Saturday, December 20, 2008

Christmas Story from Paul Coelho

Book Queens, I received this Email from Paul Coelho wishing his readers a Merry Christmas and as his gift a short tale about the meaning of Christmas. 
Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!  Love, Queen Kay
 
Dear Reader,

My wish is for you and your loved ones to have a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
As a way to thank you for your continued support throughout 2008, I have enclosed a copy of the 
Christmas Story that appeared in worldwide journals and columns that I have written. 
Best wishes to you and your family.

Paulo Coelho

The music coming from the house

 

Paulo Coelho

 

On Christmas Eve, the king invited the prime minister to join him for their usual walk together.

He enjoyed seeing the decorations in the streets, but since he didn't want his subjects to spend too much money on these just to please him,

the two men always disguised themselves as traders from some far distant land.

 

They walked through the centre of the city, admiring the lights, the Christmas trees, the candles burning on the steps of the houses,

the stalls selling gifts, and the men, women and children hurrying off to celebrate a family Christmas around a table laden with food.

On the way back, they passed through a poorer area, where the atmosphere was quite different.

 

There were no lights, no candles, no delicious smells of food about to be served. There was hardly a soul in the street, and,

as he did every year, the king remarked to the prime minister that he really must pay more attention to the poor in his kingdom.

The prime minister nodded, knowing that the matter would soon be forgotten again, buried beneath the day-to-day bureaucracy

of budgets to be approved and discussions with foreign dignitaries.

 

Suddenly, they heard music coming from one of the poorest houses. The hut was so ramshackle and the rotten wooden timbers

so full of cracks, that they were able to peer through and see what was happening inside.

 

And what they saw was utterly absurd: an old man in a wheelchair apparently crying, a shaven-headed young woman dancing,

and a young man with sad eyes shaking a tambourine and singing a folk song.

 

'I'm going to find out what they're up to,' said the king.

 

He knocked. The music stopped, and the young man came to the door.

 

'We are merchants in search of a place to sleep. We heard the music, saw that you were still awake,

and wondered if we could spend the night here.'

 

'You can find shelter in a hotel in the city. We, alas, cannot help you. Despite the music, this house is full of sadness and suffering.'

 

'And may we know why?'

 

'It's all because of me.' It was the old man in the wheelchair who spoke. 'I've spent my life teaching my son calligraphy,

so that he could one day get a job as a palace scribe. But the years have passed and no post has ever come up.

And then, last night, I had a stupid dream: an angel appeared to me and asked me to buy a silver goblet because, the angel said,

the king would be coming to visit me. He would drink from the goblet and give my son a job.

 

'The angel was so persuasive that I decided to do as he said. Since we have no money, my daughter-in-law went to the market

this morning to sell her hair so that we could buy that goblet over there. The two of them are doing their best to get me in the

Christmas spirit by singing and dancing, but it's no use.'

 

The king saw the silver goblet, asked to be given a little water to quench his thirst and, before leaving, said to the family:

 

'Do you know, we were talking to the prime minister only today, and he told us that an opening for a palace scribe would be

announced next week.'

The old man nodded, not really believing what he was hearing, and bade farewell to the strangers.

 

The following morning, however, a royal proclamation was read out in all the city streets; a new scribe was needed at court.

 

On the appointed day, the audience room at the palace was packed with people eager to compete for that much-sought-after post.

The prime minister entered and asked everyone there to prepare their paper and pens:

'Here is the subject of the composition: Why is an old man weeping, a shaven-headed woman dancing, and a sad young man singing?'

 

A murmur of disbelief went round the room. No one knew how to tell such a story, apart, that is,

from the shabbily dressed young man sitting in one corner, who smiled broadly and began to write.

 

                                                   Based on an Indian story.

 

 

   Translated from the Portuguese by Margaret Jull Costa

Friday, December 12, 2008

FW: I'd like to donate

Thank you Jeannine Ralston!!
 
Just got this email in and couldn't wait to share it with you, my Queens!!!  Queen Laurie's mission trip will be the receipient for January sales!!  Mark your calendar for January to purchase (click) through her site then on to Amazon.com  I know I have some birthdays in January and I will use this option.
 
Jeannie, I hope to meet you at Girlfriends Weekend in Jefferson, TX!  What an inspiration you are!! 
 
I pray your nephew is improving.
 
Best Wishes and thank you!!
 


 Kay
 
 
Justice --- When you get what you deserve
  Mercy ----- When you don't get what you deserve
 Grace ----- When you get what you don't deserve







i'm EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD
Join me



To: padredan@bellsouth.net
CC: lcormier@cpdao.org; kayhuck@hotmail.com
Subject: I'd like to donate
From: contact@jeannieralston.com
Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2008 09:21:51 -0600

Dear Father Torres:

I've heard about the wonderful work of Abrazando Christo from Laurie Cormier. She sent me some photos of the day care you built in Nicaragua. I'm so impressed by what you're doing.

I am the author of the book The Unlikely Lavender Queen: A Memoir of Unexpected Blossoming. Starting this fall I've undertaken a new project called The Seed Campaign. Every month I choose a different cause to donate funds to. The funds come from on-line sales of my book. I feel very compelled to give back; the theme of my book is making the most of the twist and turns life takes and I'm committed to helping organizations that assist others in making the most of their lives. I've had nice success so far with the effort, raising over $2,000 over the past 3 months.

I would like to find out if you would allow me to donate to your organization in January. I would include information about your work on my website and send out e-mails to my list of subscribers and also hand out postcards at book signings that talk about your organization.

I would ask that you send out word of our efforts to your supporters and maybe post something on your website, if you have one.

Please let me know if it would be all right to list you as the beneficiary for January, and could you maybe send me your mission statement and a description of some of the things you're working on right now.

I'm very happy to help out in any way.

Thank you in advance for your time.

Best wishes--Jeannie


Jeannie Ralston
220 N. Zapata Hwy #11
Laredo, Texas 78043
512-423-3030 (U.S. number)
52-415-152-5169 (within Mexico)
Learn more about The Unlikely Lavender Queen: A Memoir of Unexpected Blossoming at www.jeannieralston.com

Help me plant hope for others by joining The Seed Campaign. Buy a copy of my book via my website, and a percentage will be donated to a worthy cause--a different organization every month. More info on my website.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Roster


Several of you have requested an updated roster so here it is!
 Kay
 
 
Justice --- When you get what you deserve
  Mercy ----- When you don't get what you deserve
 Grace ----- When you get what you don't deserve






i'm EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD
Join me

A Grateful Heart

My dear Queens,
 
I  don't know how to express adequately my heartfelt thanks for your generous Christmas present to me and to Gene.  I am still overwhelmed with the dinner out, printer ink and the gift card.
 
You all are simply the best!  When I started this PQ chapter, I just wanted a reason to gather with my friendss, to keep in touch and to have fun.  I think this adventure has been all that and more.  The books have brought me out of my comfort zone for sure and broaden my horizons.  However, discussing them with you my insightful queens, has deepened my understanding of relationships and character development (both fictional and real-life).  So I thank you my queens, for that wonderful gift you have of bringing joy to my life
 
Much love
 
Queen Kay


Monday, December 1, 2008

Kay is inviting you to a Windows Live Event

Kay has invited you to "PQ Christmas Party."
 
Check it out now
 
Message from Kay:
Merry Christmas Queens!

I am looking forward to our Party on Dec 10 at Queen Brenda's. She lives iin Carlyss at 1315 Southern Oaks Dr.
Food Committee: Queens - Barbara G, Tracey, Evelyn, Allison and Rachel.

Remember to bring a White Elephant present for our gift exchange and click on the Event Site to let us know if you will be able to attend.

See you Soon!!
Queen Kay


When: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 6:30 PM
Where: in Carlyss

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