When my mom came to visit, she brought me the book Oh, the Places You'll Go by Dr.Seuss. I read it while she was here - - laughing, crying, and realizing how much it resembled my life.
Dr.Seuss, you got it all right.
It's difficult for me to believe I crossed the stage to collect my diploma from CSU two years ago. I've learned so much. I've had so many ups and downs. I've wandered around a lot. I've tried to understand exactly who I am and my purpose in life. Here's my lil' rendition of how this book applies to my life.... Hope you enjoy!
* * * * *
Oh, the Places You'll Go
by Dr. Seuss
Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great
Places!
You're off and away!
 |
| Graduating from CSU, May 2011 |
You have brains in
your head.
You have feet in
your shoes.
You can steer
yourself
Any direction you
choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.
 |
| leaving on a solo road trip, September 2011 |
You'll look up and
down streets. Look 'em over with care.
About some you will
say, "I don't choose to go there."
With your head full
of brains and your shoes full of feet,
You're too smart to
go down any not-so-good street.
And you may not find
any
You'll want to go
down.
In that case, of
course, you'll head straight out of town.
 |
| cross-country adventures, September 2011 |
It's opener there
In the wide open
air.
 |
| beautiful west virginia, October 2011 |
Out there things can
happen
And frequently do
To people as brainy
And footsy as you.
 |
| Learning at Gesundheit! Institute with one of my role models, Patch Adams. October 2011 |
And when things
start to happen,
Don't worry. Don't
stew.
Just go right along.
You'll start happening too.
OH!
THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!
You'll be on your
way up!
You'll be seeing
great sights!
You'll join the high
fliers
Who soar to high
heights.
 |
| Teaching children about Guatemala, my country of service for the Peace Corps. December 2011 |
You won't lag
behind, because you'll have the speed.
You'll pass the
whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly,
you'll be best of the best.
Wherever you go, you
will top all the rest.
Except when you don't.
Because, sometimes,
you won't.
 |
| Accepting a new Peace Corps invitation after Guatemala was cancelled January 2012 |
I'm sorry to say so
But sadly, it's true
That Bang-ups
And Hang-ups
Can happen to you.
You can get all hung
up
In a prickle-ly
perch.
And your gang will
fly on.
You'll be left in a
Lurch.
 |
| Not so pleased after Peace Corps Guatemala was cancelled January 2012 |
You'll come down
from the Lurch
With an unpleasant
bump.
And the chances are,
then,
That you'll be in a
Slump.
And when you're in a
Slump,
You're not in for
much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
Is not easily done.
You will come to a
place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are
lighted. But mostly they're darked.
A place you could
sprain both your elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay
out? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you
lose? How much can you win?
 |
| new places! Botswana, April 2012 |
And IF you go in, should you turn left or right…
Or
right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back
and sneak in from behind?
Simple, it's not,
I'm afraid you will find,
For a
mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.
You can get so
confused
That you'll start in
to race
Down long wiggled
roads at a break-necking pace
And grind on for
miles across weirdish wild space,
Headed, I fear,
toward a most useless place.
The
Waiting Place….
 |
| A much slower pace of life, May 2012 |
… for people just
waiting.
Waiting
for a train to go
Or
a bus to come, or a plane to go
Or
the mail to come, or the rain to go
Or
the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
Or
waiting around for a Yes of No
Or
waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone
is just waiting.
Waiting for the fish
to bite
Or waiting for wind
to fly a kite
Or waiting around
for Friday night
Or waiting, perhaps,
for their Uncle Jake
Or a pot to boil, or
a Better Break
Or a string of
pearls, or a pair of pants
Or a wig with curls,
or Another Chance.
Everyone is just
waiting.
 |
| waiting, waiting, June 2012 |
NO!
That's not for you!
Somehow you'll
escape
All that waiting and
staying.
You'll find the
bright places
Where Boom Bands are
playing.
With banner
flip-flapping,
Once more you'll
ride high!
Ready for anything
under the sky.
Ready because you're
that kind of guy!
 |
| Grassroots Soccer Team, October 2012 |
Oh, the places
you'll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to
be scored. There are games to be won.
And the magical
things you can do with that ball
Will make you the
winning-est winner of all.
Fame! You'll be famous as famous can be,
With the whole wide
world watching you win on TV.
 |
| World Map Project, February 2013 |
Except when they
don't.
Because, sometimes,
they won't.
I'm afraid that some times
You'll play lonely
games too.
Games you can't win
'cause you'll play
against you.
 |
| Good ole' Kang, Botswana. February 2013 |
All Alone!
Whether you like it
or not,
Alone will be
something
You'll be quite a
lot.
 |
| Plenty of alone time, February 2013 |
And when you're
alone, there's a very good chance
You'll meet things
that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down
the road between hither and yon,
That can scare you
so much you won't want to go on.
 |
| Camel Spiders, October 2012 |
But on you will go
Though the weather
be foul.
On you will go
Though your enemies
prowl.
On you will go
Though the
Hakken-Kraks howl.
Onward up many
A frightening creek,
Though your arms may
get sore
And your sneakers
may leak.
 |
| walks with my sisters, February 2013 |
On and on you will
hike.
And I know you'll
hike far
And face up to your
problems
Whatever they are.
You'll get mixed up,
of course,
As you already know.
You'll get mixed up
With many strange
birds as you go.
So be sure when you
step.
Step with care and
great tact
And remember that
Life's
A Great Balancing
Act.
Just never forget to
be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.
 |
| Relaxing in Maun, Botswana February 2013 |
And will you
succeed?
Yes! You will,
indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent
guaranteed.)
KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!
 |
| GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) Camp, May 2013 |
So…
Be your name Buxbaum
or Bixby or Bray
Or Mordecai Ali Van
Allen O'Shea,
You're off to Great
Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is
waiting.
So… get on your way!
 |
| Living fully, February 2013 |
Love & Light,
TMV
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