Home  >> Stories  >> The Tale Spinner #2016-34

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IN THIS ISSUE

• From Heroic Stories, here is a timely letter from a friend
• Rafiki forwards the story of a duck asking for help
• Carol Hansen shares some great truths for all ages
• Irene Harvalias tells about an older mother´s problem
• Barbara Wear explains why some men prefer dogs to wives
• Betty Audet forwards information about one of the most-used words in English
• Sites are recommended by Shirley Coutts and Tom Williamson

In Heroic Stories, Chris Riley writes from New Jersey:

A LETTER FROM A FRIEND

Two years ago my wife died. We had been married 11 years, and our son Steven was almost three months old. Jill and I were very happy with Steve, and she was on maternity leave from her reference librarian job. One day I came home and found Jill dead on the floor. The autopsy showed that she most likely died of heart arrhythmia. There were no signs of struggle or pain; she was dead before she hit the floor.

The next weeks were very difficult. I was on medication for suicidal fantasies and depression. But the outpouring of love from hundreds of people helped me get through the days, and I always managed to give Steve a smile, even when tears were pouring behind it.

One of the best gifts I received was an e-mail message from Paul, one of my best college friends. Printed and framed, it sits on my desk and I read it often. Here´s most of it:

"I haven´t been able to get up there and see you in far too long. It´s like I´m stuck in this rut between work and home, only allowed out occasionally to go and see family. So many friends, lost track of over the years - and fading away over time, maybe forever....

"E-mail keeps a slim lifeline with some friends, but too few. Then things happen that make you sit down and think ´What type of person am I really? What kind of a friend?´

"Maybe it´s just fear. How many of us can truly face the things you´ve had to and still look life square in the eye? I know what you´ve had to go through is only my worst nightmare. But could I face it?

"Yes, I suppose I could with the love of a small child in the balance. But where do you find the strength? I´ll tell you ... look to those friends. Even just reaching out to re-establish friendships brings back life to my soul - even after all these years.

"So when life looks the bleakest, look to us, your friends, and we will be there to help you, guide you if you need us. Give you support when times grow dark, and shine with the light that only friendship can bring. Feel that light when I say: Call on me should you need me, and I will be there, as your friend."

In the two years since I got that message, I´ve taken it to heart and relied on my friends for a lot. Steve is now two and a half, and counts, calls out letters, plays and laughs. He´s generally happy. I´m doing well. Therapy, antidepressants, and support from friends all help.

I wish I could say I´ve seen more of Paul, but I haven´t. However, I do hope to rekindle that friendship. I still cry whenever I read the message; but it´s a good reason to cry.

ED. NOTE: To comment on this story, or to apply for a free subscription to Heroic Stories, click on

Rafiki sends the story of an unexpected call for help:

MOTHER GOOSE CALLS 911

One Monday, Sgt. Givens of the Milwaukee Police Force was sitting in his patrol car in a parking lot when he was accosted by a very unexpected visitor who seemed dead set on getting his attention.

"This goose came up and started pecking on the side of the car," Givens told The Dodo. "I threw some food out for her, but she didn´t take it. She just kept pecking and quacking. Then she walked away, stopped and looked back. Then came over again and pecked some more."

When the goose walked away a second time, and again looked back, Givens decided to follow her. And it´s a good thing that he did.

"She led me about 100 yards away to this grassy area near a creek. That´s when I saw one of her babies all tangled up in some string from a balloon. His little feet were kicking," said Givens. "She led me straight to him."

Though stunned by what just happened, Givens was wary of approaching the trapped gosling, fearing that the goose might attack if he did. So instead he radioed the SPCA, but no wildlife rescuers were immediately available.

Givens´ colleague, Officer Cecilia Charron, heard the call and volunteered to help. "She showed up on her own," he said. "I told her to be careful, but she just walked over and untangled the baby. The mother goose just watched, like she knew. It was amazing."

Once the baby was untangled, Givens and Charron looked on as he rejoined his mom and swam away safely.

Not surprisingly, the officers were in disbelief about how it all played out from start to finish. Charron even started to tear up, telling Givens it was the highlight of her 24 years on the force.

"It seems like something made up. It was just incredible," said Givens. "I honestly don´t know why I decided to follow her, but I did. It makes me wonder - do they know to turn to humans when they need help?"

Though we´ll never be sure if the desperate mother goose did indeed approach the officer knowing he would help, what is certain is that he did - and that´s what made the difference.

"I don´t know what it all means," Givens said, "but I hope it might inspire more compassion in other people."

Carol Hansen forwards these great truths:

GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:

1) No matter how hard you try, you can´t baptize cats.

2) When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don´t let her brush your hair.

3) If your sister hits you, don´t hit her back. They always catch the second person.

4) Never ask your three-year-old brother to hold a tomato.

5) You can´t trust dogs to watch your food.

6) Don´t sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.

7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.

8) You can´t hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.

9) Don´t wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.

10) The best place to be when you´re sad is Grandma´s lap.

GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:

1) Raising teenagers is like nailing jello to a tree.

2) Wrinkles don´t hurt.

3) Families are like fudge ... mostly sweet, with a few nuts.

4) Today´s mighty oak is just yesterday´s nut that held its ground.

5) Laughing is good exercise. It´s like jogging on the inside.

6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy.

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD:

1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.

2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you´re down there.

4) You´re getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.

5) It´s frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.

6) Time may be a great healer, but it´s a lousy beautician.

7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.

A POLICEMAN BROUGHT FOUR BOYS BEFORE A JUDGE

"They were causing an awful lot of commotion at the zoo, your Honour," he said.

"Boys," saud the judge sternly, "I never like to hear reports of juvenile delinquency. Now I want each of you to tell me your name and what you were doing wrong."

"My name is George," said the first boy, "and I threw peanuts into the elephant pen."

"My name is Pete," said the second boy, "and I threw peanuts into the elephant pen."

"My name is Mike," said the third boy, :and I threw peanuts into the elephant pen."

"My name is Peanuts," said the fourth boy.

Irene Harvalias forwards this story about

CHILDBIRTH AT 65

With all the new technology regarding fertility recently, a 65-year-old friend of mine was able to give birth. When she was discharged from the hospital and went home, I went to visit.

"May I see the new baby?" I asked.

"Not yet," she said. "I´ll make coffee and we can visit for a while first."

Thirty minutes had passed, and I asked,"May I see the new baby now?"

"No, not yet," she said.

After another few minutes had elapsed, I asked again, "May I see the baby now?"

"No, not yet," replied my friend.

Growing very impatient, I asked, "Well, when can I see the baby?"

"WHEN HE CRIES!" she told me.

"When he cries?" I demanded. "Why do I have to wait until he cries?"

"BECAUSE I FORGET WHERE I PUT HIM, O.K.?"

Barbara Wear reveals

16 LOGICAL REASONS WHY SOME MEN HAVE DOGS AND NOT WIVES

1. The later you are, the more excited your dog is to see you.

2. Dogs don´t notice if you call them by another dog´s name.

3. Dogs like it if you leave lots of things on the floor.

4. Dogs´ parents never visit.

5. Dogs agree that you have to raise your voice to get your point across.

6. You never have to wait for a dog; they´re ready to go, instantly, 24 hours a day.

7. Dogs find you amusing when you´re pissed.

8. Dogs like to go hunting and fishing.

9. Dogs won´t wake you up at night to ask: "If I died, would you get another dog?"

10. If a dog has babies, you can put an ad in the paper and sell ´em.

11. When you drop a silent one, dogs don´t run around frantically with room spray.

13. Dogs never tell you to stop scratching your balls. Instead, they sit pondering why you don´t lick ´em. 14. Dogs will let you put a studded collar on, without calling you a pervert.

15. If a dog smells another dog on you, it won´t kick you in the crotch; it just finds it interesting.

And last, but not least:

16. If a dog runs off and leaves you, it won´t take half your stuff.

To verify these statements: Lock your wife and your dog in the garage for an hour. Then open the door, and observe who´s happy to see you!

Betty Audet forwards this oldie but goodie, a reminder that one word in the English language can be a noun, a verb, an adjective, an adverb, and a preposition:

UP

This two-letter word in English has more meanings than any other two-letter word.

It´s easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky, or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP?

At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do we speak UP, and why are the officers UP for election, and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report? We call UP our friends, brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, warm UP the leftovers, and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and fix UP the old car.

At other times, this little word has real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses.

To be dressed is one thing, but to be dressed UP is special.

And this UP is confusing: A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP.

We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night. We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP!

To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look UP the word UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4 of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions.

If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you dont give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.

When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP. When the sun comes out, we say it is clearing UP. When it rains, the earth soaks it UP. When it does not rain for awhile, things dry UP.

One could go on and on, but I´ll wrap it UP for now ... my time is UP!

Oh, one more thing: What is the first thing you do in the morning and the last thing you do at night?

U P!

Did that one crack you UP?

Don´t screw UP. Send this on to everyone you look UP in your address book ... or not ... it´s UP to you.

Now I´ll shut UP!

SUGGESTED WEBSITES

Shirley Coutts recommends this video of the ballet based on the story of Zorba the Greek performed by the Ankara State Opera and Ballet:

Tom Williamson forwards this link to a video of a self-driving bicycle in the Netherlands:

Carl Sagan told us that there are more stars in the universe than there are grains of sand on all of the Earth´s beaches. At the same time, there are more H2O molecules in just 10 drops of water than there are stars. Click here to see the universe in perspective:

A spoken-word film for an online generation:

Lasah is a 36-year-old Malaysian elephant who has been used in zoos, tourism, and entertainment for over 20 years. In July, activists exposed photos of Lasah chained on all four legs at night. To stop this abuse, sign this petition to help Lasah get to a elephant sanctuary called Kuala Gandah:

Hiking over 20,000 miles on rugged trails across the United States is quite an accomplishment for anyone, but especially for someone who is isn´t able to see those trails. In 2012, Trevor Thomas got a guide dog, and since then they have have hiked nearly 6000 miles together:

Deep in the Himalayas, on the border between China and India, lies the Kingdom of Bhutan, which has pledged to remain carbon neutral for all time. In this TED talk, Bhutan´s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay shares his country´s mission to put happiness before economic growth and set a world standard for environmental preservation.

Some of the videos submitted to People are Awesome, including skateboarding, basketball dunks, box jumps, martial arts, and breakdancing, are combined in this video:

This shelter offers "unadoptable" feral cats to hunt rats, with great success:

New Zealand businessmen are planning to buy a cruise ship to house the homeless in Aukland, where housing prices has left many people on the streets:

This garden gnome was stolen from a home in Victoria Highlands, B.C., but eight months later was returned with photos of his travels, including the Grand Canyon and what appeared to be Mexico:

To check out the features of the "freedictionary," which changes daily, go to

http://members.shaw.ca/vjjsansum/freedictionarytestpageV2.html