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{SFTH} *The Lovers* 8/14/01
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Celebration of Life," is finally here! Close to 200 pages
of true short stories filled with love and laughter await
you! Visit our web site to order the EBook, or to order
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It is my great privilege to introduce to you a new writer
to SFTH, Daniel James. I for one am looking forward to
reading more stories by Daniel, if the one we are running
today is any indication of the quality of articles he writes!
Give him a warm SFTH welcome for me!
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The Lovers
By Daniel James
Since my wife is away visiting family, I have taken time to
explore some new hiking trails. This day my selection is
a grove of old growth western red cedars.
The walk to the grove is through a field abloom. Showy
scarlet Indian Paintbrush mingle with white daisy-like
flowers. In fact there are a dozen or more varieties of
plants blooming in various hues. It is a picture you would
see on a post-card, but here it is in real life.
The old, tall trees are not far up the gently sloping hillside.
As I walk up the trail into the 80 acre grove, a tree 20 feet
off the path catches my eye.
I move slightly to get a different view and realize that there
are actually two trees. The larger of the two cedars is as
big around as a large refrigerator, but taller than two bus
lengths. Immediately beside it is a smaller tree, perhaps
two-thirds the girth of the bigger tree. The trees have
distinctly different root systems, but rise vertically from
the forest floor side by side. For the first eight or ten feet
of their height there is no space between them, and then
an inch or two for twenty feet, and then none for another
twenty feet, where again they stand apart ever so slightly.
About 20 feet above eye level, the larger tree has a branch
that loops out from its trunk, and then divides into two
smaller parts. The first part of the branch follows the
curve of the smaller tree's trunk in a wooden hug. The
second fork of the branch subdivides several more times,
and mingles with a branch from the smaller tree, becoming
visually indistinct, like fingers laced together when two
lovers hold hands.
I mentally label the trees 'The Lovers.' I would guess
they have been in that embrace for more than a century,
and have stood side by side since before the United
States was a nation.
Immediately my mind shifts to my wife on the other side
of these United States of America. She had to change
travel plans, and will be away yet another week. It is
amazing how much I miss her, and I wish she was here
with me at this moment. She will return the day after
our anniversary.
I contemplate our relationship. I am the luckiest man
alive, let me assure you. I have been fortunate enough
to be formed, to stand side by side, to embrace and
hold hands with this woman for thirty years. We will
not make three centuries, as the old lovers in the forest
have, but each day with her in my life is a blessing.
I will return to this spot one day soon, wife by my side,
and I will stop in front of 'The Lovers.' I will put one arm
around her, hold her hand with the other, and show her
the two old trees and say, "this is you and I, my love."
Daniel James
danofid@angelfire.com
E-mail Dan and let him know what you thought of his story.
Copyright 2001 by Daniel James, All rights reserved
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Daniel James' vocation is a manager in a health care
organization in Idaho. His avocation is wrestling with
the wily word. He is an observer of nature and human
nature, and aspires to one day be wise. Other stories
written by Dan can be read at http://www.heartwarmers.com
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Thought For The Day:
"The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say
you cannot do." --Walter Bagehot
Verse for the Day:
"For with God nothing is ever impossible." Luke 1:37 AMP
Kid's Thought For The Day:
"Don't pop someone else's bubble."
Parent's Thought For The Day
"I have found the best to give advice to your children is to
find out what they want and then advise them to do it."
--Harry S. Truman
Coach's Thought For The Day
"One of the hardest parts of practice is the criticism a
player takes from his coaches. Some players think a
coach has it in for them when a flaw in style is pointed
out...I know that when things start going wrong, for one,
I get the coach to keep his eye on me to see what I am
suddenly doing wrong. I can't see it or I wouldn't be
doing it in the first place." --Willie Mays
Deep Thought For The Day:
"Sometimes I wonder why there are so many computers
in the world today, but then I remember that there are
also a lot of camels too, so everything just sort of
works out."
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REQUESTS:
Hi Michael!!!!! I am a new reader of your stories and they
are great! I noticed that you take prayer requests...and
I would like to ask you to lift a friend of mine up in
prayer...his name is Marc C. and he is visually impaired
and kinda down on God right now. The Lord has allowed
our paths to cross and I am in his life for a definite
reason...for sure!! I have turned the situation over
to The Lord and I am a firm believer in the POWER
OF PRAYER!! Soooo your prayers would be greatly appreciated!!
Thank you, Michael, for being there.
Love In Christ,
Trisha
dnoren@cfl.rr.com
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_
/_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\ / THUNDER27@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
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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 pictures or home movies!
Check out this site for Michael's video production business!
http://members.aol.com/Videoimg/index.html
AOL Users click here: Video Imagery
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Straight From the Heart: A Celebration of Life
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