Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul
Page 25
Andrea (Andy) Skidmore resides in Cleveland, Tennessee. She is a wife of 28 years and the mother of two sons. She has been employed by the Cleveland City School System for 13 years, where she is presently the principal’s secretary at Cleveland High School. She has spoken at her church several times on Ladies’ Day and writes about the one thing on earth she loves the most, her family.
Charles Slack has been a business reporter and feature writer for the Richmond, Virginia Times Dispatch since 1986. He has written articles for Reader’s Digest, Men’s Journal and Historic Preservation. A 1983 graduate of Harvard, he lives in Richmond with his wife, Barbara, and daughter, Natalie.
Grazina Smith began her writing career after raising seven children. She has read her works in appearances sponsored by the University of Chicago, the Chicago Public Library and the Feminist Writers Guild. Her work appears in Prairie Hearts—Women’s Writings on the Midwest, Outrider Press, 1004 East Steger Road, Crete, IL 60417 ($14.95 plus $2.25 shipping).
Doni Tamblyn has written and performed music and comedy for stage and media since 1980. She also travels extensively as a trainer and motivational speaker. As president of HumorWorks, she teaches professionals to use their natural sense of humor productively, appropriately and without fear. She specializes in creativity training and training creatively. She may be reached at
3910 Fulton St., Ste. 8, San Francisco, CA 94118, or call 415-267-3034.
Lynn Towse has never written anything before. She would do anything to mend the hearts of her sisters, Judy and Mary. They are a very close family, and the thought of being published in Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul is very exciting for all of them.
Mary L. Towse is currently the director of corporate diversity for Hallmark Cards, where she has worked for the past 24 years. She has a degree in English literature from the University of Missouri at Kansas City and is currently completing a master’s degree in organizational management at St. Mary College in Johnson County, Kansas. She can be reached at P.O. Box 1309, Bonner Springs, KS 66012.
Mark Tucker, a professional photographer and speaker, is co-founder of Awakening Heart Productions and, most recently, founder of Healing Heart Productions. Both of these audio-visual companies have created several highly acclaimed multimedia presentations that have been experienced by more than a half a million people worldwide. Mark and his twin brother, Dean Tucker, have presented their work for countless numbers of spiritual, academic and health care centers throughout the world. Mark is dedicated to sharing his exquisite imagery, life affirming music and touching words to elevate people’s love and appreciation for one another. He can be reached at 303 Gunderman Rd., Studio 1, Spencer, NY 14833 or call 607-273-1587.
Phyllis Volkens, an Iowa native, had a unique talent for transcribing life experiences from her heart to the printed page. When asked what she wrote about, she would say, “I write about people and what makes them laugh and cry.” Her work appeared in various newspapers and magazines, including Reader’s Digest. Phyllis passed away on May 3, 1996. She will be deeply missed by many.
Laurie Waldron lives in Arvada, Colorado, and is employed as an executive assistant. This is her first published story. As a busy single mom, she enjoys spending her free time with her three-year-old son. She also enjoys reading, Rollerblading, bicycling and camping.
Marjorie Wallé is a published writer, seminar facilitator and consultant. She manages the Illinois Statewide Radon Program. Under her management, it has been recognized for its public awareness efforts with outstanding achievement and teamwork awards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. You can call Marjorie at 217-786-6398.
Charlotte Ward leads seminars in the PhotoReading Whole Mind System. She trains people to masterfully process the printed page using state-of-the-art strategies described in her book, Simply Live It Up. Among them are 40 brief solutions for meeting the challenges of the Information Age. Master practitioner of NLP, certified in using MBTI, and a Toastmaster for seven years, Charlotte speaks and teaches nationally. She is president of Accelerated Learning of Maryland, 7106 Saunders Court, Bethesda, MD 20817. Call 301-365-8112.
Sue West is a publisher, educator, writer and meditation instructor. She has lived on four continents and feels at home just about everywhere. She can be reached at 5540 Fremont St., Oakland, CA 94608.
Dr. Kay Cordell Whitaker is the author of The Reluctant Shaman and Sacred Link and is an internationally recognized master storyteller/lecturer. In 1974, she began an apprenticeship with two Native American shamans from the Central Eastern Andes, Chea and Domano Hetaka. Her work encompasses corporate, university and private workshops focusing on inner freedom, healing and balance. She can be reached at 4970 Nectar Way, Eugene, OR 97405, or call 541-686-6781. Fax 541-683-6136, or e-mail khww@efn.org.
Donna Wick, founder of The Center for Positive Change in Houston, currently conducts a national seminar series, “Let Your Light Shine!” She has an extensive background in personal development, self-esteem training, motivation and inspiration. Donna believes that no one was created arbitrary to the human race and that we all have meaning and purpose to our lives. For information on her center, write 25231 Grograns Mill Road, Suite 195, The Woodlands, TX 77380, or call 713-364-9824, or fax 713-298-7796.
Sasha Williams is a college student, wife and mother of two girls. This essay was written for a composition course. The topic: something that had a major impact on her life.
Susan B. Wilson is a highly acclaimed speaker whose tailored coaching, speaking and books have inspired thousands to make lasting changes in their lives.
Her firm specializes in leadership, team development and improved personal success. Her books include Goal Setting and Your Intelligent Heart. She can be reached at Executive Strategies, 1105 W. 12th St. S., Newton, IA 50208. Call 515-791-7904 or fax 515-792-1956.
Andy Wyatt has been busy cartooning for more than 25 years. Her work has appeared in many national publications as well as those in countries around the world. She is presently the editorial cartoonist for a newspaper in Destin, Florida, having won several Florida Press Association awards. She studied at Boston University and Art Students League in New York City, completing her bachelor’s degree at the University of Miami, Florida.
Permissions
We would like to acknowledge the following publishers and individuals for permission to reprint the following material. (Note: The stories that were penned anonymously, that are public domain, or that were written by Jennifer Read Hawthorne or Marci Shimoff are not included in this listing.)
Phenomenal Woman. From And Still I Rise by Maya Angelou. ©1978 by Maya Angelou. Reprinted by permission of Random House, Inc.
The White Gardenia. Reprinted by permission of Marsha Arons. © 1995 Marsha Arons.
Words from the Heart. Reprinted by permission of Bobbie Lippman. © 1995 Bobbie Lippman.
Mama’s Soup Pot. Reprinted with permission of Guideposts magazine. © 1995 by Guideposts. Carmel, NY 10512.
Justin Time,“Are You God?” and Who Won? Reprinted by permission of Dan Clark. © 1996 Dan Clark.
Gifts of the Heart. Reprinted by permission of Sheryl Nicholson. © 1996 Sheryl Nicholson.
The Other Woman. Excerpted from Woman’s Day magazine. Reprinted by permission of David Farrell. © 1995 David Farrell.
Ramona’s Touch. Reprinted by permission of Betty Aboussie Ellis. © 1996 Betty Aboussie Ellis.
The Electric Candlesticks. Reprinted by permission of Marsha Arons. ©1996 Marsha Arons.
More Than a Scholarship. Reprinted by permission of Stephanie Bullock. © 1996 Stephanie Bullock.
It Couldn’t Hurt. Reprinted by permission of Sandy Ezrine. © 1996 Sandy Ezrine.
A Goodnight Kiss. Reprinted by permission of Stanley Volkens. ©1982 Phyllis Volkens.
Gifts. Reprinted from In Search of Kinship, Modern Pioneering on the Western Landscape by Page Lambert. © 1996 by Page Lambert, published by Fulcrum Publishing, 350 Indiana St., Suite 350, Golden, CO 8040
1.
1,716 Letters. Reprinted by permission of Louise Shimoff. ©1996 Louise Shimoff.
Martha’s Secret Ingredient. Reprinted by permission of Reminisce magazine. ©1991.
Be a Queen. Reprinted by permission of Oprah Winfrey. © 1993 Oprah Winfrey.
Home Is Where The Heart Is. Reprinted by permission of Roberta L. Messner.© 1996 Roberta L. Messner.
A Tale of Two Cities, And Justice Has Been Served, Taking a Break and The Wise Woman’s Stone. Reprinted by permission of The Economics Press, Inc. Excerpted from The Best of Bits & Pieces. ©1994 The Economics Press.
Where Do the Mermaids Stand? From All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum. ©1986, 1988 by Robert Fulghum. Reprinted by permission of Random House, Inc.
The Pirate. Reprinted by permission of Marjorie Wallé. © 1996 Marjorie Wallé.
So ...What Do You Grow? Reprinted by permission of Philip Chard. ©1994 Philip Chard.
Grandma Ruby. Reprinted by permission of Lynn Robertson. © 1996 Lynn Robertson.
Problem or Solution? Reprinted by permission of Edgar Bledsoe. © 1996 Edgar Bledsoe.
True Beauty. Reprinted by permission of Charlotte Ward. ©1996 Charlotte Ward.
Angela’s Word. Reprinted by permission of Barbara K. Bassett. © 1996 Barbara K. Bassett.
Just Say Yes. Reprinted by permission of Fran Capo. © 1996 Fran Capo.
The Gift of Gab. Reprinted by permission of Lynn Rogers Petrak. © 1996 Lynn Rogers Petrak.
I Was a Sixth-Grade Scarecrow. Reprinted by permission of Linda Jessup. © 1996 Linda Jessup.
If There’s a Will. Reprinted by permission of Stacey Nasalroad and by the May 1995 Reader’s Digest. ©1995 Stacey Nasalroad.
We’ve Come a Long Way. Reprinted by permission of Pat Bonney Shepherd. © 1996 Pat Bonney Shepherd.
No Hair Day. Reprinted by permission of Jennifer Rosenfeld and Alison Lambert. © 1996 Jennifer Rosenfeld and Alison Lambert.
Just Like You. Reprinted by permission of Carol Price. © 1996 Carol Price.
Little Red Wagons. Reprinted by permission of Patricia Lorenz. © 1995 Patricia Lorenz.
My Father’s Lessons. Downs, Cathy (October, 1994). The Reading Teacher, 48(2), 175. Reprinted with permission of Cathy Downs and the International Reading Association. All rights reserved.
Who to Believe? Reprinted by permission of Brian Cavanaugh, T.O.R.
Excerpted from More Sower’s Seeds by Brian Cavanaugh.
The Marks of Life. Reprinted by permission of Diana Golden. © 1996 Diana Golden.
Soaring Free. Reprinted by permission of Laurie Waldron. © 1996 Laurie Waldron.
Tears of Joy. Reprinted by permission of Joan Fountain. © 1996 Joan Fountain.
Home Forever. Reprinted by permission of Jean Bole. © 1996 Jean Bole.
A Hand ful of Emeralds. Reprinted by permission of Rebecca Christian. © 1996 Rebecca Christian.
What Women Don’t Understand About Guys. From Dave Barry’s Complete Guide to Guys by Dave Barry. © 1995 by Dave Barry. Reprinted by permission of Random House Inc. and the December, 1995 Reader’s Digest.
Lost and Found. Reprinted by permission of Elinor Daily Hall. © 1996 Elinor Daily Hall.
Grandpa’s Valentine. Reprinted by permission of Elaine Reese. © 1996 Elaine Reese.
A Love Like That. Reprinted by permission of The Putnam Publishing Group from Move On: Adventures in the Real World by Linda Ellerbee. © 1991 by Linda Ellerbee.
All the Days of My Life. Reprinted by permission of Jeanne Marie Laskas. © 1996 Jeanne Marie Laskas.
It Will Change Your Life. Reprinted by permission of Word, Inc. Excerpted from Everyday Miracles by Dale Hanson Bourke. © 1991 Dale Hanson Bourke. All rights reserved.
As I Watch You Sleep. From the book Full Esteem Ahead. © 1994 by Diane Loomans with Julia Loomans. Reprinted by permission of H.J. Kramer. All rights reserved.
Running Away. Reprinted by permission of Lois Krueger. © 1996 Lois Krueger.
Help Wanted—The Ideal Mother. Reprinted by permission of Joan Beck. © 1996 Joan Beck.
Graduation Day. Reprinted by permission of Mary Ann Detzler. © 1996 Mary Ann Detzler.
To Give the Gift of Life. Reprinted by permission of Patty Hansen. © 1996 Patty Hansen.
Mother’s Day. Reprinted by permission of Sharon Nicola Cramer. ©1996 Sharon Nicola Cramer.
In a Hurry. Reprinted by permission of Gina Barrett Schlesinger. © 1996 Gina Barrett Schlesinger.
No Small Act of Kindness. Reprinted by permission of Donna Wick. © 1996 Donna Wick.
The Last Jar of Jelly. Reprinted by permission of Andy Skidmore. © 1996 Andy Skidmore.
A Christmas Story. Reprinted by permission of Beverly M. Bartlett. © 1996 Beverly M. Bartlett.
Bush Sneakers. Reprinted by permission of Christine Harris-Amos. © 1996 Christine Harris-Amos.
Feather Light. Reprinted by permission of Melody Arnett. © 1996 Melody