Home  >> Stories  >> The Tale Spinner #2017-49

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IN THIS ISSUE

• Dave Luallin tells about a kidney donation
• Jean Sterling comments on items in last week´s Spinner
• Burke Dykes shares the story of their adopted cat
• Catherine Nesbitt forwards the tale of the 10-cent drinks
• Marilyn Magid sends an awful groaner
• Irene Harvalias forwards 20 good news items
• Barbara Wear tells about the origin of a Christmas tradition
• Sites are suggested by Barbara Wear and Tom Telfer

From Heroic Stories, Dave Luallin of Indianola, Iowa, writes about

SOMEONE TO LIVE IN MY PLACE

In 1996 my wife of more than 28 years, Lil, was diagnosed with interstitial nephritis, an end- stage renal disease. She had lost 90 percent of her kidney function before we knew anything was wrong. We were told that we were facing dialysis and possibly a kidney transplant. As a nurse herself, Lil knew all about life on dialysis and wanted no part of it. She knew of the problems that long-term dialysis patients are subject to.

So on the advice of the kidney specialists, we decided to pursue a preemptive transplant. However, this was not to be. In February 1998, dialysis could no longer be avoided - she would not live without it. And then after only two weeks into it, we received the call we had been waiting for. A kidney had become available.

When we arrived at the hospital, we were told that the kidney had come from a 15-year-old girl in an auto accident, nothing more. She was the same age as our youngest daughter. I asked about writing a thank you letter to the family and was told I had to address it to the "Donor Family" and they would pass it on. I promised myself I would do it as Lil wasn´t emotionally ready to tackle it yet.

The family wrote right back, wanting to contact us. We learned that our donor, Holly Nelson, was an active 15-year-old, involved in sports and school. Just a few months before her accident, she had asked her mom to "promise me that if anything happens to me that I will be an organ and tissue donor. I want someone to live in my place if I can´t."

When her Mom said, "Yes, but why?" Holly said she didn´t feel she was going to live much longer. This was a gift that Holly had wanted to give to someone and we were chosen to share it. Not just a gift of life, but a gift of spirit as well. Because of her donations, she lives on in others.

We get little signs that it was meant to be. Holly and I have the same birthday. She died one day after our wedding anniversary. Her family had three girls. We also have three girls. The man who received her heart also has three girls. Lil was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease on a Friday the 13th. Holly´s accident was on a Friday the 13th.

They may seem like coincidences, but they aren´t to us. Thanks to the successful transplant, there is no more dialysis for Lil. In February 1999, a year after Holly´s death, our family traveled to Nebraska and met her family for the first time. It was emotional, but so healing for us all. We can never thank them enough for carrying out Holly´s wishes at such a tragic time. We know how hard it must have been, and must still be. We are overwhelmed by the gift that we have received.

ED. NOTE: To comment on this story, or to get your own free subscription, click on

http://www.heroicstories.org

CORRESPONDENCE

Jean Sterling comments on a story in last week´s Spinner:

Kids today don´t know how easy they have it. When I was young, I had to walk nine feet through shag carpet to change the TV channel.

This reminded me of the time the kids rushed to the TV to change the channel and knocked it off its stand. Needless to say, it broke. Did we punish them? NO! BUT we didn´t get the TV set fixed FOR MONTHS. I didn´t care, and husband didn´t care since it wasn´t football season. I remember one of the kids asking when we would get the TV fixed and being told that we would probably get it fixed when football season started. His face fell since football season was months away!!

Remember back when we were kids and every time it was below zero outside they closed school? Me neither.

The kids here got a snow day of sorts in 1977. The snow didn´t stick here in Florida but the HIGH for the day was in the 30s. Electric heat is very inefficient below 40 (heat strips come on which is like heating your house with a toaster), so the power company requested that the schools skip a day so they could keep up with the demand for electricity. Also the kids don´t have proper clothing for (by our wimpy standards) cold weather.

Hope you are doing well and have recovered from your fall.

ED. NOTE: Yes, thank you, there were no broken bones or after-effects. I take great care to watch out for the cat, because it would be very easy to step on him because he doesn´t look where he´s going!

Burke Dykes writes about

THE MUNCHKIN

We have a cat, "Cookie." We got Cookie from a local shelter that specializes in strays and discarded pets. We are guessing that she got the name from her fur. Her coat is a very bold mix of black and white, just like an Oreo cookie. We were drawn to her by her laidback habits - she never seemed to get excited about anything. I expected a hassle when I picked her up to put her in the cat carrier, but she just relaxed in my arms as though she couldn´t care less.

We took Cookie to the vet for a routine checkup and surprise, she is a "Munchkin!" Munchkins are ordinary cats which have been born with a deformity, most noticeably very short legs. These cats can be bred to emphasize the Munchkin characteristics, a controversial practice which can lead to some severe health issues.

Fortunately, Cookie does not have the very deformed limbs, although her legs are shorter than normal for a cat. Her head is quite small relative to her body and her teeth are surprisingly small. She is very broad and muscular through the shoulders; she has a lot of strength in her front legs. The term, Munchkin, derives from the small people in "The Wizard of Oz." The short legs typify the characters and our cat.

Now that we have her settled in her new home she has slipped into a routine: sleep and eat, eat and sleep. She stalks the kitchen, expecting to be fed. Reach to pet her, she immediately flops onto her back. She wants her belly tickled, and when the tickle comes, she starts frantically licking her chest. She reminds me of a little pull toy.

If we are in the kitchen she comes up, usually behind us, and flops against our feet, expecting food, or a tickle. We must be very careful when she is around lest she trip us. In fact, we try always to be aware of the cat, knowing she could easily trip one of us up, and at our ages a fall could result in a trip to the hospital.

We have come to love our little Cookie despite the obvious risk of having her in our house. She is not the first stray that we have adopted. Take a trip to a local animal shelter - your heart will melt!

Catherine Nesbitt forwards this story about

THE OLD-TIMERS´ BAR

Four old retired men are walking down a street in Yuma, Arizona. They turn a corner and see a sign that says, "Old-Timers Bar - ALL drinks 10 cents."

They look at each other and then go in, thinking this is too good to be true.

The old bartender says in a voice that carries across the room, "Come on in and let me pour one for you! What´ll it be, gentlemen?"

There´s a fully-stocked bar, so each of the men orders a martini. In no time the bartender serves up four iced martinis, shaken, not stirred, and says, "That´ll be 10 cents each, please."

The four guys stare at the bartender for a moment, then at each other. They can´t believe their good luck. They pay the 40 cents, finish their martinis, and order another round.

Again, four excellent martinis are produced, with the bartender again saying,"That´s 40 cents, please."

They pay the 40 cents, but their curiosity gets the better of them. They´ve each had two martinis and haven´t even spent a dollar yet.

Finally one of them says, "How can you afford to serve martinis as good as these for a dime apiece?"

"I´m a retired tailor from Phoenix," the bartender says, "and I always wanted to own a bar. Last year I hit the Lottery Jackpot for $125 million and decided to open this place. Every drink costs a dime. Wine, liquor, beer - it´s all the same."

"Wow! That´s some story!" one of the men says.

As the four of them sip at their martinis, they can´t help noticing seven other people at the end of the bar who don´t have any drinks in front of them and haven´t ordered anything the whole time they´ve been there. Nodding at the seven at the end of the bar, one of the men asks the bartender, "What´s with them?"

The bartender says, "They´re retired people from Canada. They´re waiting for Happy Hour when drinks are half-price...."

Marilyn Magid forwards this atrocious pun:

An orchestra was playing Beethoven´s Ninth Symphony in a park on a windy day. The basses were idle during the fist two movements, since they only have parts at the last movement.

They decided to wander across the street to a bar for a drink. It was so windy that they had to tie down their music with pieces of string before they left.

They had one drink after another before someone thought it was time to head back to play. Obviously, they were in no condition to perform.

It was then that the conductor realized with alarm that it was the bottom of the ninth, the basses were loaded, and the score was tied!

Irene Harvalias forwards these items by Chris Hadfield:

GOOD NEWS STORIES

The giant panda is no longer an endangered species.

The Ocean Cleanup project plans to clean up 40% of ocean plastics, starting this year.

China has announced plans to end the ivory trade in their country.

U.S. veteran homelessness has declined by 50% in the last 10 years.

The Ice Bucket Challenge provided ALS research enough money to identify a gene associated with the disease.

China put a ban on new coal mines and 15% of their economy will use renewable energy by 2020.

The Manatee is no longer on the endangered species list.

The Colombian Government and FARC rebels signed a peace agreement, ending a war that left seven million people dead or homeless.

A drone called "Juno" flew over 445 million miles to orbit Jupiter and learn about the origin of our solar system.

Canada protected 85% of the Great Bear Rainforest, part of the world´s largest temperate rainforest.

Measles has been eradicated from North, Central, and South America.

Malawi saw its HIV rate among children drop by 67%.

Twenty countries created 40 protected marine parks, covering an area the size of the U.S.A.

Israel produces 55% of its fresh water from the sea, turning the desert into farmland.

An Ebola vaccine was developed by Canadians with a 100% success rate.

World hunger has reached its lowest point in 25 years.

Tiger numbers are on the rise for the first time in 100 years.

After more than a century, Einstein´s theory of gravitational waves has proven correct.

About 90% of Costa Rica´s electrical grid now runs on renewable energy.

India planted 50 million trees in 24 hours with 800,000 volunteers.

Special thanks to star man Chris Hadfield for this list!

Barbara Wear sends

THE ORIGIN OF A CHRISTMAS TRADITION

When four of Santa´s elves got sick, the trainee elves did not produce toys as fast as the regular ones, and Santa began to feel the pre-Christmas pressure.

Then Mrs. Claus told Santa her mother was coming to visit, which stressed Santa even more.

When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth, and two others had jumped the fence and were out, Heaven knows where.

Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the floorboards cracked, the toy bag fell to the ground, and all the toys were scattered.

Frustrated, Santa went in the house for a cup of apple cider and a shot of rum. When he went to the cupboard, he discovered the elves had drunk all the cider and hidden the liquour. In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the cider jug, and it broke into hundreds of little glass pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom and found the mice had eaten all the straw off the end of the broom.

Just then the doorbell rang, and an irritated Santa marched to the door, yanked it open, and there stood a little angel with a great big Christmas tree.

The angel said very cheerfully, "Merry Christmas, Santa. Isn´t this a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you like me to stick it?"

And so began the tradition of the little angel on top of the Christmas tree. Not a lot of people know this.

RECOMMENDED SITES

Barbara Wear forwards this link to a video of many of Bob Hope´s visits with the US troops during World War 2. Hope was a great entertainer and the troops loved him:

Tom Telfer shares an old favourite, "White Christmas" sung by The Drifters:

Tom also forwards this link to 314 You Tube clips of the best actions of 2017:

To ensure that European ministers know that people from all around the world are counting on them to ban bee-killing pesticides, click on this site:

If you enjoy funny acts in Britain´s Got Talent, this site is for you:

In this TED talk, James Mulvale of the University of Manitoba, talks about the benefits of providing a basic income in Canada: