters... I helped to set out the glasses for cocktails and wine...

? 

The many well dressed people started to arrive about half past 6... Handshakes and kisses were exchanged by all.. I was introduced to all, with the words, "do you remember, So and So?" The music was playing softly in the back ground... the smell of sweet cigars marked the entry of a tall, elegant man with dark hair.. Funny how when he arrived at my fathers funeral last fall, now with? salt and pepper hair, ? I remembered he was the one that always had a cigar in his hand or hanging from his mouth!!!!?  Even though he had quit smoking them years ago, I could still smell the distinct smell of cigars on his lapel, as he hugged my close..

? 

The level of laughter and compliments to each other rose as the evening progressed... I scurried here and there, picking up glasses, bringing out new platters of food as the first ones emptied and smiled and nodded to each person as I tried to be grown up in my fancy apron...

? 

I remember my mother pouring herself a glass of wine from a fancy bottle dad had just opened with a pop... I was watching her carefully as she first smelled it, then tasted the tiniest amount of the clear colored liquid... she turned to my dad, and he poured her a full glass... she took a sip and turned to me and asked me if I would like a taste... all sounds in the room seemed to quiet down as all eyes followed that glass as it touched my lips... I smelled it first, as my mother had, then I took a tiny sip... the laughter returned to the room as I looked cross eyed and squinted, my mouth just wanted to send the liquid right back into the fancy glass.. instead I swallowed it, and said, "no thank you" to the question, "do you want your own glass?"

I could not understand the desire to drink wine or other beverages of it's kind before this experience, and certainly did not understand it after... Until I was in college and my friends from? high school gathered together at the local pub. Here we? splint a pitcher of Sangria, ate popcorn and laughed loudly as we told stories of our first few months of College....

? 

Now, I truly do enjoy a glass of Red wine with Dinner, I never did develop a taste for white wine...

? 

Debbie Soderberg Kirchner

dakota.charm@gmail.com
Feb 4 2006  copyright

? 

I live on a beautiful hobby farm with my husband, daughter, horses, dogs, cats, and chickens... currently in SE MN.. I have been a story teller all my life.. sometimes they come out in poems, other times as lovely stories... I guess I have to say they are simply gifts to me, that I am now ready to share with others.. I hope you enjoy them...

? 

? 

~**~**~

EXTRA SPECIAL VALENTINES? 

by Barbara Deming

? 

My readers probably remember that I have often written about what a tomboy I was in my younger years. But when a girl went to school in those days, you had to discard the jeans for dresses. My daddy was the sole support of a growing family so there was a lot of ???make-do??? with what we had and what we wore. Mama was a beautiful seamstress and I always looked clean and neat in her creations but??¦they were still handmade. I was made fun of from day one for those feed sack dresses I sometimes wore to school.?  And I had tons of freckles. I was tall and gangly. Plus I was bored in school and became the class clown, often in trouble for it. All, or any one of those things, meant that I was not the most popular kid in class.

? 

That was brought home to me clearly on Valentine??™s Day of the first grade. Mrs. Gregory had created the most beautiful box we had ever seen??”pink and white crepe paper twisted into frills surrounded the box and top, with bright red hearts scattered here and there all around.?  In those days, we made most of our cards at home or at school. I made sure I created one for every member of my class and proudly slipped them into the slot on top. On Valentine??™s Day I expected to carry home a paper sack filled with cards. I received five cards. There were no antics that day in school and the usually bubbly child arrived home in tears she didn??™t want her classmates to see.

? 

Of course, I got over it. I never said a word about the lack of cards and went on my merry way. The next year, however, I told Mama I wasn??™t giving any cards. She set me straight about that??”she reminded me that if I skipped even one, that child might end up the same way I had the year before. So, probably with little heart in it, I made my cards and put them in the box. And, though I don??™t remember, I probably hoped in my child??™s heart that this Valentine??™s would be different.

? 

It was certainly different. Mrs. Holloway, the second grade teacher, opened the lid of that box and began to call names. It seemed that every other card had my name on it. The other kids began to squirm in their seats and look at me with surprise. I hit the jackpot.?  I couldn??™t open the cards fast enough. Why, I even had a card signed by??¦Jesus!

? 

Years later, when I had long gotten over the slights of classmates and was surrounded by friends who didn??™t care that Mama still made my large wardrobe (not out of feed sacks any longer though), the truth was told. On that first Valentine??™s Day, Mama had hugged me and dried my tears, telling me that I was a sweetheart to her and Daddy. In her heart, she vowed this hurt would not be repeated. She made cards, her friends purchased cards, even Reverend Rose posed as Jesus to sign a card. Mama had stuffed the box!

? 

Barb Deming

tejasbabs@aol.com

********************

Barbara Deming celebrates Jesus??™ birth in So. California. ???The Quilt Maker,??? available from Amazon.com is a bestseller and ???Growing up Barefoot in the South??? may be ordered at publishamerica.com.

? 

~**~**~

Love At First Sight

? Doris B. Fandal? ? 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  On a hot summer day in South Louisiana,
young Julius was driving down the road in his car on
the road to Bayou Liberty.?  He did not have any
particular plans that day; he was just riding "down
the bayou" and thought perhaps he would see some of
his friends there.?  As he drove down the road he saw
something that would change his life forever.?  There
were two young girls walking in the direction he was
going.?  They were walking barefoot down the road and
one of them was a beauty he wanted to get to know.?  He
had no idea who she was but he stopped and asked if
they would like a ride so they would not have to walk
on the hot road.?  The young ladies had been properly
raised and told him they would not accept his offer of
a ride and continued on down the road.?  Back in those
days, young girls never would accept a ride from a
stranger and even though they were tempted, they said
no.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  Julius was already smitten and watched to
see where they went.?  He was determined to meet the
beautiful young girl.?  Luckily for him, she turned out
to be the younger sister of some of his friends.?  They
arranged for her to go to the next local dance with
them so they could introduce him to their sister.

When they met at the dance, they both were interested
and began to see each other at other parties and
dances.?  Her brothers must have enjoyed helping them
to meet and at the same time were able to watch over
their sister.?  And being young men, they probably
loved the idea of helping to keep the news from their
father.?  They did not date; but they attended the same
events and got to know each other better.?  There was a
slight problem; Marguerite's parents had already
planned for her to marry another young man who was
well known to them and her father, Tobe did not want
those plans changed.?  In fact, he refused to allow his
daughter to go out with this brash young man.?  He was
not from their community and not a part of the life he
wanted for his daughter.?  Marguerite's family lived
'down the bayou' and Julius lived 'in town' with his
family.?  And even worse, Julius was known to be a
young man who liked to gamble.?  He loved to play
poker!? 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  The day came when Julius decided to go to
her house and meet her family.?  When he arrived and
walked to the front gate, Tobe stood on the porch and
said, "Young man, do not open that gate and come to
this house.?  If you do, I will shoot you."? ?  Julius,
as has been noted, was a brash young man and already
in love so instead of turning away, he took the gate
in his hands; removed it from its hinges, and walked
toward the house.?  Tobe did not shoot him but he
insisted his daughter could not see this fellow.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  Young love persisted and soon Marguerite and
Julius were making plans to be wed.?  Her mom was in
agreement but Tobe was still not ready to see his
daughter marry this man.?  Emilie (her mother) helped
Marguerite prepare for her marriage and Tobe looked on
with displeasure.?  Then the day they needed to buy the
marriage license arrived and he relented a bit.?  He
paid for the license.?  Sometimes love just can't be
stopped and he must have realized that he was going to
have to accept Julius or lose his daughter completely.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  The wedding was simple; Marguerite wore her
best Sunday dress and they were married in the small
Bayou Liberty Catholic Church, St. Genevieve.? ?  This
was in July of 1937.?  In August of 1938, their family
grew with the arrival of Carlos David, then along came
Lynn Jude, Julie Marguerite, Thomas Joseph, Rodney
James, Allen Charles, and Denise Elaine.?  Times were
not always easy but Julius worked hard at different
jobs and yes, continued to play poker.?  He was a
winner of the girl of his dreams and also a winner at
poker. In fact, at times, his poker winnings kept his
family fed.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  One funny story about Marguerite has always
fascinated me.?  You see, every payday Julius would
deposit his paycheck and tell Marguerite. She would
use the money she needed to buy food for the family.
Once he forgot to tell her the check was deposited and
she was just stubborn enough not to ask.?  They had
bought a case of 'Pork and Beans' and instead of
asking if the money was in the bank, she served that
for a week.?  He must have wondered what had happened
to her wonderful gumbos and stews and it took a few
days but he finally realized he had not told her about
the paycheck.?  Sometimes a woman can send a message
without words and Marguerite certainly did get her
message across that week.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  In July of 1987, Marguerite and Julius
celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary.?  She
was beginning to have health problems that led to
Alzheimer's but the love in their eyes was there.?  He
had managed to win the young girl he saw on the road
and he took care of her for as long as she lived.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  Julius called her Maggie, the children
called her mother, and the grandchildren called her
Mem??re.?  She wore all of those titles with beauty and
a smile.?  My name for her was also Mem??re. She was my
mother-in-law and the most wonderful one that anyone
could ever have.?  Julius saw and won this wonderful
young girl and to him she remained for all the years
they were married a beautiful young girl.?  She never
aged in his eyes.?  Was it love at first sight??  I
think it was but it turned out to be a "never ending
love."

Maggie is gone now but her memory is still in Julius's
heart and he will never forget his "beautiful bayou
girl".

?© Doris B. Fandal
mkayla38@yahoo.com
September 5, 2005? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 

~**~**~

? 

My Wonderful Valentine

Doris B. Fandal

Do you believe in Angels??  I do.?  On Monday, February
14, 2005, I had just completed a lengthy test to see
if I have a problem with my heart and was feeling just
a bit anxious.?  I was also feeling very hungry because
I had fasted since midnight.?  I decided to stop at the
Sonic on N. 7th Street in?  West Monroe on my way home.
? I thought I might feel better if I had a quick lunch.
I was sitting in my van eating my chilidog and
watching the people who were passing and who were
serving the customers because I am a people watcher
and enjoy seeing what people are doing.?  I noticed a
small girl who seemed to be lost. She was walking in
front of all of the cars that were parked and seemed
to be looking for someone.?  I thought she was looking
for her parents and couldn't remember where they were
parked.
Then she arrived in front of my van and came to the
window beside me.
She had a beautiful smile so I put the window down and
asked if I could help.? ? ?  She did not say a word, but
she handed me the object she was holding and took off
with another sweet smile.? ?  The object was a beautiful
hand-made valentine.?  I thought my heart would burst
with surprise and happiness and I started to cry with
tears of joy.?  This young girl seemed to be an angel
in disguise for me that day.?  She gave me a gift of
love and brightened my day with just a smile and a
valentine.?  I would like to thank her for the gift she
gave me that day but I do not know her name except for
her first name which is Madeline.?  If you are reading
this, Madeline, I would like to thank you for your
wonderful gift.?  You made a?  "senior" citizen's day
and I will remember you, especially on days when I am
in need of a bit of cheer.
?© Doris B. Fandal
mkayla38@yahoo.com

February 16, 2005

~**~**~

Love

Doris B. Fandal

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  There is a country song that says, "I'm
gonna love you forever, forever and ever, Amen."?  The
young man who sings this is Randy Travis.?  I love the
song and have a copy of it, which I love to listen to
at home and in my van.? ?  In fact, sometimes I start to
hum it as I go about my daily chores.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  Last night I saw something that made me
think that a lot of people believe in the words to
this song.?  I have always thought I would love Mickey
forever and ever but I did not know about the rest of
the world and whether they would continue to love
their spouse the same way.? ? ? 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  Last night we attended the Monroe Symphony's
Pops concert and there is always a dance floor for
those folks who want to dance as the music is played.
I nudged Mickey and said, "there are the?  Browns again
this year".?  They are an elderly couple and are always
on the dance floor.?  I have a difficult time watching
any of the other couples because I have to keep an eye
on them.?  I think they are in their 80's at least.
Over the years I have watched them dance and as the
years pass, I have seen them age.?  They don't dance
the way the rest of the folks are dancing.they seem to
be dancing to music that is theirs alone.?  This year I
mentioned to Mickey that they almost seem to need each
other to be able to stand up and dance. But dance they
do and you can see a dreamy expression on her face at
times.?  His face is always full of smiles and one can
tell that he is having a great time.?  This couple has
not always been married to each other; I believe that
for both of them, this was a second marriage and they
were married in their senior years.?  I believe they
are going to love each other forever and ever.?  They
are a joy to watch. I can only hope that when Mickey
and I are that age, we will have as much joy of living
in our lives and that we will want to go on dancing
forever, forever and ever, Amen.?  I would hope that
others will find the love and caring that this couple
shows for each other in their own lives.?  I know that
I treasure it in mine.

?© Doris B. Fandal
mkayla38@yahoo.com

? 

Doris Fandal, wife, mother, grandmother and full time volunteer for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Formerly a teacher but started writing after diagnosed with breast cancer.?  I am now a 6 1/2 year breast cancer survivor.?  I am 67 years old.

? 

? 

Readers Feedback

(Forever In My Heart ??“ Feb 13^th ) Carol, This was so bitter sweet.?  Thank you for sharing your thoughts.?  Beautifully written. Love Clara

? 

THAT WAS? A BEAUTIFUL STORY ABOUT YOUR SISTER, YES, SHE IS IN A BETTER
PLACE AND WILL NOT SUFFER ANYMORE. GOD BLESS YOU CAROL. WITH MUCH LOVE, MARYANN

? 

Hi Mrs. Roach, I just had to write? a few lines after reading today's story about Joyce. That is one of the sweetest and most loving tributes I've ever read anywhere.? Your sister was an extra special person who? God? had? plans for? all along.? I'm sorry I never had the opportunity? to? meet her. Please take care,

Lynne

? 

Carol, what a beautiful tribute to your sister's life.?  I know that she is smiling down on you from Heaven?  right now.?  God bless you always.?  Wishing you every joy, Joe

? 

Forever With Me by Carol Roach, M.Ed, BA: A world of depression in deed.?  It is everywhere.?  I have also been there.?  ? As I read through the story I seem to fit in Debbie??™s shoes, although I have never had such operations or illness to get me down but I have always felt rejected in the days of growing up in relatives??™ homes.?  Just like her, I was reunited to my younger brother and my biological mother after 35 years of not knowing them in the course of attending a late uncle??™s funeral??¦?  Up till this present time, I still don??™t feel the family bond.?  They seem to look like strangers to me.?  I had always believed that nobody wanted me but I had to overcome it by being friendly to every creator that seem to be harmless.?  I make myself happy and I love to make people belonged and happy.?  I chose to make people smile since I suffered rejection and I know how it feels to be there. So Carol, I very much understand where you have been and what state of mind you are in now.?  We are just one of many others that have, are and will go through such stage in life. The meaning of life is a misery till now. Georgewaters Ojeigbe, Lagos, Nigeria

? 

(Feb 12) ( Fun With Food) LOL!!!?  Words are fascinating aren't they!! Excellent!! Arlene

? 

Awwwwwwww a play with words.?  This is a good one and will share with others.

Thankssss, Mac

? 

Carol, After reading this I feel the need for a snack. :-)?  Wishing you every joy, Joe

? 

? 

Senior Writers

Chief writer: Sharon Bryant

? 

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;

? 

Storytime Tapestry Staff

Carol Roach - Founder/publisher

Thelma Hartselle - Co-Founder, Moderator

Clara Westerfer ??“ moderator

Bob Johnston - moderator

? 

? 

? 

? 

? 

?