Wisdom From the Doc

Which doc you ask? The one and only Dr. Seuss. Through the years his abounding knowledge has taught and influenced generations. So here is my list of things the Rhyming Doc has taught me. Yes these are true stories. No, I do not encourage re-enacting any below mentioned anecdotes.

~Oh, the Places You'll Go showed me if you are lost and lonely, rhyming is a good way to pass the time! At the very least it will keep you entertained. Can you even count the number of "roses are red, violets are blue" poems you have written through the years?

~The Cat in the Hat taught me cats might fit in hats but they do not fit in car exhaust pipes. Or milk boxes. Or boots. Or freezers. Or in that hole in the side of your house where the dryer air blows out. All bad places to try and shove a cat. ~I Can Read with My Eyes Shut taught me that while the Cat in the Hat may accomplish much with his eyes closed, I cannot. In fact, wandering around the yard with my eyes closed actually led to my first set of stitches. But not my last.

~Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are showed me that I am lucky! I'm lucky I didn't require more stitches in my head when I ran into the lawn mower while wandering around with my eyes closed at 4 years old! Not to mention many, many other close calls including but not limited to: Jumping out of a tree and onto a nail sticking out of a board. Crashing a moped at the age of 13--more stitches. Getting bucked off a horse. Slicing my arm open with a shovel--13 stitches. (Not my fault. I blame Grandpa.) Having a horse rear up and land on the back of my neck. Nearly drowning in a reservoir because I was being not-so-smart. Getting locked into a freezer for 1 whole minute....I could go on but I'll save it for another post. Just know this: Yes, I'm very lucky. Unfortunately "lucky" and "wise" do not go hand in hand.

~I learned to savor small accomplishments. A grown man like Mr. Brown didn't have any reservations telling us how he learned to moo or buzz or clap! Therefore, I won't feel embarassed to tell you I have learned that I shouldn't shave my legs with a dull razor. At the age of 19 I fit into a commericial dryer and could stay in it for 1 full roation. (Which I'm sure the laundromat owners did not appreciate.) I learned that I could lie quickly when caught doing something I shouldn't be doing. <---is a genetic trait because my girls have inherited it as well.

~How the Grinch Stole Christmas taught me to not fight with my sisters or "Santa" will steal my Super Nintendo and take it back to the store. I also figured out that the Grinch--AKA parents--can steal more than just Christmas when you consistantly misbehave. They can ruin birthdays, Easters, Halloweens, Tuesdays, Sundays, etc etc.

~While Green Eggs and Ham might an acceptable green to eat, I learned that it is not ok to eat food that has green growing on it. That made for a very sick couple of days. But I did get to miss school. Speaking of food. It is also not ok to tell your little sister chicken bullion cubes are caramel, beaten eggs whites are whipped cream, and coffee grounds are cinnamon. All naughty.

~Boy I was glad I found The Foot Book. It helped me decipher right from left. It was awful walking around with my left foot in my right shoe and my right in my left all day! I also learned that it's ok if I have big, huge size 9 1/2 clown feet. Feet come in all shapes and sizes. Read the book and see how many feet you meet!

~I learned that maybe circus workers aren't as creepy as they seem. Umm...well maybe they are.

~I learned that soda pop is a great invention. Maybe not health wise but for Shamae's sanity it is great for me to hop on pop. Right now I could hop on Coke Zero. I realize Hop on Pop is not directly about soda but I think it is a subliminal message the good Dr. wanted me to pick up on. I heed his counsel regarding the beverage.

However, one of my favorite Dr. Seuss quotes is one that, the sooner you learn and heed it's message the better off you will be. It says, "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." It's a great lesson! I hope you think so as well.

And also remember, "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 you're own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go." ~Dr. Seuss

So has Dr. Seuss taught you anything worth mentioning? Have you decided where you will go?