Oh the Places I ... Stay

This month's writing/blogging contest on Scribbit (is it ON Scribbit, or BY Scribbit? The world may never know) is entitled "Going Places". Any one can enter, so long as they link back to the contest page. What fun! And the first thing which popped into my head was Dr. Seuss', Oh The Places You'll Go!

To quote the book:

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.

Every last bit of that quote is debatable. Let's dismantle it, shall we? Granted, we've come into summer full speed ahead (which I know Asthmagirl would argue, given her weather - hush AG and enjoy it while it lasts), and it's the time to travel. But given the current price of gas and the siding which needs to be replaced on our house this month, we're not going anywhere anytime soon.

You have brains in your head
Do I? Really? If I did, would I have taken this job as a psychiatric technician at the hospital for the mentally challenged (I don't know what to call crazy people - I don't think they've gone over that yet in training)? And would I have stayed in Florida for eleven years? I don't think so.

You have feet in your shoes
Now how do I argue with this, other than to say that I'm barefoot at the moment (which I'm really not - alas, my honest streak betrays me)? I guess this line is correct.

You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
Dr. Seuss had a mother at some point, right? Please say he did. He must not have paid much attention growing up, because being a mom means that other people often steer you. Take, for example, the day Little Guy threw up on the bus and the bus driver called me. I had plans that day. BIG plans. Okay, not really. I was probably only going to grocery shop or do laundry and read. But I COULD have had big plans. And it all would have been for naught. Little Guy throwing up steered the day. You moms know what I'm talking about. Our lives are no longer our own. And leaving it all is NOT an option. Love is funny that way, keeping you in a place where you've lost control.

You're on your own. And you know what you know.
Hello? See above. Not on my own. Ever. And if my kids are right, I don't know squat. Can I get an amen? I get stupider every day, according to them. It's come to the point that I almost believe it. Do I really know anything anymore? I don't think so. But I could be wrong, because, you know, I don't know what I'm talking about.

And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.
Hahahahah!!!! Was Dr. Seuss doing crack? About three percent of the time I get to decide where to go. The rest of the time I find myself telling other people where to go.

Wow. I didn't realize, till I read back over this, that I must be having a bad day. How sad. I love my kids. In their short lives we've been lots of places and had a great time. My favorite road trip was traveling from Orlando to central Louisiana to Tulsa to Tupelo, MS, to Atlanta back to Orlando in two weeks. We listened to nearly the entire book of the Hobbit on CD. The kids were pretty little, the Hunny had to work, so I was the only adult, and they were fantastic. We had a GREAT time. Hung out with family and friends. Saw the world.

Maybe that's the mood, given the topic. I love a good road trip and it doesn't look like one will happen anytime soon. Maybe this is a clue that I need to start planning, make sure one happens sometime this year. Thanks for letting me work through that with y'all. :)

Head over to Scribbit's, enter her contest, let me know when you've posted. I'd like to read your entry!

Until I write again ...

Flea