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Jenny's Antique* 4/2/02 ______________________________________ If you enjoy this free daily email service, I encourage you to spread the word to family and friends that we may bring inspiration into the lives of many! If you are not on the list and this has been passed along to you, join the thousands of HeartTouchers.com readers around the world by sending an e-mail with the word "Subscribe" in the subject line to: HeartTouchers@aol.com Visit our inspirational web site and read all the past stories in our archives at: http://www.HeartTouchers.com ____________________________________________ Can't get enough inspirational stories in your life? Would you like to send a unique gift to your friends and family? Then order a personalized autographed copy of the inspirational book: Straight From the Heart "A Celebration of Life" by Michael T. Powers for only $13.95. And best of all, we'll pay the shipping! Michael is an award winning writer whose stories have appeared in numerous newspapers and magazines around the world and in the following books: Chicken Soup for the Sports Fan's Soul, Chicken Soup for the Grandparent's Soul, Stories For the Extreme Teen's Heart, Stories For the Extreme Teen's Heart 2, Stories for the Teen's Heart 2, Heartwarmers, God Allows U-Turns Volumes 1, 3, and 4, Creating Emotionally Safe Schools, and in the upcoming books: Don't Sweat the Small Stuff Story Collection and The Miracle of Boys. He has signed several contracts for future Chicken Soup and other inspirational books. Still not convinced? You can preview his book by visiting: http://www.HeartTouchers.com/michael_powers AOL Users click here! To order your autographed copy have a check or money order for $13.95 for each book made out to Michael T. Powers, and then send it to: Michael T. Powers 1918 Liberty Lane Janesville, WI 53545 (Please allow about 2 weeks for delivery.) _________________________________________ We continue with our Grandparents theme today with a story by one of our favorite contributors, Harriet May Savitz. Do you like rare collectibles and antiques? My guess is that after you read today's story, you will never look at an antique the same again! From my family to yours, Michael P.S. To purchase your copy of Chicken Soup for the Grandparent's Soul visit our book store at: http://www.HeartTouchers.com/books HeartTouchers.com Bookstore! _________________________________________ Jenny's Antique By Harriet May Savitz My six year old granddaughter stares at me as if she is seeing me for the first time. "Grandma, you are an antique," she says. "You are old. Antiques are old. You are my antique." I am not satisfied to let the matter rest there. I take out the Webster's Dictionary and read the definition to Jenny. I explain, "An antique is not only just old, it's an object existing since or belonging to earlier times ...a work of art ... piece of furniture. Antiques are treasured," I tell Jenny as I put away the dictionary. "They have to be handled carefully because they sometimes are very valuable." In order to qualify as an antique, the object has to be at least 100 years old. "I'm only 67 ," I remind Jenny. We look around the house for other antiques, besides me. There is a bureau that was handed down from one aunt to another and finally to our family. "It's very old," I tell Jenny. "I try to keep it polished and I show it off whenever I can. You do that with antiques." When Jenny gets older and understands such things, I might also tell her that whenever I look at the bureau or touch it, I am reminded of the aunt so dear to me who gave me the bureau as a gift. I see her face again though she is no longer with us. I even hear her voice, and recall her smile. I remember myself as a little girl leaning against this antique, listening to one of her stories. The bureau does that for me. There is a picture on the wall purchased at a garage sale. It is dated 1867. "Now that's an antique," I boast. "Over 100 years old." Of course it is marked up and scratched and not in very good condition. "Sometimes age does that," I tell Jenny. "But the marks are good marks. They show living, being around. That's something to display with pride. In fact, sometimes, the more an object shows age, the moire valuable it can become." It is important that I believe this for my own self-esteem. Our tour of antiques continues. There is a vase on the floor. It has been in my house for a long time. I'm not certain where it came from but I didn't buy it new. And then there is the four poster bed, sent to me 40 years ago by an uncle who slept in it for fifty years. One thing about antiques, I explain to Jenny, is that they usually have a story. They've been in one home and then another, handed down one from family to another, traveling all over the place. They've lasted through years and years. They could have been tossed away, or ignored, or destroyed, or lost. But instead, they survived. For a moment Jenny looks thoughtful. "I don't have any antiques but you," she says. Then her face brightens. "Could I take you to school for show and tell?" "Only if I fit into your backpack," I answer. And then Jenny's antique lifted her up and embraced her in a hug that would last through the years. Harriet May Savitz hmaysavitz@aol.com E-mail Harriet and let her know your thoughts on her story! --------- (c) Copyright 2002, Harriet May Savitz Published Credits include: Chicken Soup for the Golden Soul...Chicken Soup for the Sport's Fans Soul...Chicken Soup for the Soul of America...Chicken Soup for the Grandparent's Soul...21 Published Books...an ABC Afterschool Special produced by Henry Winkler of book, "Run, Don't Walk." Essays appearing in newspapers and magazines... Look for her new book, "Messages from Somewhere: Inspiring Stories of Life After 60," where Harriet reveals the limitless possibilities at this stage of life, encouraging folks to continue making a difference in their world. This book looks at renewal within family life, friendships, grandparenting, reaching out to the community, relationships, self-discovery, and survival. You can check out this accomplished writer at her web site: http://www.harrietmaysavitz.com and look for her new books with Little Treasure Publications, Inc. - http://www.littletreasurebooks.com or email: SoulComfort@aol.com for details. _________________________________________ READER FEEDBACK! Dear Eunice, Thank-you very much for your gift to us -- your Celebrate the Gift story in Heart Touchers. I was a little behind in reading my e-mails because of the Easter Holiday (and a glorious one it was!) I happened to read it today. Today my youngest son would've turned 25 years old. He will be gone 5 years this May 6th. So I needed to read your story today. God does work in mysterious and marvelous ways indeed. It has been a long and painful 5 years getting used to life without Eric. He had heart trouble and fought it for about 9 years and died at home in his own bed in the arms of his Dad and I. One of the sympathy cards we received stated something to the effect that the writer hoped we would be able to look at our time with Eric as a 20 year gift and not just the sad times and our loss. I am also learning to celebrate the gift! Thanks again for your story. Linda Haskins bhaskins@metrocast.net ______________________________________ Thought For The Day: You see things and you say, "Why?" But I dream things that never were and I say, "Why not?" --George Bernard Shaw Verse for the Day: "Without faith it is impossible to please God." Hebrews 11:6 Kid's Thought For The Day: "How do you know you can't make a rocket out of tinfoil boxes and cardboard unless you try?" Parent's Thought For The Day "There's a time when you have to explain to your children why they're born, and it's a marvelous thing if you know the reason by then." --Hazel Scott Coach's Thought For The Day "It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit!" Writer's Thought For The Day; "If I don't have anything to say for three or four months, I just don't write. When I read a book, I can always tell if the writer has written through a block. If he or she had just waited, it would have been better or different, or a little more natural. You can see the seams." --Toni Morrison Deep Thought For The Day: "I locked my coat-hanger in the car. Good thing I had a key." ___________________________________________ _ /_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS \_\ / HeartTouchers@aol.com /_/ \ "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no \_\/\ \ longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I \_\/ live in the body I live for the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20 ___________________________________________ The copyrights to the stories that appear in HeartTouchers.com are owned by the authors and are used with their permission. We refuse to run stories without the author's permission and contact info listed after the story. We also refuse to publish stories listed as "author unknown." (All of which violates Copyright Law and the rights of the authors.) This e-mail may be forwarded in its entirety, but please do not cut and paste the stories to be used elsewhere unless you have contacted and been given permission by the individual writer. Thank you so much for honoring the rights of those writers who graciously share their stories with us! __________________________________________ Video Imagery --Michael's Video Production Business "I thought of you first after my family sat down to watch the video we gave them. They loved it, to say the least! Within thirty seconds my mom was crying and my dad did too. They said it was the best Christmas gift we could have given them!! You did such a beautiful job! They were so surprised and so touched--they really, really, really loved it. Thanks for helping to make it so special to us all. My mom mentioned how the songs were perfect for the video too! Thanks again!" Kelli-- College Station, TX Let me make you a video from your photos! Check out my video production business by visiting: http://www.hearttouchers.com/video_imagery/ AOL Users click here: Video Imagery ___________________________________________ Would you like to see your story in HeartTouchers.com? Writer's guidelines can be found on our Web site here: http://www.HeartTouchers.com/guidelines/ AOL Users click here: Writer's Guidelines ___________________________________________ SUBSCRIBE: "I need a daily source of inspiration and encouragement in my life!" To become a HeartTouchers.com Member send an e-mail with "Subscribe" in the subject line to: HeartTouchers@AOL.COM Then get ready to laugh, cry, and be deeply touched by some of the best stories on the Internet! __________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: All you have to do is send an e-mail with the word "Unsubscribe" in the subject line to: HeartTouchers@aol.com Give it a day or two to be processed... __________________________________________ Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you? http://www.greatcom.org/english/four.htm AOL Users click here: The Four Spiritual Laws __________________________________________ |