MY FAMILY

As some of you may know, I have been blessed with a great family. Over the years, I have come to appreciate this more and more. One of the traditions that has made the bonds between us so strong is that we get together for every holiday in the Roman Christian calender and on everyone's birthday. It is unspoken that such gatherings are always the priority unless there is something that is MAJOR (like being in Africa).

Recently, my family celebrated the birthdays for my Uncle Scott and my cousin Ashley (September is a busy month). At this celebration, my Grandmother made a special presentation. As one that loves to write and read to an audience, she rewrote "Oh The Places You'll Go" for Ashley's 18th birthday and read it to the family.

I was not there, but my Mom sent the text to me in an email (which she got from my Grandma - yeah, my Grandma uses email!).

Here it is, so enjoy.

As promised, here is my re-write of Dr. Seuss' "Oh The Places You'll Go" for Ashley's 18th Birthday.

You are 18, today!
Yes, 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 off and away now
You know what you know
And you are the girl who’ll decide where to go.

You’ll look up and down streets, look them 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 a “not-so-good” street.

Out there, things can happen and frequently do
To people as brainy and footsy as you
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 dine at Red Lobster and refill your cup.
You’ll be doing great things and seeing great sights
You’ll join the high fliers and 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 it, but sadly it’s true
That Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you.
You might come to earth with an unpleasant bump
And the chances are, then, that you’ll be in a Slump.
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.
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?
Simple it’s not, I’m afraid you will find,
For a mind-maker-upper to make up her 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... (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” or “No”
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 your Uncle Drew,
For a better break or new things to do
Or Uncle Craig, who you’ll often find
Can sort out things with his “techno” mind,
Or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
Or the next “big break,” or “Another Chance”
Everyone is just waiting.
But you’ll see your way through, I believe, ‘cause it’s true!

Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored, there are games to be won.

Fame! You’ll be famous, as famous can be
With the whole wide world watching, on screen or T.V.
Except, when you don’t, because, sometimes, you 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 things down the road between hither and yon,
That can scare you so much, you won’t want to go on.
Still, on you will hike, and I know you’ll hike far
And face up to your problems, whatever they are.

But be sure when you step, step with care and great tact
And remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act.
And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed)

And always remember your strong family tree
Your mother and Scott, Aunt Michelle, Craig and Me
You have learned quite a lot through your sixteen plus two
And you’ve now joined the ranks of my young-adult crew
Grandsons Christopher, Dylan, and Ashley, that’s YOU!

And now, it’s your turn to shine brighter than bright
For Brent, Mitchell, Jack and Rhiannon, that’s right!
Who are all watching closely the things that you do
And by your example, they ALL will get through!

You’re off to Great Places, today is your day,
Your mountain is waiting, so ... get on your way!