Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

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March 15, 2006

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Today??™s Queue Stories

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I wrote it this week because my father- in-law left to return to his home (after Katrina)
and I needed to say the words to make my feelings permanent.? ? 

Reflections
Doris B. Fandal

Yesterday a man who entered my life 45 years ago left my home to return to his own

"hometown" and live in his own well known and loved surroundings.?  When he left, I was devastated because he had been here with us for the past four months and after living in the
home with a man for that long, it is difficult to say goodbye.?  I think this story needs a lot of background and I have a need to tell it so I will begin.

I first met Julius Fandal in Denham Springs, Louisiana one Saturday evening in the fall of 1960.

I had spoken with his wife, Maggie on the phone several times but had never met either of them.? 

I had a date that night with their oldest son, Mickey and we were all attending a pre-game

(LSU of course) party at the home of some family friends.?  When we arrived at the party,

I was immediately amazed that my date's mother looked so young and so beautiful in the

bright red cape she was wearing.?  I did not pay much attention to his dad because the

men gathered in one area of the house and the ladies all gathered in another.?  I was
so thankful at the time that I had taken an afternoon off of work to shop for the new outfit

I was wearing. I wanted to impress Maggie and Julius.?  After the party, Mickey and I went

to the game and his parents went too but in another car.? 

After that evening, I spent many happy hours in their home and married their son.?  I was

now a Fandal and so proud to be a member of the family.?  As the weeks and
months passed, Maggie and I became very good friends and I was so happy to have her

for my mother-in-law.

No one could ever ask for a better one than mine.?  But what about Julius and how well

did he and I get along? Well, to be quite honest, I did not see him much when
we were in Slidell.?  I learned that he spent a lot of his "off from work" time with his cronies

playing cards.?  He was, however, usually there when we all sat down for Sunday lunch.? 

When we would go to Slidell for the weekend, we usually had Sunday lunch with the family

and I always started a conversation with Julius.?  He and I would sit and talk and finally one

of the family members asked me how I managed to get him to converse with me.
? What??  Why wouldn't he talk to me??  He was after all, my father-in-law.?  Then I learned

that his children called him?  "Blab", not because he talked a lot but because he was a quiet man.

You know the strong but silent type.? 

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Looking back on those days, I remember so many times that he and I would sit in the den

And talk.?  I don't remember the conversations but we did talk.?  He was not "Blab" to me

but a father-in-law I was learning to love.?  I was also the mother of his first, and second grandchildren, (both grandsons), then his fourth grandson and his first granddaughter.
In fact, I am even the grandmother of his first great-grandson.? 

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When all these children started arriving, Julius had a name change in the family.?  He
became Pep??re? (grandfather) and then Big Pep??re.? ? ? ? 

Many years have passed and I think, no I know that he and I have become close and that

he loves me as much as I love him.?  But at midnight on August 28, 2005, this man who I have known for so long came to live with us for a while because of Hurricane Katrina.

When he arrived, he thought he would be here for a day or two and return to his own home.
Katrina had decided that he would not so he became a member of our West Monroe family.
During the months he has been here, Mickey has been at work and the two of us stayed at

home and began to get better acquainted.?  We did so many things together and learned a lot.? 

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We had adventures, and we even went to exercise classes together.?  I don't think he will ever
forget or let me forget that Halloween Day when we went shopping for Mickey's Christmas

gift and I bumped into a red vehicle in the parking lot.? 

Anyway, four months was too short a time to have him. He has become not only my

father-in-law, the grandfather to my four children and great grandfather to my seven

grandchildren.?  He has become my buddy, my friend and yes, a father to me.?  I lost my

own father 23 years ago in December and no one can ever replace him but Big Pep??re is my adopted father and when he left yesterday, I felt as though I were losing a piece of my heart.? 

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I hope he will be back here with us soon either as a visitor or if he wishes, as a member of
this household.?  We will always have a spot for him here and he will always have a piece of my heart.
?© Doris B. Fandal
December 26, 2005? ? 


I am wife, mother, grandmother, lover of life and enjoy doing crafts, sewing, reading,

computer and?  volunteering as a chemoangel (www.chemoangel.com) and
for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.(www.komen.org)? ? 

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I started writing for my own pleasure and as a way of releasing tension soon after I was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 1999.?  I also am a moderator of an online b.c. support group.(4bcsurvivors)?  B.C. changed my life; made me realize the wonder of it all and has

given me many new friends, new experiences, and a joy of living that is not like the joy I experienced before b.c.?  I lost both of my parents to cancer so the fight to find a
cure is very important to me.?  I am an outspoken advocate and try very hard to help educate anyone I see about health issues, especially related to breast health.?  I would love to hear from anyone who reads my stories and enjoys my stories or even those who can tell me how they

might be improved. My e-mail address
is mkayla38@yahoo.com? ? 

~**~**~

How well I remember.

Norma Liles

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I remember when I made do with whatever was available to fill my

childhood days such as going into the old smokehouse which was

situated behind our main house to make a play house.?  The most

fun was getting the dusty old room ready to play as a housewife

or take discarded boxes and such as my supplies to build a grocery

store.

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At one place that we lived, there was quite a long hill behind our

house so my friend, Teresa and I would swing on the grapevine in

pretense that we were Nyoka, the jungle girl.?  We sure thought we

were big and strong?

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My father would take any plot of land that was available to make a

vegetable garden.?  One of the things that he raised was Kentucky

Wonder green beans.?  He always raised more than Mother could

can or what we could eat for their growing season so my younger

sister and I were allowed to sell the to neighbors.?  Geez, we thought

we were big time vendors. (ha!)

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Another crop that he raised which was not supposed to be a part

of our play time was; corn.?  My girlfriend and I would sneak some

matches from my house and go down to the bottom of the hill where

the corn had grown tall.?  We learned to make a cigarette from the

husks but that was not the end of this particular tale.

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We did not cover our tracks well because my Dad walked into the

garage and found the matches scattered around and knew that there

was not a need for those matches in that place.

He was very strict and we knew when we crossed the line that there

would be "hail columbia"..... to pay.?  I cannot remember if he punished me or not

but the fear in my heart and mind was punishment enough?

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As I grew a little older, we had moved to a small city in southern Ohio

which was close to a neighborhood theatre.?  I have always loved

movies and on Saturday or Sunday afternoon, you could?  watch three

movies for thirty-five cents.?  (Believe that, kids?).

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There was a wedding in the family one particular Saturday afternoon

and after the wedding, the adults wanted to have some time to

celebrate with the newlyweds so we kids were given a?  little extra

money for popcorn and pop to go see the afternoon movies.? ?  Vaguely do

I remember what a headache I would bring home with me after

staring at that screen through three movies plus the short runs of

cartoons, news reels, or feature attractions.

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None of us kids cared much for the manager of the theatre as he

was always expecting trouble from us but one night a week, he

would stop the shows for WAHOO, a game similar to bingo.?  We

always KNEW we were going to be winners but I cannot remember

having won anything except:

I was ready to go into the ninth grade which in my area was known

as your freshman year of high school.?  All summer, I had patronized

the theatre but on this one particular day, I had an appointment with

the neighborhood hair dresser.?  She found what I had obviously carried

home with me; head lice.?  To this day, I can remember having to

have this horrible black 'stuff' put all over my head and to top that,

I would go out of my way of the beauty shop because i was terribly

embarrased.? 

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Gee, to be young, once again?

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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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~**~**~

Poetry Section

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WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?

Joyce C. Lock

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Where is your faith when you need it most,
When Satan's works instead you do boast?

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You've placed your eyes on catastrophe,
Taken them off God's sovereignty.

?© by Joyce C. Lock

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If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed,
ye shall say unto this mountain,
Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove;
and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Matthew 17:20

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Who Sees?

? Joyce C. Lock

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Who sees your smile
As sunshine from above?

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Who sees your touch
As God's given love?

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Who sees your laughter
As music to their ears?

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Who sees your heart
Through your tears?

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Who sees your voice
As God's gift to us?

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Who sees your spirit?
Your? Friend, in? Christ,? does.

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?© by Joyce C. Lock

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~**~**~

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Will We Ever Learn?

Joyce C. Lock

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Lions were born to roar.
Grownups act the same.

Lambs are dumb.
Children get the blame.

Jesus' rod brings comfort.
Adults carry the shame.

When will we ever learn
To wear His name?

?© by Joyce C. Lock

??¦ Inasmuch as ye have done it

unto one of the least of these my brethren,
ye have done it unto me.

Matthew 25:40

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~**~**~

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Readers Feedback

Thanks to Paula for all the nice, well deserved comments about our newsletter and a BIG welcome!?  I was also abused and loved to stay in the woods as a child.?  I wrote songs. Found out I would never make it as a singer.?  lol God bless, Sharlett Hunt

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; Marlor, Janice Bumbalough; 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;

Wainland, David; 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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