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*Me Three!* 4/17/02 _________________________ 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.) _________________________________________ ME THREE! By Joseph Walker As dramatic lines go, it wasn't exactly memorable. I mean, it wasn't "To be or not to be." Heck, it wasn't even, "Lucy, you got some 'splainin' to do." It was, in fact, the simplest of lines, consisting of only two words. But when Brent delivered those two words on stage during the junior high school musical the other night, it brought smiles to the faces of everyone who knew him -- not to mention a tear to an eye or two. That Brent even decided to try out for the musical was something of a shock to his parents. Tall and handsome, with a terrific smile and a strong charismatic quality, one would think Brent would be a natural for the stage. But Brent is deaf, and most people would assume that being able to hear lines and cues and music would be pretty essential for someone thinking about trying out for the school musical. At least, Brent's parents did. So when he came home from school one day and told them that not only had he auditioned for the musical, but that he had also earned a spot as one of a group of featured dancers -- and that he would have a line -- they were surprised. And pleased. And nervous. "He has always been willing to try new things, and we've always encouraged him to do so," his Dad told me on closing night. "But this ... I never would have predicted this." The musical was set in America's "roaring twenties," and Brent Charleston-ed with the best of the dancers on stage that night. That didn't really surprise me -- I knew him to be an outstanding athlete, and I've always felt that the only difference between an outstanding dancer and an outstanding athlete is that dancers work harder and are in better shape. I must admit, however, that I was a little surprised at his sense of rhythm, and how precisely he maintained timing with the music on each step and movement. And I was delighted by his efforts to respond facially and physically to what was being said on stage. Even though he couldn't hear it. For a long time, it appeared that Brent's character was going to be the strong, silent type. And that was understandable. Although those who know him can understand him pretty well, public speaking is not the thing he does best. Only a very courageous and insightful director would be willing to take such an aesthetic risk in order to give a courageous young man a chance. Which is why Brent's line sort of snuck up on me. There were three young men on stage at the time, and the first one said something -- I don't remember what. Then the second boy said, "Me too!" And then Brent leaned forward, and with a big smile on his face, said, "Me three!" It was clear, understandable and absolutely wonderful. I couldn't wait to find Brent after the play to congratulate him on his performance. I found him with a group of his friends from the show. The 9th grade girls were putting on the dark red lipstick from the make-up room and kissing the 9th grade boys on their cheeks. Brent's cheeks had been thus "marked" -- several times each -- and he was clearly loving life. He was one of the boys. Part of the cast. Nothing special. And yet special indeed. And no, that isn't just a line -- dramatic or otherwise. Joseph Walker valuescom@juno.com Write Joseph and let him know your thoughts on his story! ___________________________ Joseph Walker has been writing professionally since 1980, when he left college to join the staff of a daily metropolitan newspaper. For 10 years -- including six as the paper's TV columnist and critic -- he was part of the mainstream media, and was painfully aware of the overwhelming negativity of contemporary journalism. Joe says, "Nobody was looking for real solutions to the problems society was facing; they were just looking for someone or something to blame the problems on." So in 1990 Joe began writing ValueSpeak, a weekly syndicated column that attempts to look at contemporary issues from the perspective of traditional values. Joe and his wife, Anita, are parents of five children, and one grandchild. You'll love his new book, "How Can you Mend a Broken Spleen!" Ordering is simple and fast at the following Amazon address: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1573453005/qid=972961681/sr=1-6/straighfromthe0a AOL Users click here: How To Mend A Broken Spleen _________________________________________ Reader Feedback! I can relate to Betty's story, I go through the same routine every time my grands come for a visit and we are glad to see them go, but in no time we both wish for their return. We love all five of our grandchildren and hope for at least two more. Allean Smith, Alleansmith@aol.com _________________________________________ Thought For The Day: "It is right to be contented with what we have, never with what we are." --Sir James Mackintosh Verse for the Day: "I have learned to get along happily whether I have much or little." Philippians 4:11 Kid's Thought For The Day: "It's hard to like the piano if you are forced to take lessons." Parent's Thought For The Day "A family is a unit composed not only of children, but of men, women, an occasional animal and the common cold." --Ogden Nash Coach's Thought For The Day "Be sincere. Be simple in words, manners, and gestures. Amuse as well as instruct. If you can make a man laugh, you can make him think and make him like and believe you." --Alfred Smith) Writer's Thought For The Day: "I never begin at the beginning of a novel and work right through from the first chapter to the last. I visualize the book as a series of scenes rather as if I were shooting a film. These can be written in any order depending on how I am feeling at the time ... This jigsaw method of creation means, of course, that the whole book must be meticulously planned before any work begins." --P.D. James Deep Thought For The Day: Big Bang Theory.....God spoke and "Bang!" It happened... ___________________________________________ _ /_/\/\ 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 __________________________________________ |
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Touching Lives - One E-mail at a Time! Author Michael T. Powers - HeartTouchers @ aol.com
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