THE CAT’S MEOW
FOR WRITERS & READERS E-ZINE®
Where we take care to bring you stories and poems for your reading
pleasure
plus helpful
information of all kinds, and author’s books to purchase!™
Not Your
Typical Electronic Magazine!
OCTOBER / NOVEMBER
2009
Issue 59 /
60, Volume 09, Ezine: ISSN#: 2237-65
PLEASE NOTE: Although
this is an Internet based magazine, we have 3,000+ subscribers who receive
notification when a new issue is on this website. And
we would like you to know that our subscriber list is NOT made available to
others, including companies. We value every subscriber and respect your
privacy. But, we are NOT responsible for website links that do not work unless
they have been inserted into the publisher’s corner; then she is responsible,
she apologizes and will correct it as soon as possible… However,
please notify us at The Publisher’s Box™ if any links are not working or are the wrong
links so that we will know. Thank you!
IN THIS ISSUE:
PUBLISHER & EDITOR’S CORNER: ROSANNE CATALANO (aka
R.C.KAYLA)
BIRTHDAY & ANNIVERSARY WISHES
CORNER
FOR THE MONTHS OF OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER 2009
CONTRIBUTORS
FOR THE MONTHS OF OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2009:
ROSANNE
CATALANO (aka R.C.KAYLA)
“Does
Anyone Really Know What Time It Is?” and “Friends and
Family, What Are We Without Them?”
“The
Precious Gift of Life” and “A Tribute to a Beautiful Sacred Synagogue”
“The
World Without You” and “The Blind Man Saw”
“Don’t
Judge a Book by Its Cover” and
“Peace”
“Why I
Believe” and “I am too Righteous to ever
be Self-Righteous”
“Halloween”
and “Halloween Haiku”
“The
Horrors of the White House”
“Men
and Women – The Qualities We Seek” and “Why Recessions
Happen and How to Counter Them”
“A
Rural Spring” and “Pre-Spring Walk”
“Night
Stalker” and “Victim of a Date Rape”
CONTRIBUTORS
FOR THE MONTHS OF OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2009:
“Fusion-Inspired Thanksgiving Side Dishes”
LOOKING FOR A GOOD BOOK TO READ?
THE BEST IN LITERATURE BY MANY AUTHORS CAN BE PURCHASED RIGHT HERE
ROSANNE CATALANO, aka R.C.KAYLA
Hello my dear readers! Wow, a lot
has happened over the course of our brief hiatus and my much-needed vacation!
Our technical problems
have finally been resolved, however,
and it feels great to be back. Unfortunately this
issue will not have all of the scary Halloween stories and poems we normally
have for our October issue. That’s because back in February I
promised that our contributors’ work would be published in the March and beyond
issues…as you know from my emails, however, due to the computer & technical
problems we had early in the year, we were unable to publish our contributors’
work for March, April, May, June, July, August and September; hence, the reason
we were forced to take a brief hiatus. On the other hand, my much-needed
vacation was only taken after I almost died due to a
tooth infection that had spread to my brain, whereby I spent five days in the
hospital this past July. I was able to tell those of you who are on Facebook about my near-death experience. However, I
apologize for not sending out a mass email to tell those not on Facebook!
Another thing I did during my vacation and
our brief hiatus was to adopt a male Shih Tzu dogJ
His name is Nikko (pronounced “Ni-co”), which was given to him by his previous
owners, who had to relinquish him due to this lousy economy. Since my husband
and I didn’t want to confuse the poor dog even
further, we kept his name. On September 23rd
Now
before I bring you the rest of my column and our contributors’ stories, poems,
essays and articles for your reading pleasure, I would like to say to my
writers that if your work is NOT published in this issue I am so sorry but do
not fret it will be published in upcoming issues instead… Enjoy our
October/November magazine. Happy
Halloween and Happy Thanksgiving to my American readers!
News from
Our Contributor DR. HARMANDER SINGH!
CAROL ROACH, publisher of “Storytime
Tapestry” and my dear friend, had announced the following in her publication:
“I am proud to announce that DR. HARMANDER SINGH has published a new book on The Gurbani, the collection of the teachings of the metaphysically
transcendental souls; the enlightened ones! It does not matter to which
religion, cult, sect or ism they belong. The belief in it is that the whole of
the Creation is having the governance from One God, called and known by many
different names. The word ‘Omni’ as a prefix has ‘
In the Gurbani, there are many
transcendentally universal (or natural) laws and the principles; however, we
may take the main of fifty-two in the series. These are to support us
metaphysically about what the Comparative Religious and Interfaith Ways say. In
other words, it is the essence of the religions; the religions are having a
common thread metaphysically as that present in the rosary. In DR. SINGH’S book, he discusses it one at a time, and
has our mystic reflection metaphysically as if receiving the fruits and the spiritual gifts from the wisdom
tree.
Please
check out “MYSTICALLY NATURAL LAWS AND PRINCIPLES BY DR. HARMANDER
SINGH”,
available at Lulu Press, just click on this link to order your copy today: http://www.lulu.com/content/3962886
CAROL
ROACH
Publisher – Storytime Tapestry.
”
* * * *
News from
Our Contributor ROGER DEAN KISER!
“As some of you know, my self
published book “The White House Boys” was pulled from the market and the new
book has been released by HCI (Chicken Soup for the Soul
publishers). Most books and stories I write are very tame in language and
content, especially when dealing with child sexual abuse issues. But in this
book the coarse language was necessary in order to portray the cruel and
deplorable treatment many boys received while in the care of the
ROGER’S
book, “The White House Boys,” is now available at Amazon.com
at this link:
This YouTube video (below) tells the true
story in less than 40 seconds. It shows that child abuse lasts a lifetime:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8neSnpAXTro
“The purchasing
of my books helps me continue my work with American Orphans and abused
children” -- ROGER DEAN KISER,
author
and child advocate: http://www.geocities.com/trampolineone
White House
Boys Web Site:
http://www.thewhitehouseboys.com
* * * *
News from
Our Contributor SANDRA HOYNACKI!
“To all, I finally have a web page for viewing
and purchasing my book; my very first Novel...’ON CALL’…Go to the page at the below
link, and if you would like to order it, or any of the three, please
follow directions on the page. The novel has taken me almost two years to
write.
I have been through deep valleys while
writing it. Many of you know, I lost my father during this time of working on
it.
I set out to conquer my goals and I have.
Please refer the link to your friends
and everyone. I promise you that you will NOT REGRET purchasing the novel. It
is spine tingling from beginning to end.... Take my word...The ending is
nothing like you could ever imagine…Not in your wildest dreams....
Leave a note in the guestbook as some of
my friends already have. Let me know that you were at least there......
ON CALL can be purchased here: www.SandraHoynacki.com
============================================================================================================================
Calls for Submissions for all writers!
From CAROL ROACH, publisher of Storytime Tapestry:
“Storytime Tapestry is in need of more stories, please keep them coming in. Also help support the continued running of
Storytime Tapestry by joining me on myLot and getting paid while we talk to each other and
others all over the
world:
http://www.mylot.com/?ref=winterose
(if the link doesn’t work just cut and paste).
From
my son Steven Roach:”
“I was thinking you should advertise this
link regularly in your newsletter (if the link doesn’t work just cut and paste)
http://greenhorse.com/join_now.ghc?r=177952857 Tell them it would help support the
newsletter and they can earn money from it. They need to sign up and install it
but they don't need to do anything else. They just do what they normally would
anyways on the net and they earn money while it’s on. In other words they just
keep it running while they are online. Its small doesn't take up much system
resources and they can earn more if they advertise their own link and get people
under them as well. Let them know some people make 5-10$ a day on it and it’s
been open since 2002.”
From ERNEST DEMPSEY, co-publisher of The
Audience Review:
I would like to tell you about our
Call for Opinion on ‘Intelligence among Men and Women’ to be included in our
upcoming issue of the print
quarterly publication “The
Audience Review.” You are welcome
to submit your opinion as well as to notify your readers about submitting
theirs too. To read the submission guidelines (there are only a few), please
visit: http://cspsapc.blogspot.com/2008/08/men-or-women-whos-more-intelligent.html
Best
regards,
ERNEST
Co-Publisher of The Audience Review
========================================================================================================================
AN EXCITING BI-MONTHLY POETRY CONTEST FOR ALL
POETS!
High Prairie
Poets
ELIGIBILITY: ALL POETS –
12 point Font
is a must. DON’T “CAP” Titles.
DEADLINE: POSTMARKED BY The 20th
OF THE MONTH.
LINE LIMIT: There is a 32 line limit.
ENTRY FEE: $2.00 entry fee for the
first poem and $1.00 each for additional poems. NO EMAIL ENTRIES.
PRIZES: $25.00 1st
Place; $10.00 2nd Place; $5.00 3rd Place; 3 HM’S; WE DO
NOT PUBLISH ANY POEMS.
SUBMISSION: Please send TWO
COPIES of each poem (poet‘s choice), ONE BLANK
and THE OTHER WITH NAME, ADDRESS,
and TITLE OF
POEM. DO NOT SEND COVER LETTER OR
BIOGRAPHY; One Poem on a Page; 66 characters per line. No Themes.
NO OBSCENE LANGUAGE.
NOTIFICATION: By the tenth of the
following month, IF you include a SASE. ALWAYS INCLUDE A “SASE.”
JUDGING: Qualified, blind judging;
Judge’s decisions are final.
NEXT
CONTEST: NOVEMBER 20, 2009.
ADDRESS:
SEND ALL ENTRIES
TO: CAROL DEE MEEKS, Silver Arrow
Estates,
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YOU DEFINITELY DON’T WANT TO MISS OUT ON THIS WONDERFUL AND INFORMATIVE
E-BOOK BY BETH ANN ERIKSON!
BETH ANN ERIKSON,
“The Queen Bee of Filbert Publishing,” wrote an excellent book that makes
a wonderful gift for the writer in your
life! In her book, Beth helpfully guides you on how to
earn more than pennies for your freelance writing. To purchase her excellent
eBook titled “101 No Cost or Low Cost
Techniques to Turbo Charge Your Freelance Income,” go to Filbert
Publishing today!
YOU ALSO DON’T WANT TO MISS
OUT ON THIS VERY INFORMATIVE SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT BY PHYLLIS ZIMBLER MILLER!
Now I’m going
to ask you if you think marketing your book is expensive or are you looking for
ways to get the word out about a
new hot novel you’ve written? If you answered “yes” to
these questions, then you must read PHYLLIS ZIMBLER MILLER’s Special Report SOCIAL
MEDIA CAMPAIGN FOR BOOK AUTHORS! For only $14.95, PHYLLIS will show & tell you
how to use Facebook, Twitter and other social media
websites to sell your book or novel. Before you know it you’ll be conducting
your own ‘free’ online social media book promotion campaign! So, definitely
don’t miss out on this great opportunity to learn how to promote your novel!
Just click on the link above that says: “SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN FOR BOOK
AUTHORS”, and PHYLLIS
will send you your Special Report
today!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don’t
forget to check out the ‘Helpful Links’ and
Home Page on this web site for other
interesting, fun and informative sites for you! Plus the link to The
SHINE! Journal, where PAMELA TYREE
Please do let our author CONTRIBUTORS know what you think of their work via email, or you can visit their websites,
after you have read their stories, poems and articles. [ Email addresses and websites are listed in the author’s bio. ]
See you all in December… until then,
WISHING YOU
A HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
AND
(for my American readers)
A HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
DON’T FORGET
TO PICK UP YOUR COPY
OF MIRRORED IMAGES,
A COLLECTION OF MY
STORIES & POEMS
JUST FOR YOU!
Psalm 113:9:
Is it? “He maketh the
barren woman to keep house and to be
a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.”
Or Is it? “He grants the barren woman a home like a joyful mother of children. Praise
ye the LORD.”
There seems to be a debate about which Biblical passage
above is correct. So, if anyone can tell me the correct Biblical passage it
would truly be appreciated! Thank you.
Copyright © October /
November 2009 Rosanne Catalano.
WISHES CORNER!
HAPPY
BELATED
BIRTHDAY TO:
JOSEPH J. MAZZELLA, Birthday: September 29th
HELEN DOWD, Birthday: September 29th
SANDRA L. HOYNACKI, Birthday: October 5th
DAWN SCHOENE, Birthday: October 7th
JOHN UMLAND, Birthday: October 17th
PATIENCE AUBREY ANNA SPARGO, Birthday: October 20th,
2008
HAPPY
BIRTHDAY TO:
CONNIE KASO, Birthday: November 6th
JEAN MC NALLY MACEDONIO, Birthday: November
17th
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO:
HEIDI AND DE LINN SPARGO, Anniversary: October
17th
ROSALEE AND DAVID WILSON, Anniversary: November
19th
To see your
birthday and/or anniversary wishes here,
Email us
with your name (first & last, or just first name) and birth-day
or anniversary date (year is optional for both)!
COFFEE HOUSE 4 READERS CORNER!
(Bringing You
Published Written Talent
Every Month
for YOUR
The
below story, “Halloween Horrors”, was originally published in CAROL ROACH’S publication
Storytime Tapestry…
Halloween
Horrors
By
Rosanne Catalano (aka R.C.Kayla)
Author of “Touch of Tomorrow – In Loving
Memory” and “Mirrored Images”
Every year for Halloween I loved dressing up in different costumes and
going trick or treating with my sister and brother. One year I dressed as
Cinderella, then another year as Snow White, an Angel, Jack -n-Jill (where my
sister was Jack because she was the tomboy, and I was Jill lol!),
and other fun outfits that either my mom or grandmother sewed, or they
store-bought.
But I was beyond costumes at thirteen years of age when my friends,
Carina, Katelyn and I had decided to go trick or treating by our school. It was
a suburban community in
Although none of us had ever done that in a strange neighborhood, we
were up for trick or treating near the school we attended. Carina, Katelyn and
I went during our hour-lunch break. Some of the homeowners commented about us
being kind of old to be trick or treating; especially since we had no costumes
on. We didn’t care though. As far as we were concerned, we were still young
enough to trick or treat. Plus, we had seen a lot of older teens also trick or treating!
Everything went well. My friends and I went back to school with our
Halloween bags filled with lots of candy, some money and an apple. When school
let out at 3:30 pm, we went home to our own houses thinking nothing of an apple
being amongst our candy. At least I didn’t. That could be because I loved
apples, and figured one of those homeowners couldn’t afford candy and put an
apple in our bags instead.
After hopping off the school bus, I walked into my parent’s home with
the bag of Halloween goodies. Happily dumping the candy, money (pennies
actually, for UNICEF) and apple on my mother’s kitchen table, my younger sister
(who had been on the school bus with me) and I went through the candy. I picked
up the apple, and turned it all ways looking for anything suspicious-looking.
It looked fine so, for sanitary reasons, I ran it under cold water. Since I
didn’t see anything I bit into the apple.
Then I saw a flash of metal, and pulled the apple out of my mouth.
Looking at what was a razor blade stuck inside the apple, I dropped the apple
in the garbage pail. My eyes went wide with horror as I looked at my sister.
Her mouth was open in horror as she said “OH MY GOD!”
“Oh my God I know … that could have sliced my mouth in half if I had
bitten down directly on that blade,” I remember whispering.
“Just because it was by your school doesn’t mean it wasn’t a strange
neighborhood, sis. You shouldn’t have trick or treated in a neighborhood you
know nothing about!”
“You’re right. I definitely won’t anymore! Oh my God… let’s not tell mom
or dad, ok?”
I never did tell my parents about finding the razor blade in the apple;
I thought they would ground me. And especially at 13…I felt if those homeowners
thought we were too old to be trick or treating, so would my parents think so
too.
Once I threw the apple in the garbage pail, I tried to forget my close
call ever happened… something I became adept at when bad things did occur in my
life. But this year I was talking with a dear friend about why I was a little
turned off to Halloween, and she told me I should write about what happened to
me. I decided I would so that it may help another child never go through what I
did on my last Halloween.
Now I ask myself, “why did I trick
or treat in a different area than my own neighborhood; was it to fit in with my
two friends? Was I looking for
approval, and that is why I thought that I, too, was up for trick or treating
in a different neighborhood than my own?”
I’m not sure why; I was thirteen then, I’m now forty-eight and it’s
hard to remember my motive for doing Halloween in the area by my school (an
unknown neighborhood!) since I knew better.
This is a true story of
what happened to me one Halloween. The year was 1971, thirty-five years ago.
Things have gotten scarier for our children since so please do be very careful
this Halloween! Stick with the known. Your children and you will be safer for
it.
Copyright © October 2006
Rosanne Catalano.
Revised & Copyright ©
October 2009 Rosanne Catalano.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Rosanne
Catalano (aka R.C.Kayla) is a
native New Yorker who is a published author, writer and the publisher &
editor of “The Cat’s Meow for Writers & Readers E-zine,”
an Internet based literary magazine that she founded and created in 2004. She,
her husband and their two fur babies now reside in
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Does Anyone Really
Know What Time It Is?
By
Carol Roach
Author of “Picking Up The Pieces: A
Woman’s Journey” and “Angels Watching Over Me”
After receiving my masters in counselling
psychology, I found that there were scarcely any jobs in my field. The only
real solution for me to find a job in my area is relocation but unfortunately
it is not an option for me at this time.
The jobs that are most abundant here in
My first job as a telemarketer
lasted for four months. I was passed over for a promotion and eventually let go
because I had a viral throat infection that prevented me from talking properly
and subsequently making the sales.
Within a week I had a new job in a
call center with better pay, more hours, and a chance for a promotion. I had
been very disappointed with the old job when they did not see my potential and
I figured that this new job would launch my career
in human resources; the area that my training in counselling
had prepared me for and the only area in business that I would like to try.
I was a sales representative for
three months when a job posting came up for a supervisor. I immediately
applied, but sensed the job was already taken because the posting was only up
with a one-week deadline to apply.
Sure enough, the job was already promised
to another and once again I lost a chance at a promotion. Again, I was insulted
that I was passed over with not even so much as an acknowledgment thanking me
for applying. I felt totally useless but tried hard to hold on to my knowledge
that I was worth more than these employers gave me credit for.
A month later I was called into the human resources office.
"Oh no," I said.
"What did I do wrong?"
The human resources manager
responded,
"Why does everyone think they have
done something wrong when I call to speak to them? What I called you for is to
offer you a promotion. I know that I did not respond to you when you applied
for the supervisor position but that is because I had this job in mind for you.
We felt with your qualifications it would be perfect."
I was elated; I finally got the promotion and the recognition that I
deserved. To think that I was only working for the
company for four months when the promotion came through!
Though I loved the job, it turned
out to be nearly impossible to do. The demands of the job were never ending.
The company was going through a restructuring period, which included
restructuring my new job. I lost my job, as did most of the other individuals
doing the same job. I was then demoted and put into a job that had no
future. The company had decided that I was not promotion material.
I felt so bad, but my boyfriend was
always there at my side saying,
"You know this is not about
you; it is about the practices of that company."
The working environment kept getting
worse, the company was in distress, hours were cut, rules were implemented that
were totally unfair, and the company generally lost interest in the value of
its employees. Everyone was unhappy. Many good employees, from the sales force
to management, quit.
I wanted to quit so many times but
my boyfriend urged me to stay on, at least, until I had found something better.
You see we are a good complement for each other. I tend to see things
negatively and he is eternally optimistic. When I am down, he brings me up. And
when he is too positive and a dose of reality is needed, I point it out to him.
A perfect match, wouldn't you agree? But I digress!
The inevitable happened on Wednesday,
June 6, 2001. The company threatened to suspend me for an error that I had no
control over, so I quit.
Although I was happy to finally
leave the place that was keeping me, and others down for so long, I was afraid.
What would become of me now? I had bills to pay like everyone else. How do I
tell my boyfriend that I had done what he urged me not to do for so long?
I needed a little bit of encouragement so I spoke to my best friend,
Alvin, about it.
"Things are difficult now, but
everything happens for a reason. It is all in God's plan."
Now it was time to tell my
boyfriend, Matt. Much to my surprise, he was supportive. There was no "I
told you so."
He said to me, "You will get a
new job; a better one, I feel it in my bones."
I quit my job on Wednesday, and
started calling for interviews on Thursday. By Friday I had an interview. The
Friday interview went really well. I was speaking with a partner of a small
telemarketing firm. He was very impressed with my experience and my potential value
to the company.
He told me in simple English,
"I want you! But first you must meet my partner."
We set up an interview for the
following Monday. Sunday night I was a bit anxious, and I did not sleep
well. Also, members of the household would get up in the middle of the night to
use the washroom and each and every time I would wake up. Furthermore, I had to
get my son up for work early so I set my alarm clock.
After getting him off to work, I was
still dead tired, so I set my clock to wake up for my own interview and I went
back to bed. I woke up before the alarm and looked at the clock. Oh no! It said
3:34 p.m. I had missed my interview! What to do now? I felt sick to my stomach.
Was this one of those times that
Was this job not meant for me?
Even though I was sick, I guess
mostly from fear and lack of sleep, I knew I had to call the company back. I
called and said, "I am Carol Roach and I had an appointment today."
The person answering the phone
said, "Yes, at 1:00 p.m."
I continued, "Well its 3:34;
and I am sorry I missed it. I am ill today, would it be all right if I
reschedule? I really apologize for this. I am really embarrassed; this sort of
thing has never happened to me before."
"No problem," says the
person, "I am Sam, the other partner, just call us back when you are
feeling better."
After I made that call, I called Matt right away to tell him what
happened.
Matt was very calm and simply told
me to call the company back and reschedule. But I was one step ahead of him
because I had already done that. I told Matt that I was able to reschedule for
two days time. No real harm done, except for my ego being bruised. I kept
feeling that this was a stupid thing for me to do. What a first impression to a
potential employer!
After I got off the phone
with Matt, I needed to calm down, so the best therapy for me has always been to
read my emails. As I am doing so, I happened to look at the computer
time. It said 12:00 p.m. Gee, I
say to myself, ‘I must adjust the computer
time. This is so odd.’
I turned around and looked at the VCR; it also said 12:00 p.m. I knew at
this point something strange was going on here. I went in the kitchen to check my last clock in the house and
sure enough it also said 12:00 p.m. I was not late
after all. When I went back to bed half asleep that morning, I must have
adjusted the time on my alarm clock rather than actually setting the alarm!
I called back the company telling them that I had changed my mind; I
could come after all, if they still had time for me. It turned out that they
did. I went on my interview at 1:30 p.m.; only a half hour later than
originally planned.
We had a very long interview (2
hours). I would be selling only long enough to familiarize myself with the
product, then I would be doing Quality Control;
meaning making sure that sales representatives adhered to the standards within
the industry. I would be responsible for managing the sales force and enhancing
morale and productivity.
Matt was right, all in all this was a better job than the last one. My
only thought at this point was that when I called up the company to say that I
had missed my appointment, why did Sam not tell me it was only lunchtime?
Furthermore, though I cannot be
sure, I believe that I also told Matt that the appointment was for 1:00 p.m. as
well. Neither one of these guys caught on that my timing was way off. Now I
must ask the question, does anybody really know what time it is?
Copyright
© Carol Roach, M.Ed, B.A.
Check out Carol’s newest
book, “Angels Watching Over Me”: http://www.lulu.content/964306
To
read more of Carol's stories and articles, check her out on Associated Content:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/join.html?refer=9214, or on her new blog at: http://carols_stories.blogspot.com
* * * *
Friends and
Family, What Are We Without Them?
By
Carol Roach
Author of “Picking Up The Pieces: A
Woman’s Journey” and “Angels Watching Over Me”
Being a single parent most of my son's life,
I was the most important thing in his life as he was in mine. There is a
closeness that develops between a single parent and child that is different
from a two-parent-family, parent-child relationship. Single parents are mother,
father, teacher, guardian, disciplinarian and friend to their children.
They have no choice, they have to assume all these roles.
Sometimes because I living without
my spouse, I felt that I was truly alone in this world; it was just myself and
my little boy battling all the grief that life had dealt me. It is precisely
these feelings of vulnerability and intimacy that created an unbreakable bond
between us.
For a single parent, these feelings
grow, regardless of how good or bad your child is. Your child may bring you
heartache but he/she will also brings you joy. Through all life's situations,
your child will bring you a sense of strength that you may never have known
existed within you. As your child grows, you grow as a person right along side
the little human being you gave birth to. This newfound strength gives you a
purpose for living, knowing that a little one depends on you for his/her every
need.
I never knew the love of a father,
nor did I have much love from my mom during my formative years. I was engaged
to be married when the relationship with my mother finally turned around. By
then my mom was a totally different person. She was someone I could go to for
financial assistance throughout the lean years. Still today, my mom is there
for me in whatever financial capacity that she can fulfill. Contrary to her
past, she is now established and has helped me many a time through a financial
bind. I also found that she was someone I talk to at least more than I could
when I was a child.
During my growing up years, my mom was not
much of a mother; however, she has been a wonderful grandmother to my son.
Today, though our lives have not been the greatest, they would have been a
whole lot worse without her. My mother is doing her best to be the mother she
was not able to be in the past, and she certainly is succeeding at being the
loving and wonderful grandmother that she is today.
Since I come from a dysfunctional
family, I really did not have much support from the family as a whole. What has
happened to compensate for that, is that I have been blessed with really good
friends. I truly believe that God sent these friends to me to be my angels.
Just as my grandmother, who passed on 23 years ago, was my guardian angel as
well as my rock and my anchor, so are my friends today.
Throughout the years I have been
blessed with very good friends. Some helped me financially, some helped me grow
as a person, and some were there for me as a listening ear or a shoulder to cry
on. Today, my very best friend is my boyfriend, Hikmat,
affectionately known as Matt. He is the person I turn to the most to share all
my joys and sorrows. He is the man with whom I will spend the rest of my life.
Yet each and every one of my
friends, in the real world and online, has enriched my life and has taught me
so many things. In turn, they have all helped me to become the person that I am
today.
In the 16th
century, a poet/philosopher, John Donne, stated that,
"No man is an island unto himself."
What he was saying is that we were created
as social beings. We were created to live on this earth with other people. We
were not created to shut ourselves off from one another while building a
metaphorical island that no one can penetrate.
When God created Adam and Eve, he
created us to love and be loved. It is my humble opinion that as long as we
have at least one family member or friend to love us and stand by us throughout
life, we are fulfilling God's plan. Having this love and support makes me feel
that whatever our personal situations may be, we are indeed truly blessed.
Copyright
© Carol Roach, M.Ed, B.A.
Check out Carol’s newest
book, “Angels Watching Over Me”: http://www.lulu.content/964306
To
read more of Carol's stories and articles, check her out on Associated Content:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/join.html?refer=9214, or on her new blog at: http://carols_stories.blogspot.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Carol Roach, M.Ed, B.A., a native of
Montreal, Quebec, is a publisher, author and freelance writer who is the author
of “Picking up the Pieces: A Woman’s Journey” (www.publishamerica.com) and “Angels Watching Over Me” (www.lulu.com/content/644485); more info about Carol’s second book, “Angels
Watching Over Me,” can be found in our Off The Press! column below! Carol holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Master’s
Degree in Counselling Psychology from McGill and
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Already There
By
Joseph J. Mazzella
For a long time I saw happiness as a huge banner
across the finish line of a long race. I felt that only when I accomplished
certain things could I finally relax and be happy in my life. Most of the time,
I felt like the tortoise hoping that "slow and steady would win the
race." At other times I would act like a crazed hare trying different side
roads at breakneck speeds hoping to reach that banner a little faster.
Gradually, though, I began to see that no matter how long I raced towards it
the banner was never any closer. I finally decided one day to sit down and take
a break. It was then that I saw my happiness sitting beside me. It had been
with me all along.
It had been with me as I played basketball
as a child. It had been with me as I learned in school. It had been with me as
I worked minimum wage jobs mopping floors, doing dishes, and carrying lumber.
It had been with me as I held each of my newborn children in my arms. It had
been with me as I struggled with my sons’ autism and learned to love them for
just who they are. It had been with me when I was sick. It had been with
me when I didn’t have a cent to my name. It had been with me as I raced
towards that stupid banner. I just hadn’t had the wisdom to see it.
There is an old Chinese proverb that says,
"Tension is what you think you should be. Relaxation is who you
are." Perhaps we all should stop our race towards the perfect life we
think we should have and rejoice in the life we have now. Happiness will never
be found under some banner far away. It will be found in your own heart, soul,
and mind. It will be found when you realize that God loves you just as you are
and that you can choose and share love and joy as well. Don’t be a determined
tortoise or a chaotic hare when it comes to your happiness. Be a playful puppy
and carry your stick of joy with you everywhere you go. Take yourself out of
the race and realize that when it comes to love and happiness you are already
there.
Copyright
© Joseph J. Mazzella.
*
* * *
Packing
By
Joseph J. Mazzella
I helped my daughter move into her college
dorm recently. She took a little teasing from her old Dad about all the boxes
and suitcases she brought. I thought she had packed way too much stuff, but
then I saw what the girl down the hall had brought. I guess my girl was
traveling light, after all. I knew, though, that she had already packed every
essential thing for this next great adventure in her life. It was just packed
in her heart, soul, and mind.
It is what we pack on the inside not the
outside that really determines how well we live. If we pack love in our hearts
then our days become filled with happiness. If we pack wisdom in our minds then
our lives become full of goodness. If we pack joy in our souls then we make the
whole world better. The nice thing about this type of packing too is that there
is always room for more. The more we love the larger our heart grows. The more
we learn the greater our mind expands. The more joy we share the bigger our
soul becomes.
You don’t need a U-Haul to carry around
what is essential for a wonderful life. You don’t need any storage lockers to
hold what brings you great joy. All you have to do is pack yourself full of the
treasures of Heaven. Then you can travel light and share your wealth of love
with everyone you meet. Then you can face everything that life throws at you
and use it all to become better and to help others as well. Then you really can
"take it with you" because what we learned and how we loved are the
only things that will go with us into the greater life after this.
I hope that you pack well then for all the
adventures to come in this life and in the next. I hope that you fill yourself
full to overflowing with love, joy, wisdom, light, and oneness with God.
Remember all the things you own in this life will one day turn to dust, but
what you carry inside of yourself will live on forever.
Copyright
© September, 2008 Joseph J. Mazzella.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Joseph J. Mazzella is a writer who was born, raised, and still lives
in the mountains of
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The Precious
Gift of Life
By
Cynthia Groopman
Oh a precious gift f life the Lord
bestowed upon me
He guides me down the righteous path to
live successfully
I cherish life’s many facets with honor
and sanctity,
As my soul is filled with humility
Each and every moment I savor in joyful
contemplation,
and I bask in life’s golden sunshine
with a heart dancing sprightly in
celebration
For life is indeed a priceless gem,
One that is so rare and preciously dear,
So I face each new day with optimism as I
show no fear
For as long as the dear Lord is by my
side,
I will hold my head up high, smiling with
grateful pride
For without the precious gift of life,
where would I be?
And that is why life is such a truly
magnificent hallowed gift to me.
Copyright
© 2004 Cynthia Groopman.
* * * *
A Tribute to
a Beautiful Sacred Synagogue
By
Cynthia Groopman
Oh beautiful, sacred Synagogue of mine
Your glory glistens in the warm golden sunshine
Prayers that renew the body and the soul,
Sermons that help us attain our desired goal
Holding hands in a circle of love
Praising and rejoicing God dwelling on high in heaven above
Community stretching out its wings of caring
Hearts touching each other with empathy and loving and
sharing
A dynamic Rabbi who reaches out his hand to all,
Soothing and comforting them when we feel ill, weak or
small
A cantor's voice of gold,
Learning Torah, and laws that are more precious than silver
and gold
Long may you dwell, dear Astoria
For you are like our mother and you are our mentor.
Copyright
© 2009 Cynthia Groopman.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Cynthia Groopman is a poet and writer who
became a senior writer at “Storytime Tapestry” (an
Internet-based daily e-zine; http://subs.zinester.com/98907) shortly after submitting her work on December 31, 2006.
When not writing, Cynthia volunteers her time and has won an honorary Police
Precinct Civilian Observation Patrol (114th Civ-OP)
Presidential Award. She received this Award on March 21, 2007 at the
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The World
Without You
By
Sandra L. Hoynacki
Author of “Purple Latches”, “Whispers From
The Ledge” and “On Call”
On a deserted island, a place of quiet shapes
Shines a gibbous moon
with slivered light
Harbors without boats, silk winds, a cool night
Ripples in the distance, frolicking water sprite
The pale blue cliffs run for miles and miles
Running freely along coral reefs ‘n'
silver streams
Ethereal Islands, nature's songs, the zig zag dreams
Hold an ivory palace made in pixie dust
scenes
An extension of a dream, we are unwritten stories
Just a pause inside the scent of our
own time
Whispering blue water, pendant stars
sublime
Another place, another path, another
clime
You hold me to a rhythm of what could've been
I collect colors of our wishes in
prints of two
An easel filled with sketches of
everything we do
Including a color of the world without
you.
Copyright
© March 22, 2009 Sandra L. Hoynacki.
* * *
*
The Blind Man
Saw
By
Sandra L. Hoynacki
Author of “Purple Latches”, “Whispers From
The Ledge” and “On Call”
He sat on a
corner in a synthesis of dreams
Singing notes as clear as the looking glass
Softness etched a face of a man with class
Would he touch God in the clouds that pass?
Blind at birth
to wander inside out
Visions of life sculpted only by touch
Never to complain of his fate and such
Though frozen in darkness, he imaged much
The breeze
spoke to him in gentle quiet ways
As it caressed his face with a kiss
The smell of a rose, a velvet petal of bliss
His own private sanctum in a world amiss
Opening the darkness to a prism aglow
With every smile of a brand new day
The view from within a magic array
Of rose colored visions without dismay.
Copyright
© February 28, 2009 Sandra L. Hoynacki.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sandra Hoynacki, a resident of
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Don’t Judge A
Book by Its Cover
By
Conrad S. Cardinal
In another article I recently wrote for Storytime
Tapestry and The Cat’s Meow, I described myself. This was pertaining to whether
or not someone who had an earring, large mustache, tattoos on both arms, stands
6 feet and weighs about 245 pounds would be acceptable to talk to you about
God. It seems to be a trait that we acquire, judging people by the way they
look or the clothes they wear. I wonder how often we miss speaking with or
helping one of Gods angels. I’m certainly not saying that one should be foolish
and put themselves at risk, however one should not make snap judgments either.
When I was very young, my dad and I were walking down a street in
Today my wife and I were eating at a buffet when I noticed an older
couple looking at me and my tattoos with a look of disapproval. I tried every
way possible to start a conversation with them, but they would have none of it.
Every once in a while I would catch the gentleman looking at my arms. When he
would look up and see me looking at him he would turn away and blush. This is
something I notice quite often and am amazed at how quick people judge me.
For about fifteen years I worked in a welding shop, part of those years I
was the foreman. I would hire day labor from a company called Workforce. They
were dependable and provided good people at a moments notice. I began taking
the time to speak to these folks about their particular situations and found
many of them to be well educated. For one reason or another they were
down on their luck and were forced to live on the street at this time.
I didn’t delve into the reasons,
however I learned that I shouldn’t judge someone by the way they look or where
they come from.
We are all children of our Heavenly Father and should be treated as
such. What this means to me is that when possible I should give someone a
chance to show me what they’re all about. Once again I caution you about your
encounters with strangers, remember God never told anyone to be stupid.
Copyright ©
2008 Conrad S. Cardinal.
* * * *
Peace
By
Conrad S. Cardinal
To sleep a sleep of peace
my burden to release
No worry of what the future
may hold
Face life with faith so bold
Our God, who does care
Jesus, His love will share
Holy Spirit to guide the way
leading day after day
Walking in His light
Able to see whether day or
night
This is how it was meant to be
my prayer is that all will see.
Copyright ©
2009 Conrad S. Cardinal.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Conrad S. Cardinal is a poet and writer who was born in
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Why I Believe
By
Chris Hansen
Author of “Revelation Revisited,” “Secret
Of the Psalms” and “Grandfather’s Journal”