Diary of the journey on the path least traveled..just letting the heart do the talking while the fingers do the walking while being different, being me… 🙂
( “I do not do, say or write something to been seen or heard… I do, say or write something because it needed to be done, said or written…” , no nominations please, just sharing thoughts while exploring life 🙂 ).. 🙂
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road your trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit Rest if you must, but don't you quit. Life is queer with its twists and its turns, As everyone of us sometimes learns, And many a failure turns about When they might have won, had they stuck it out. Don't give up though the pace seems slow, You may succeed with another blow. Often the struggler has given up When he might have captured the victors cup; And he learned too late when the night came down, How close he was to the golden crown. Success is failure turned inside out The silver tint of the clouds of doubt And you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems so far; So stick to the fight when your hardest hit, It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit! (Wade Watts)
Hello Diary,
Yes, a life without dreams is a life without purpose indeed and following ones dreams can be difficult at times… I know in the past I have championed listening to one’s heart and following ones dreams and I am not just saying things to hear myself talk… I have witnessed life’s challenges while following my dreams and while the path may not have been smooth and I may have had to adjust my sails, I still followed my heart and dreams…. 🙂
I grew up on a farm here on the prairies in the 1940’s, 1950’s and early 1960’s ( I am standing, my brother is sitting).. 🙂

Having had to deal with two world conflicts, wealth not being what it is today (there were no such thing as credit cards, etc.), knowledge and technology being what it was, we, as a family, did not have a great deal but I had my dreams, and I followed them through the good days and bad, through sickness and health.. Had to deal with polio, measles, smallpox and numerous other diseases… tornadoes, winter storms and other weather events under rather primitive conditions compared today… 🙂
Did not have computers, etc. and our phone looked like this one, had to turn the handle to contact the operator and tell the operator who one wished to talk to, there were no texting… 🙂

The radio looked much like this one, spent most of our time listening to it, Mom who listen to the soap operas on the radio instead of watching… 🙂

Television was a rarity in the prairies and we finally got a tv when I were around 10 years old, it looked like this tv, the screen was about 10 inches square and we could get 3 channels that would come on the air at sunrise and go off the air at sunset… 🙂

I left the farm in the middle 1960’s and joined the USMC… I married the love of my life and with about a year and a half left in my tour, our son came into our life, two days after he were born I received orders to go to Vietnam, he was 3 weeks old when I left and I was a stranger… 🙂

I spent about 13 months in Vietnam where I were shot at and missed, s – – t on and hit but I returned home relatively unscathed and to my son I was still a stranger .. (that is me sitting on the ground).. 🙂

As a family we started to follow our dreams together, our daughter came into our lives to complete our family… 🙂

Together, through the good times and bad, we ventured down the path following our dreams, dealing with issues including the weather, a tornado occurred in 1996, the photo were taken about 2 blocks from our house, fortunately we suffered no severe damage.. 🙂

Knowledge and technology was improving, in 1997 we got on the internet with a dial-up computer with 10 megabytes of memory…. and we got a prototype of the future cell phones, it were called a bag phone, not always dependable and one still could not text.. 🙂

The kids scattered to the winds in search of their destinies, Kathy and I continued on down the path to follow our dreams together and in the spring of 2015, after dealing with cancer, Kathy decided her time in the mortal world was done and her spirit left to follow her dreams and in December of 2015, at the age of 95, my Mom decided she should join Kathy… I continued on but not with a heavy heart but a heart filled with memories for when I grow to old to dream and the words I know that Kathy would say to me.. 🙂 When tomorrow starts without me And I’m not here to see, If the sun should rise and find your eyes Filled with tears for me. I wish so much you wouldn’t cry The way you did today, While thinking of the many things We didn’t get to say. I know how much you love me As much as I love you, And each time you think of me I know you’ll miss me too. When tomorrow starts without me Don’t think we’re far apart, For every time you think of me I’m right there in your heart. (Alena Hakala Meadows)
I may have gotten a little long winded here but with today’s world in turmoil, etc. I have been there and done that, have gotten knocked down and still got up and did not quit.. and YOU can do the same, if you have a open mind and follow your heart… You can follow the advice of Steve Jobs and Annie.. 🙂
“Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living the result of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinion drown your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition, they somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary” (Steve Jobs )
Or, that of Joel Brown and Rachel Platten… “The only thing that stands between you and your dream is the will to try and the belief that it is actually possible.” ( Joel Brown)… 🙂
Or that of Mary Kay Ash and Freedom Fry… “If you think you can, you can. And if you think you can’t, you’re right” (Mary Kay Ash)… 🙂
Well, I had better quit rambling as there are dreams to follow and adventures await while I deal with life’s challenges… but I shall return again one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise… 🙂 You can be a girl or boy on fire and follow your dreams but only if you want t0... 🙂 until we meet again.. May the love that you give Always return to you, That family and friends are many And always remain true, May your mind only know peace No suffering or strife, May your heart only know love and happiness On your journey through life. (Larry “Dutch” Woller)
Wow – what a journey! Love the pictures of the old technology. Isn’t it funny to consider how much things can change in a lifetime? Thanks for sharing this hope and inspiration!!
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Thank you for visiting and kind words!!.. yes, many things change in a lifetime but one thing does not change is the heart… 🙂
Until we meet again..
May the dreams you hold dearest
Be those which come true
May the kindness you spread
Keep returning to you
(Irish Saying)
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Thank you for sharing your memories of the “old days” and the power of love during both good and difficult times, Dutch.💜
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Thank you for visiting and kind words!!.. cannot imagine a world without love… 🙂
Until we meet again..
May you always walk in the sunshine
May you never want for more
May Irish angels rest their wings
Right beside your front door.
(Irish Saying)
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💜
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Amazing share! Interesting! Big love, what a journey…Dutch.
Thank’s for open your heart. Love old photos! Have a wonderful day!
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Thank you for visiting!!.. glad you enjoyed your visit!!.. 🙂
Hope your path is paved with love and until we meet again..
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!
(Irish Saying)
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Always a pleasure, dear Dutch.
Have a lovely weekend! 🙂
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Love the way you put things in their right perspective. What perfect sentiments by Alena Hakala Meadows for those who have lost a loved one!
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Thank you for visiting!!. glad you enjoyed your visit!.. I just follow my heart… 🙂
Until we meet again..
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!
(Irish Saying)
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Hi Larry,
Thank you for sharing your journey so far. I feel I know you much better now. You have been through a lot, but has not become bitter. Instead you choose to spread love and wisdom.
I love the pictures!
Keep being you! Blessings!
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Thank you for stopping by and kind words!!.. glad you enjoyed your visit!!… 🙂
Until we meet again..
May your troubles be less
Your blessings be more
And nothing but happiness
Come through your door
(Irish Saying)
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Hi, Dutch. I really enjoyed seeing the old technology and the poems, too.
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Thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoyed your visit!!.. 🙂
Until we meet again…
May your troubles be less
Your blessings be more
And nothing but happiness
Come through your door
(Irish Saying)
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I remember my grandparents’ huge old radio, which was mainly Long Wave with lots and lots of faraway radio stations, right across Europe as far as the Iron Curtain, as it was in those days. You certainly have a lot of memories, and it was good to hear briefly about Vietnam from “somebody who was there” not somebody who has read about it and then written a book.
And Steve Jobs is 100% correct “Your time Is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma”. Too many people are doing exactly that.
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Thank you for stopping by and kind words!!.. the holidays are a good time to venture down memory lane and I especially like to compare the past with today… 🙂
Hope your path is paved with love and happiness and until we meet again..
May your troubles be less
Your blessings be more
And nothing but happiness
Come through your door
(Irish Saying)
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Dutch, I used to love that song “High Hopes!” I first heard it on a Laverne & Shirley episode, and memorized.
Thanks also for sharing your journey and memories.
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Thank you for visiting and kind words!!… 🙂
Hope all is well in your world and you and family have the most wonderfulest Happiest Thanksgiving ever and until we meet again…
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!
(Irish Saying)
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Thanks so much for sharing your journey, Larry, and how it made you who you are today. I loved the photos, especially of you when you were small. 🙂
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Thank you for stopping by and glad you enjoyed your visit!!.. 🙂
Hope you and your family have the wonderfulest Happy Thanksgiving ever and until we meet again…
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!
(Irish Saying)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing your heart filled with memories, I love the pictures. Great and inspiring post, thank you for that too. Wishing you many more happiness on your journey ahead.
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Thank you for stopping by and kind words!!.. 🙂
Hope your path is paved with love and happiness and until we meet again..
May the dreams you hold dearest
Be those which come true
May the kindness you spread
Keep returning to you
(Irish Saying)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember having only three channels on the TV and shows were mostly in black and white, but we enjoyed them. Thanks for sharing your family history and photos. And thank you for the words of hope and inspiration.
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Thank you for visiting and kind words!.. memories help us through troubled waters… 🙂
Hope your path is paved with love and happiness and until we meet again..
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!
(Irish Saying)
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🙂
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