Stories: Tale Spinners #2018-40

These "Tale Spinner" episodes are brought to you courtesy of one of our Canadian friends, Jean Sansum. You can thank her by eMail at

VOL. XXIV, NO. 40
October 6, 2018

IN THIS ISSUE

In this Heroic Story, Angela Saxton writes of a generous gift
Stanley Cook forwards a Thanksgiving forecast
Catherine Nesbitt sends a story of a misunderstanding
Shirley Conlon shares the seniors´ calendar for October
The editor apologizes for this week´s issue
Interesting sites are suggested by Carol Shoemaker, Judith English, and Kate Brookfield

Angela Saxton of New Mexico recalls a generous gift:

NOT A LOAN

I´m a widowed single mother of two boys. Like a lot of single mothers, I struggle to make ends meet. In 1999, we moved out west, seeking a better life. My boys and I packed everything up, lock, stock and cat, and moved 1,500 miles away from all our family and friends.

We were often lonely and homesick, but we also had reasons to be glad. We lived in a beautiful part of the country, and I finally found a satisfying job with a decent salary, and for the first time in my life, benefits. Still, I had a lot of debts to repay, and, while I was making good progress toward that end, making ends meet was always a struggle.

About six months after I began my new job, my stepmother called. The back pain my father had suffered for six months was diagnosed as cancer that had metastasized from his prostate to his spine. Now, Dad had survived earlier bouts of cancer, but this was a different story; three weeks after the diagnosis, he was in the hospital, and it didn´t look good. Unfortunately, I was broke, with no way to get the $600 I needed for plane ticket.

Management told me it had a policy not to lend money against future paychecks. I understood, but I was terrified I wouldn´t get to my dad in time. One of my colleagues heard about my predicament. He called me to his office and asked what was going on. I told him, trying not to break down. He looked at me very calmly and said, "You have to go home; what will it take to get you there?"

I blinked at him a moment, not understanding, and then explained. He wrote me a cheque for $1,000 to get us home, with extra for incidentals. He said there was nothing more important than family, and that I would regret it for the rest of my life if I didn´t get to my dad. I quickly offered profuse thanks, assured him it was only a loan, and said I would pay him back as soon as I could.

The next day my boys and I flew back east, and I was able to spend the last three weeks of my father´s life with him. It eased my grief to have that closure. When I returned to work the week after his funeral, I again assured my benefactor that I would repay the loan as soon as possible.

But he would not hear of it. I was shocked. He said that it was a gift, his privilege for striving to be a good man in this world, and that he was happy to have been able to help me in my hour of need.

No words can express my gratitude for this unselfish gift of precious time with my father. I can only honour my benefactor by seeking to follow his example.

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Stanley Cook forwards this oldie but goodie:

THANKSGIVING WEATHER REPORT

During the late afternoon and evening, the cold front of a knife will slice through the turkey, causing an accumulation of one to two inches on plates. Mashed potatoes will drift across one side, while cranberry sauce creates slippery spots on the other. Please pass the gravy.

A weight watch and indigestion warning have been issued for the entire area, with increased stuffiness around the beltway. During the evening, the turkey will diminish and taper off to leftovers, dropping to a low of 34F in the refrigerator.

Looking ahead to Friday and Saturday, high pressure to eat sandwiches will be established. Flurries of leftovers can be expected both days with a 50 percent chance of scattered soup late ?in the day. We expect a warming trend where soup develops. By early next week, eating pressure will be low as the only wish left will be the bone.

Shirley Conlon shares the October calendar from the seniors´ home:

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER

Irmgard Alt, 79 and Siegfried Gallasch, 87

Catherine Nesbitt shares this story about

GETTING A GUN

Yesterday I got my permit to carry a concealed weapon. So today I went over to the local gun shop to get a 9mm handgun for home/personal protection. When I was ready to pay for the pistol and ammo, the cashier said, "Strip down, facing me."

Making a mental note to complain to the government about gun control wackos running amok, I did just as she had instructed.

When the hysterical shrieking and alarms finally subsided, I found out she was referring to how I should place my credit card in the card reader!

As a senior citizen, I do not get flustered often, but this time it took me a while to get my pants back on.

I´ve been asked to shop elsewhere in the future. They need to make their instructions to seniors a little more clear.

I still don´t think I looked that bad! I just need to wear underwear more often.

FROM THE EDITOR´S DESKTOP

My apologies for the shortness of this newsletter. I was taken to the emergency ward in our local hospital on Tuesday morning for dizziness and nausea. After numerous tests and examination by various specialists, I was released later that day. They had no suggestions about what caused my symptoms, but advised that I should return to the hospital if I felt unwell at any time, because sometimes warnings are disguised in older people - of which I am one.

I am still feeling groggy and unbalanced, but I really don´t want to return to the hospital and be punctured full of holes again! I will see my doctor tomorrow to see if she has any suggestions, but she may not be any more successful than the hospital doctors. I may have a simple infection - after all, the flu season is almost upon us. I´m hoping that is all, but at my age, who knows?

(I´m keeping my fingers crossed! ;)