<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div><div><b>"Oh, the Places You'll Go!" </b>by Dr. Seuss</div><div><br></div><div>Congratulations!</div><div>Today is your day.</div><div>You're off to Great Places!</div><div>You're off and away!</div><div><br></div><div>You have brains in your head.</div><div>You have feet in your shoes</div><div>You can steer yourself</div><div>any direction you choose.</div><div>You're on your own. And you know what you know.</div><div>And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.</div><div><br></div><div>You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care.</div><div>About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."</div><div>With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,</div><div>you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.</div><div><br></div><div>And you may not find any</div><div>you'll want to go down.</div><div>In that case, of course,</div><div>you'll head straight out of town.</div><div><br></div><div>It's opener there</div><div>in the wide open air.</div><div><br></div><div>Out there things can happen</div><div>and frequently do</div><div>to people as brainy</div><div>and footsy as you.</div><div><br></div><div>And when things start to happen,</div><div>don't worry. Don't stew.</div><div>Just go right along.</div><div>You'll start happening too.</div><div><br></div><div>OH! THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!</div><div><br></div><div>You'll be on your way up!</div><div>You'll be seeing great sights!</div><div>You'll join the high fliers</div><div>who soar to high heights.</div><div><br></div><div>You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.</div><div>You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.</div><div>Wherever you fly, you'll be the best of the best.</div><div>Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.</div><div><br></div><div>Except when you don't</div><div>Because, sometimes, you won't.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm sorry to say so</div><div>but, sadly, it's true</div><div>and Hang-ups</div><div>can happen to you.</div><div><br></div><div>You can get all hung up</div><div>in a prickle-ly perch.</div><div>And your gang will fly on.</div><div>You'll be left in a Lurch.</div><div><br></div><div>You'll come down from the Lurch</div><div>with an unpleasant bump.</div><div>And the chances are, then,</div><div>that you'll be in a Slump.</div><div><br></div><div>And when you're in a Slump,</div><div>you're not in for much fun.</div><div>Un-slumping yourself</div><div>is not easily done.</div><div><br></div><div>You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.</div><div>Some windows are lighted. But mostly they're darked.</div><div>A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!</div><div>Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?</div><div>How much can you lose? How much can you win?</div><div><br></div><div>And IF you go in, should you turn left or right...</div><div>or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?</div><div>Or go around back and sneak in from behind?</div><div>Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find,</div><div>for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.</div><div><br></div><div>You can get so confused</div><div>that you'll start in to race</div><div>down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace</div><div>and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,</div><div>headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.</div><div>The Waiting Place...</div><div><br></div><div>...for people just waiting.</div><div>Waiting for a train to go</div><div>or a bus to come, or a plane to go</div><div>or the mail to come, or the rain to go</div><div>or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow</div><div>or waiting around for a Yes or a No</div><div>or waiting for their hair to grow.</div><div>Everyone is just waiting.</div><div><br></div><div>Waiting for the fish to bite</div><div>or waiting for wind to fly a kite</div><div>or waiting around for Friday night</div><div>or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake</div><div>or a pot to boil, or a Better Break</div><div>or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants</div><div>or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.</div><div>Everyone is just waiting.</div><div><br></div><div>NO!</div><div>That's not for you!</div><div><br></div><div>Somehow you'll escape</div><div>all that waiting and staying.</div><div>You'll find the bright places</div><div>where Boom Bands are playing.</div><div><br></div><div>With banner flip-flapping,</div><div>once more you'll ride high!</div><div>Ready for anything under the sky.</div><div>Ready because you're that kind of a guy!</div><div><br></div><div>Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!</div><div>There are points to be scored. there are games to be won.</div><div>And the magical things you can do with that ball</div><div>will make you the winning-est winner of all.</div><div>Fame! You'll be famous as famous can be,</div><div>with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.</div><div><br></div><div>Except when they don't.</div><div>Because, sometimes, they won't.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm afraid that some times</div><div>you'll play lonely games too.</div><div>Games you can't win</div><div>'cause you'll play against you.</div><div><br></div><div>All Alone!</div><div>Whether you like it or not,</div><div>Alone will be something</div><div>you'll be quite a lot.</div><div><br></div><div>And when you're alone, there's a very good chance</div><div>you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.</div><div>There are some, down the road between hither and yon,</div><div>that can scare you so much you won't want to go on.</div><div><br></div><div>But on you will go</div><div>though the weather be foul</div><div>On you will go</div><div>though your enemies prowl</div><div>On you will go</div><div>though the Hakken-Kraks howl</div><div>Onward up many</div><div>a frightening creek,</div><div>though your arms may get sore</div><div>and your sneakers may leak.</div><div><br></div><div>On and on you will hike</div><div>and I know you'll hike far</div><div>and face up to your problems</div><div>whatever they are.</div><div><br></div><div>You'll get mixed up, of course,</div><div>as you already know.</div><div>You'll get mixed up</div><div>with many strange birds as you go.</div><div>So be sure when you step.</div><div>Step with care and great tact</div><div>and remember that Life's</div><div>a Great Balancing Act.</div><div>Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.</div><div>And never mix up your right foot with your left.</div><div><br></div><div>And will you succeed?</div><div>Yes! You will, indeed!</div><div>(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)</div></div><div><br></div>———————————————<br><br><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div><br></div></div></body></html>