Saturday, January 14, 2012

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!


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.


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.


It's opener there
in the wide open air.


Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.


And then 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.
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.
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.
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?
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 cross weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place...
...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 the waiting around for a Yes or No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.
Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for the 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.

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 a guy!
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 as famous as famous can be,
with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.


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.


All Alone!
Whether you like it or not,
Alone will be something
you'll be quite a lot.
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.
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.
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 foget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!
So...
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
You're off the Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!


*** The above text was copyrighted in 1990 . 

46 comments:

  1. Wow, moved me to tears, wishing she was still on this earth with you. There's something about her eyes and that beautiful, bald head :) that pulls at my heart strings.

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  2. Beautiful, beautiful...that is all I can say, it is simply beautiful.

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  3. You should make a photobook of this..this is absolutely wonderful. Mike and Kezia, I still think of you both daily. And sweet Saoirse..It's so nice to see these happy pictures of her..

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  4. Crying now, so beautiful. She was so blessed to have you both as parents.

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  6. I read this, the second time, with my daughter who is 10. We were so moved and so riveted, neither realized that she was crying and that tears had fallen all over the keyboard. Its amazing the impact your little girl has had on SO many, and will have in the future and the future of nb. You are so lucky to have her as your daughter. And the reverse is also true.

    What a powerful testament to her you have put together here, you should be proud.
    Audra

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  7. I sobbed through the whole thing. Thank you for the beautiful pictures. We have such hopes and dreams for our children. Saoirse has made such an impact on my life in the short time she was here on the earth. I know she is doing great things in heaven while she waits for her mom and dad.

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  8. WOW. Beautiful. Thank you for sharing this. <3 XO

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  9. Just read it the 2nd time through - this time with the pictures. A beautiful tribute to a beautiful strong girl. She is sitting atop a beautiful mountain looking over you and Mike - giving you strength.

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  10. Absolutely amazing Kezia!

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  11. and now I have to post again because when blogspot prompted me to type in the verification code, the word be be pronounced Sor-she (which is close!)

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  12. This is just beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing.

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  13. Beautiful! What a great compilation of photos. What a beautiful babe.

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  14. I love that Kezia--made me smile and ofcourse tears were in my eyes. So fitting. You should goto vista print and have it put into a book - its free except for shipping so like 6 bucks or something. I bet that was hard for you but also made you happy. I hope anyway. She is a beautiful soul. So are you.

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  15. beautiful.. but still made me cry. there are some places kids should never ever have to go and some things that should never ever happen to them.

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  16. This is so beautiful, just like Saoirse. Thanks for sharing.

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  17. I think of your family and your sweet baby girl every day, and wish I could send some peace your way.
    Her time here is done but oh the lives that she touched,
    she has moved my heart, and changed me so much.
    I thank you for sharing your daughter with the world,
    I know that god is pleased, with his new right hand girl!

    Kathy Markovich

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  18. Wow this is a Beautiful post....very touching. The pictures are wonderful...thanks for sharing them.

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  19. All the love for you, your family deserve all the hapiness and peace. Brazil are thinking about you :)

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  20. Very very moving. Saoirse clearly new she was loved and cherished!

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  21. What a wonderful way to celebrate your daughters life. Thinking of you, Mike, and Saoirse often and continually hope great things happen for you.

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  22. This was wonderful! Saoirse had great parents, and she has been an inspiration to many! I am continually praying for you and Mike!

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  23. So beautiful to see such lovely photos of Saoirse. It was if that poem was written for her.
    It brought tears to my eyes when I read it- such a beautiful, wonderful, powerfully strong girl. You are such a wonderful Mum.
    Thoughts and prayers as always.
    Love Jo

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  24. Absolutely beautiful. Thank you for sharing. You and your family are truly an inspiration.

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  25. Totally moving Kezia, made me cry all over again. Those words paired with Saoirse's pictures make for such a beautiful, inspirational and moving story. It must have been difficult to put it together, thank you for doing so.

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  26. Beautiful! Thank you for sharing.

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  27. Wow. Brought me to tears. Such a beautiful soul to live such a short life...She's looking over you and healing you.

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  28. wonderful.... I tell you, Saoirse is going to be in my head and my heart forever.

    I have a question for you. You have raised my awareness about pediatric cancer, and yesterday, a woman I don't really know very well told me her step granddaughter has really high liver enzymes and she's very jaundiced. They don't know what's causing it. She is almost 3. I wanted to tell her that doctors are afraid of the word, cancer, and her parents shouldn't be, but I was afraid to say it, and I didn't say it. Plus, I don't know anything about childhood cancer. Is elevated liver enzymes a symptom? Can you give me advice? I really don't know these folks. I email her through work every now and then. I think she told me the enzymes were 4000?

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  29. She was adorable and beautiful:) I notice she also changed her appearance due NB that she looked a bit different, but she is still her. Those photos are to be cherished because those are only left of Saoirse along with her toys, etc and memories. Thank you for sharing those precious and personalized photos.

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  30. Thank you for sharing her with us. She was beautiful

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  31. Thank you for sharing your daughter with me today. Bless you and may she be an angel forever watching over you.

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  32. This is such a lovely remembrance of Saoirse. Thank you for posting it. - Joyce

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  33. I've just found your blog and your husband's today. I have a little girl and just want you to know my heart is aching for you. Such a beautiful post for such a beautiful little girl. My words all seem so empty and stupid, But I'm glad you write.. and I'm glad she was so so deeply loved.

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  34. Beautiful. As a fellow NB mom, my heart and love go out to you and your family. <3

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  35. It's amazing. May God bless you, Kezia and Mike.

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  36. wow. as usual i am bawling. i hate that she ever had to go to those places, and feel such pain. what an awesome baby girl. but you know that. as ever, my thoughts are with you and your family.

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  37. Kezia, its beautiful....Darlene

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  38. Just beautiful!!!!

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  39. Speechless. You are amazing and so was Saorise.

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