To Joemama with Love...

Well... the grand fete is over! Joe's mom turned 60 this past weekend. So now I can reveal what I've been working on for the past month or so. Joe, in honor of his mom's big day, wrote a parody of Dr. Seuss' "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" entitled "Oh, the Places You've Gone!" (quite clever, no?). It was my job to give rudimentary illustrations to his masterpiece (I say "rudimentary" because all I had was a pencil, a sharpie, and a pack of 10 crayons). So here... without further ado, because it's Dr. Seuss' birthday, is "Oh, the Places You've Gone!"...




Written by: Joe and Illustrated by: Maggie with Moral Support from: Judah


Young you were born: a very young age
to rise to perform and take center stage.
But show them you did, that's why I am here
to remember then and make one thing clear:



Today is a day to think about how
that you became you before now was now.
Now my brain is all filled up with things I need to say
to remind you how you got here; why things are this way


Oh the places, the places, the places you've gone.
You stayed up for late evenings and got up at dawn.
You worked long nights and weekends. To work you were drawn
determined to work harder while others would yawn.

And the things that you've done no one else could have did
Not even anyone or Sir. Snoot with a squid.



And that work paid off, because before you quite knew
You had to be off, and off, off you flew!

You met lots of people with different sized noses
some large and some smaller and some shaped like hoses


There were even some who held their noses so high
that they didn't even notice you or look you in the eye.

Yes, Sometimes they didn't give a hoot.
And thought you'd go out with a toot.

But these were all wrong and show them you did
When fruits of your virtues were too great to be hid.



You got awards, ribbons, metals: of gold, silver, and puce
All for how you kept going - you've been of good use!

And noticed you were by people we both know
kind, generous friends who not just for show
showed you kindness and love deep from their heart
and your joy was doubled - it flew off the chart!

Yes these your dear friends, loved you all along
and when you were sad cheered you with a song.


One in particular we won't ever forget
And I'm sure you remember the way that you met
Your best friend stood by you through thick and through thin
So remember his heart, his laugh, and his grin.


Yes, you and your beau had had so much fun
As for your children, you've had four plus one,
As they are married double that times two
Giving you grandkids that all look like you!


You've been to Down-there-sia, to Where'sville, and What'sville
I've heard there's a statue of you in Harpharpsburg.

From There-ington to Here's-burg and all the way back
you've traveled quite swimmingly on a well oiled track.


But I'm sure you remember it wasn't always so slick
When the track started to bend and the throttle to stick
We all got our scares scared just past Haunthuntington
And we almost derailed at the bend of Lessblessington


So how did we make it? I now beg to implore
First are three answers from Shel, Sid, and Seymore:



Shel-
Looking back on your past we're all quite impressed,
You've been charming and cheery and always well dressed.
It's what you were born with, deep down in your chest
You've always had it in you: from the start you're the best!


Sid-
But, The land was quite level, and the skies were all clear.
The seas were smooth sailing, never a real reason to fear.
You've had it a bit easy, while others shed a tear
They've had more than their share of heartache each year.


Seymore-
No, it's your can-do-it-ness; it's your poise and your style;
You have gotten you though it, can you remember each mile?
It's your hard work and steel guts, and even some sneaky guile,
That has kept you safely through forging onward this long while.


With Sid, Shel, and Seymore I concur don't you see,
but there's something they're missing and I hope you'll agree
that there's more than your you and more than my me
There's more than the land, the sky, and the sea.


Behind all your travels; protecting our lot
is the One who made us and all that we've got
He's God, the Almighty, and I'm glad to say
He led you everywhere; He's led the whole way.

So as we consider the places you've been
Remember the Holy One: the one without sin,
Who gave you your nose, your eyes, and your chin
Consider His blessings, give Him thanks in thick and thin

So, I'll stop all my blabbing (it's just about time)
I'll give you some words in meter that rhyme
This is Psalm thirty-seven, God's words to His sons,
Verse twenty-three all the way to thirty-one.

Psalm 37:23-31
23 Steps a man takes are established By the LORD for His delight.
24 If he stumbles he'll not fall down, By the LORD His hand's held tight.
25 Though once young I am quite old now, Yet throughout the life I've led
I've not seen the just forsaken Nor their children begging bread.

26 His descendants are a blessing Through the day he lends and gives
27 Turn from evil; practice goodness That you may forever live.
28 For the LORD who loves true justice, Will not leave His godly ones;
They will be preserved forever while cut off are sinner's sons.

29 In the land the righteous settle, Dwelling in it endlessly,
For the whole land in the future Their inheritance shall be.
30 Words of wisdom speaks the righteous, Justice comes forth from his lips;
31 Since God's law within His heart is, In his steps he never slips.
(from "The Book of Psalms for Worship")