“No road is too long for him who advances slowly and does not hurry, and no attainment is beyond his reach who equips himself with patience to achieve it.” (Jean de La Bruyere ) on the path least traveled…

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 🙂 )

It is the 4th of July and as I quietly gaze upon the gardens..

I venture down memory lane thankful for living my life my way… 🙂

A time to contemplate the past
A time to give thanks…they say,
To relive treasured memories
Of each and every passing day.

Thanks for letting me feel love
Be it joy, or be it heartache,
To know someone’s love
A treasured feeling their love did make.

Thanks for letting me live life
To explore, to follow one’s dream,
To seek out and live every adventure
Not enough time in the day… it did seem.

Thanks for letting me meet friends
To share thoughts of love, hope..perhaps a tear,
And by going down the path together in friendship
Doing away with hate, anger….and fear.

Thanks for giving me the courage
To follow my own path…to be me,
To not follow someone else’s path
To live my own….. reality.

Thanks for giving me an open mind
As I venture down the path… allowing me,
To gaze upon life’s treasures, large and small
That many others do not see.

Thanks for giving me an open heart
Able to love, understand and forgive,
And when I grow too old to dream
A place where my memories will live.

Yes, I have much to be thankful for
And every day the list gets longer… you see,
As I venture down the path least traveled
Searching for what destiny… has waiting for me.
(Larry “Dutch” Woller 11-18-2018)

Ahhhhhhhhhh, those were the days…

Hello Diary,

Yes, it is the 4th of July but no fireworks, parades or parties here, just me and a bottle of wine..

Quietly reminiscing and browsing memories, and also contemplating the future….

I was not a king or president,
No powers did I hold,
I wasn’t a preacher or a pope,
No sermon for the fold.

So tell me , fate
You hold the key,
What is my destiny
Suppose to be?

I helped construct the IMPE building Champaign, Illinois during my years on construction..

Can no longer build cities
The back is tired and sore,
I was a soldier once
No longer have the heart for war.

Vietnam, 12th Marine Regiment 1965-1966..

I’ve tilled the soil as a farmer
Fed the world is what they say,
But I see the faces of hunger
Still this very day.

This stalk of corn came from one of our fields, I am standing between my Dad and sister…

I’ve donated time and money
Ask for nothing in return,
I see nothing has changed
Will they ever learn?

I am a sustaining donor to the Foodbank..

I’ve tilled the fields and went to war
Built cities and bridges and much more,
Has my destiny run it’s course
Fate, is there any more?

(Larry “Dutch” Woller)

“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” (Abraham Lincoln )

Well, I had better close for now…have quiet day of celebrating the freedom of living life.. …“Today I choose life. Every morning when I wake up I can choose joy, happiness, negativity, pain… To feel the freedom that comes from being able to continue to make mistakes and choices – today I choose to feel life, not to deny my humanity but embrace it.” (Kevyn Aucoin).. but I shall return again one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise…. 🙂

Yes, I may have to make and small adjustment from time to time, but I follow my dreams with a open mind and led by the heart.. Diary, never let go of your dreams “Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird, that cannot fly.” (Langston Hughes) and should doubt enter your mind remember “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)….

“When we begin to build walls of prejudice, hatred, pride, and self-indulgence around ourselves, we are more surely imprisoned than any prisoner behind concrete walls and iron bars.” (Mother Angelica) on the path least traveled…

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 🙂 )
Journey of Self Discovery…

It is a Friday morning ,

with a world in turmoil but here on the path there is hope and a dream… some thoughts from last year….

The new year is rapidly approaching
As I contemplate the tomorrow,
Leaving some memories filled with happiness
A few memories filled with sorrow.

I peer out my window
At a winter world cold and bleak,
A world of conflict, anger and hate
Mortals are suffering as I speak.

But we have a dream
Martin Luther King and I,
That one day there will be peace
No more mortals will die.

And there will be hope
Of a world filled with love one day,
A wish that could come true
For hope is the last to die…they say.

Not a world of race, color or gender
Nor closed minded ridicule or prejudice…you see,
But a world that respects another’s dream
Of what or who they wish to be.

So I peer out the window
Not with sadness or fear,
But a heart filled with a dream
That everyone has a wonderful new year.
(Larry “Dutch” Woller)

Hello Diary,

Haven’t been online much due to the daily storms, were out of power for a time yesterday, Thursday, but “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain”.. 🙂 more fortunate than others though… taking a break in the activities to share some thoughts…

Another holiday on the horizon, a day of remembrance for the fallen.. here on the path it is a day to remember everyone, not just the fallen, but those who have also suffered and a day to fill with love and peace…

Maybe No More Children Will Die

I set here looking at the news
The powers wanted peace they say,
And while they spoke, bombs were dropped
20 children died that day!

What’s wrong with this idea?
Why not give PEACE a try,
Let’s give it a go, everyone
Maybe no more children will die

Smiles on their faces, while shaking hands
Arms deals for defense would come into play,
A bomb went off in a crowded market
10 children died that day.

What’s wrong with this idea?
Why not give a world with LOVE a try,
Let’s give it a go, everyone
Maybe no more children will die

A war to end all wars, they said
Yet to war they always return,
Death, destruction, suffering and pain
Won’t they every learn?

What’s wrong with this idea?
Let’s give LEARNING a try,
Let’s give it a go, everyone
Maybe no more children will die.

Anger versus anger, hate versus hate
Seeds sown by war at home and away,
Starvation , sickness, a mother in tears
More and more children die every day.

What’s wrong with this idea?
Why not give PEACE, LOVE and LEARNING a try,
Let’s give it a go, everyone
Maybe no more children will die.
( Larry “Dutch” Woller, 9-17-2008)

To pause for thought and remembrance, but not linger long for there is the living…

“I gave all those (all races, gender, beliefs, religion) from all countries that perished in the Towers a time of thought and remembrance… but now it is time to move on, not live in the shadows of 9/11….. I cannot change the past, but I can help determine the future… I cannot help the dead but I can help the living.. (Larry “Dutch” Woller)

And to remember those who are trying to follow their dreams while dealing with man’s inhumanity against man…

“The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom”. Isaac Asimov

Well, I had better close for now, have a lull in the storm as they say, so will get on with the next adventure, have plenty of rainbows to check out.. 🙂 but I shall return again one day, fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise…

Have been there and done that (me sitting on the ground)..

Will take peace and love any day!.. 🙂

In Remembrance……

We were volunteers, one and all
So Noble.. Proud.. and Brave,
Did not know the reasons for war
Just a people from tyranny to save!

Glasses held high, we made an toast
Surely that Victory would rule the day!
While back at home, the voices of unrest
Not a kind word for us did they say.

Some could not vote, children were we
Some could not drink, but still our battle cry,
Even with all that we could not do
For us children, it was to do or die!

Vietnam was a hostile, violent land
The dangers, the horrors of war abound,
Whether the paddies of Vietnam or the fields of home,
Seemed for us, not a friend could be found.

But we proudly gave it our all
Faced our destiny, with a hint of fear of tomorrow
Some to return to a mother’s joy
Some to return to a mother’s sorrow.

So should you be looking on today
One more toast, hold your glasses high,
To PEACE, HOPE and LOVE, may they long endure
CHEERS, LADS AND LASSIES!!!.. And SEMPER FI

(penned on May 30, 2009 by; Sgt, Larry “Dutch” Woller
12th Marine Regiment
Vietnam, 1965–1966…)

“It is not the image without, but the love within that matters” on the path least traveled…

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 🙂 )

I woke up to a pleasant Saturday morning on the green side of the grass (not under it 🙂 )…

And ready to follow Hollianne Boucher’s advice…

Your chance to live is now, so what are you waiting for?
The world is yours for the taking and so much more.
Endless possibilities are forever at your disposal.
The chance to live another day is life’s golden proposal.

Never let anyone tear you down,
And never let anyone steal your shine and make you frown.
So will you sit in the shadows and let darkness win again?
Or will you rise up and make the light your friend?
(Hollianne Boucher)

And Mark Twain’s advice…
“It is not the size of the dog in a fight that matters, it is the size of the fight in the dog”.. Mark Twain

Hello Diary,

Tomorrow is Sunday, Easter Sunday for some in this universe and a time of celebration… I am not into religion myself, but if everyone were like me it would be a dull, mundane world indeed.. 🙂 for those of the faith ( and for everyone regardless of ones belief) hope that tomorrow (and every day) is filled with peace, love and happiness, life is all that you wish for it to be and your wishes and beliefs come true… 🙂

My late wife (married 51 years) Kathy..

Passed away near 2 weeks before Easter Sunday in 2015 after dealing with cancer for near 4 years… a few days before her passing she was visited by a Chaplain.. she (the Chaplain) ask Kathy if she had a religion and Kathy said “No”… she then ask Kathy if she believed in the hereafter and Kathy said “Yes”.. The Chaplain said “Good, it is what is in the heart that matters, not a name above a door”…

Sooooooooooo, Diary, whatever you may or not believe, whatever your dreams may be, perhaps consider the words of the Chaplain and also Roy T. Bennett; “Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.” ― Roy T. Bennett

And when one takes time to contemplate, every creature has dreams, knows love and heartbreak, knows sorrow and happiness, has had some days like diamonds and some days like stone, sooooooooo in spite of those who may believe otherwise, perhaps we are not so different… 🙂 “Maybe I’m not so different from everyone else after all. It’s like somebody gave me a puzzle, but I don’t have the box with the picture on it. So I don’t know what the final thing is supposed to look like. I’m not even sure if I have all the pieces.” Sharon M. Draper

And on Sunday I will not be dancing in the rain but waltzing among the tulips (and daylilies).. 🙂

In my not so secret garden…

I live in a not so secret garden
Along the path least traveled,
Quite unlike the other world
A world that has become unraveled.

A garden of peace and harmony
Being different does not matter here,
All creatures, big and small, living together
Unlike the other world, they do not live in fear.

Together we live the hand that Fate has dealt us
Not sure, or dwell, on our final destiny,
But live to enjoy the moment, the hour, the day
That is what life is about, don’t you see.

So into the not so secret garden I will venture
Along the path least traveled,
To find love, understanding, to follow one’s dreams
Unlike the other world unraveled.
(Larry “Dutch” Woller )

Being the free spirit that I am..

A Spirit Born Free…

While sipping a spot of tea
And relaxing in the morning time,
While contemplating my tomorrows
Thought I’d pen some thoughts that rhyme.

As I venture through my life
With each step, all the while being me,
An open mind, a heart of dreams
A spirit, enjoying being free.

A spirit that views another
As another feels, wishes to be,
In a realm of acceptance
So another can enjoy being free.

Free…. to love another
No color, gender or race,
Only to know and feel happiness
No social walls to face.

Free to live life as one chooses
Fallow a dream, the heart would say,
Free to walk ones own path of life
Filled with adventures along the way.

There are those who would color me different
Many to gaze upon me with dismay,
But unlike them, I’ve found happiness
Because I chose to live life my way.
(Larry “Dutch” Woller)

I had better close… life is calling, dreams to chase, adventures to find…busy, busy, busy… “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” -(Maria Robinson ).. but I shall return again one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise… 🙂

One more thing Diary… no matter who or where you are, no matter what you believe or not, no matter what dreams you have, for today, Sunday (and every day) do not let negative voices add darkness and doubt in your life, for in your own way you are beautiful and unforgettable…

“For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others.. For beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness.. And for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.” (Audrey Hepburn)
 

Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Pretty yellow black and white
They are precious in his sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world

Chorus; Everything is beautiful
In it’s own way
Like a starry summer night
On a snow covered winter’s day

Chorus; And everybody’s beautiful
In their own way
Under God’s heaven
The world’s gonna find a way

There is none so blind
As he who will not see
We must not close our minds
We must let our thoughts be free

For every hour that passes by
You know the world gets a little bit older
It’s time to realize that people lies
In the eyes of the beholder

Chorus…

We shouldn’t care about the length of his hair
Of the color of his skin
Don’t worry about what shows from without
But the love that lives within

We’re gonna get old again now
Everything is gonna work out fine
Just take a little time to the calm good side my friend
And spittle in out in your mind

Chorus..

Friendship and building bridges on the path least traveled….

Diary of the journey on the path least traveled..

( “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 🙂 ).

A Quiet Monday Morning…

A quiet Monday morning to wake up to
Sitting, gazing out, with a spot of tea,
Contemplating my tomorrows
Wondering, what will the future be.

A quiet Monday morning, a open mind
Thinking about the path, its mysteries many fold,
Each to explore and treasure
Soon a treasured memory to behold.

A quiet Monday morning, a open heart
Another day to learn and explore about me.
It is my life.. only get one chance
Will have to do it my way.. don’t you see.

A quiet Monday morning, being different
Reminding me of words from a song,
Where do I fit in, one asks
One wonders, where do I belong.

A quiet Monday morning, on the path
At the end of it, on the horizon, a lovely rainbow,
It is there my answers lie… the truth is known
Until then, only Fate will know.

A quiet Monday morning, spirit and mind at the ready
To seek the rainbow… perhaps around the next bend,
Once found, I’ll have my answers, you see
And that will be the beginning, not the end.
 
                           (Penned by Larry “Dutch” Woller )

Hello Diary,

It is a rainy gloomy morning weather wise but here on the path no gloom or doom… “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain”… 🙂 thought I would take a break from “dancing” and share a few thoughts about friendship….:) … friendship is like a bouquet from the garden…

A bouquet of flowers from my garden,
Their beauty need not be told,
Their fragrance is soothing and lovely
A pleasant scent for one to behold.

They remind me of you, my dear friend
Whose beauty from within you do share,
Sharing sunshine, understanding and laughter
Sowing the seeds of love and happiness in the air.

This bouquet was picked for you
For coming into my world, my dear friend,
For giving sunshine, laughter, love and happiness
For which I hope will never end.
(Penned by Larry “Dutch” Woller )

And friendship can come from any source.. like little Bree (she passed away in 2016)…

Bree

JUST MY DOG
He is my other eyes that can see above the clouds;
My other ears that hear above the winds.
He is the part of me that can reach out into the sea.

He has told me a thousand times over that I am his reason for being
By the way he rests against my leg
By the way he thumps his tail at my smallest smile
By the way he shows his hurt when I leave without taking him.
(I think it makes him sick with worry when he
is not along to care for me.)

When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive.
When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile.
When I am happy, he is joy unbounded.
When I am a fool, he ignores it.
When I succeed, he brags.
Without him, I am only another person.
With him, I am all-powerful.
He is loyalty itself.
He has taught me the meaning of devotion.
With him, I know a secret comfort and a private peace.
He has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant.
His head on my knee can heal my human hurts.
His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things.
He has promised to wait for me… whenever…wherever–in case I need him.
And I expect I will–as I always have.
He is just my dog.
(Author Gene Hill…)

Friendship knows no race, religion, belief, ideology…

“Becoming free is learning about yourself; the scared and the insecure, the brilliant and the bold. Embrace both and the journey is yours and yours alone. No longer are you following another’s directions and your path and purpose will present themselves. Only then might you find another wandering soul doing the same thing, who can walk with you but on their own journey. All of a sudden you might find a shared passion and a wrinkled map on the trail that makes sense.” Riitta Klint

Friendship knows no gender…

A Wish For my friend, a lady..

My wish for my friend, a lady
May her spirit always be free,
May her life be full of happiness
Laughter in her world will always be.

May her heart never know pain
No sorrow will her heart find,
To witness each and everyday with..
A open heart and peace of mind…

And when her mortal days are over
And to another life she will surely go,
She will be greeted by friends and loved ones
Trouble and suffering, she will no longer know…

This is my wish for my friend, a lady
For she is a dear friend, don’t you see,
And with each and everyday, I hope and wish
That a dear friend, she will forever be..
(Penned by Larry “ Dutch” Woller )

“You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing. After all, what’s a life, anyway? We’re born, we live a little while, we die. By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Goodness knows anyone’s life can stand a little of that.” E.B. White, Charlotte’s Web

“When a friend is in trouble, don’t annoy the friend by asking if there is anything you can do. Think up something appropriate and do it.”

“Life gives us brief moments with another, but sometimes in those brief moments we get memories that last a lifetime, So live that your memories will be part of your happiness.”

Well, I had better close, Diary… venture on down the path least traveled and see what adventures lie ahead…“I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how to sail my ship.” Louisa May Alcott … but I shall return again one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise….

Friendship is being there for someone when they find themselves in troubled waters…

When you’re weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes, I’ll dry them all (all)
I’m on your side, oh, when times get rough
And friends just can’t be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

When you’re down and out
When you’re on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you (ooo)
I’ll take your part, oh, when darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

Sail on silver girl
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
Oh, if you need a friend
I’m sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind

Friendship and love on the path least traveled…

Diary of the journey on the path least traveled..

( “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 🙂 ).

“Why is it we don’t always recognize the moment when love begins, but we always know when love ends “ (LA Story)

“Just because you feel someone does not love you as much as they should, does not mean they don’t give you all the love they have”..

“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.” Elbert Hubbard

“You don’t love the person you can live with, you love the person you cannot live without”…

Hello Diary,

Woke up to a sunny but cold wintry morning, thankfully no snow to deal with…holidays filled with rain so there is some flooding in places but hopefully all is well for the folks that have to deal with it… made it through the holidays Ok though the holiday doesn’t officially end until after the weekend here on the path…

As I gaze about this universe, while setting here sipping on a spot of tea, it has occurred to me that what the universe needs more of is love… love is a social term used to describe certain feelings between two or more creatures… I will share a few of my thoughts, Diary, and you will notice I shall refrain from using social terminology or labels… 🙂
The feeling (love) originates in the heart and is shared with another, like the two doves I encountered one day last year…

Ewwwwwwww, get a room… 🙂 a silent connection, a silent bond that comes to be over time and passes between spirits…

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” Helen Keller

That feeling that is often referred to here on the path least traveled as a silent invitation…

A Invitation..

I received a invitation one day
Oh, not your regular kind,
The words not spoken or written
But were in the heart and mind.

To share a love and happiness
A love, that is precious and true,
A happiness that is eternal
That only lovers and dreamers knew.

The invite did not come the regular way
No cards, no letters, no phone.. you see,
It just appeared one day
In the depths, the spirit and heart of me.

The invite came from an unknown
A unknown too great for me to behold,
But it was to be a precious beginning,
Of a story, one day to be told.

(penned by Larry “Dutch” Woller )

Perhaps that feeling will result in a lasting and eternal friendship..

“Love is the expansion of two natures in such fashion that each include the other, each is enriched by the other.” Felix Adler

Thoughts Of You, My Friend

The garden roses are red
The backyard violets are blue,
Brightness, delicacy, and warmth to behold
That starts me to think of you!

Your beauty, inside and out
That brightens the darkest skies,
Can feel the glowing warmth
Of your mysterious eyes!

And there are your thoughts
That I cherish and treasure,
That I value so highly
They are beyond measure!

You’re one who ventures ever forward
Facing life without dread or fear,
Yet not letting go of the precious past
Holding on to all that is dear,

A few thoughts of you, my friend
Coming from the heart
Thoughts that will never end
Even though in life, we may part.

(penned by Larry “Dutch” Woller,)

Perhaps feeling will result in a bonding of two spirits in a way like no other, a love eternal..

WHAT YOU MEAN TO ME…

Not enough words to tell you, my love
Words full of love from the heart,
But I have all eternity to try
This poem will be a start!

You are my everything, my love!
You mean the world to me!
Cannot see life without you
We, my love, were meant to be!

I bathe in your love, dear one
That grows stronger each and every day.
That warms my heart and spirit, sweetheart
With each loving word you say!

I awake in the morning, eagerly
Awaiting treasured words from thee,
To feel the precious warmth and love
You and your words do give to me!

Your love gives life a meaning, dear
Gives me a reason to greet the day,
Warms the very depths of my spirit
Keeps the nightly cold at bay!

At times distance may lay between us
No bounds nor distance….does our love know,
Knows no space or time, darling
As our love continues to grow.

My eternal devotion to you, you alone
Will be there always…forever and ever,
And I will love you so, my love!
Beyond the 12th of Never!!!

( Larry “Dutch” Woller)

Perhaps one day the universe will not be ruled by social labels and laws but by love from the heart and then this thought may come true; “When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.” Jimi Hendrix

Well, Diary…. I had better close and venture on down the path… have a few things to do, then relax the weekend before officially starting the new year Monday… but I shall return one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise…

Of course, one of the best ways to share feelings (love) is through music, something everyone can understand… 🙂

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” Plato

I’d like to build the world a home
And furnish it with love
Grow apple trees and honey bees
And snow white turtle doves

I’d like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony
I’d like to hold it in my arms
And keep it company

I’d like to see the world for once
All standing hand in hand
And hear them echo through the hills
For peace throughout the land

That’s the song I hear
Let the world sing today
A song of peace
That echoes on
And never goes away

I’d like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony

I’d like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony

A New Year And The Beginning Of A New Ending On The Path Least Traveled…..

Diary of the journey on the path least traveled..

( “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 🙂 ).

“A house that is built with patience, understanding and love will withstand the strongest winds of difficulties and conflict , a house built with haste and insincerity will collapse in a mere breeze of discontent.” (Larry “Dutch” Woller )

“I gave all those (all races, gender and religion) from all countries that perished in the Towers a time of thought and remembrance… but now it is time to move on, not live in the shadows of 9/11….. I cannot change the past, but I can help determine the future… I cannot help the dead but I can help the living.. (Larry “Dutch” Woller)

“No one can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending” Maria Robinson

“Life is complicated and not contained to a few ideologies or beliefs, therefore in order to better understand the universe, and me, I need to leave safe harbor and explore all of the universe, not just parts of it..…” (Larry “Dutch” Woller)

Hello Diary,

I am back for a moment… I have been enjoying the holidays, bringing Christmas to a close and preparing for the new year… it is a cold and gloomy wintry morning at present…

But the home and spirit is warm… 🙂 while dealing with life’s challenges and preparing for the future, took time to contemplate the future and what the future may bring… I penned some thoughts…

The new year is rapidly approaching
As I contemplate the tomorrow,
Leaving some memories filled with happiness
A few memories filled with sorrow.

I peer out my window
At a winter world cold and bleak,
A world of conflict, anger and hate
Mortals are suffering as I speak.

But we have a dream
Martin Luther King and I,
That one day there will be peace
No more mortals will die.

And there will be hope
Of a world filled with love one day,
A wish that could come true
For hope is the last to die…they say.

Not a world of race, color or gender
Nor closed minded ridicule or prejudice…you see,
But a world that respects another’s dream
Of what or who they wish to be.

So I peer out the window
Not with sadness or fear,
But a heart filled with a dream
That everyone has a wonderful new year.
(Larry “Dutch” Woller)

“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird, that cannot fly.” Langston Hughes

And some thoughts from history’s past….

It is down the path least traveled I do go
To a rainbow filled horizon I venture,
To seek, to learn, know peace, to enjoy life
A path filled with wonderful adventure.

A place where one is accepted as who they are
A spirit kindled to life, when mortal born,
A being coming from the depths within
And not subject to ridicule and scorn.

A place where I know freedom of thought and being
I am what I am, don’t you see,
Neither this one, neither that one, but all the above
In a mortal world, a free spirit, that’s me.

I do not travel the path alone, you see
There are memories and spirits to behold,
Spirits that share… the joy and sadness
As I gather more memories, down that least traveled road.

So how long will my journey be, one would ask
Will I see the end of the path…ever?
The answer, I believe, lies on the horizon
Somewhere past… the 12th of Never….

So shall bring my ramblings to an end
For there is one fact that I do know,
To reach the horizon, the 12th of Never
It’s down the path least traveled I must go!
(penned by Larry “Dutch” Woller )

“You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last chapter.”

Well, I had better close now, Diary… chores to do and dreams to follow.. but I shall return in the new year, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise…

In spite of the gloom, there is a wonderful world should one wish to look for it… 🙂

I see trees of green,
red roses too,
I see them bloom for me and for you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands
Saying, “How do you do?”
They’re really saying, “I love you.”

I hear babies cry, I watch them grow
They’ll learn much more than I’ll ever know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself
What a wonderful world

Merry Christmas Fate, wherever you are…

Diary of the journey on the path least traveled..

( “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 🙂 ).

“I have a greater peace of mind by being straightforward and truthful about myself, with open heart and mind, knowing the outcome being uncertain, rather than to wake up tomorrow morning and have to deal with a falsehood I told yesterday.” (Larry “Dutch” Woller )

“Everyday on the path least traveled brings change, that change presents a new challenge, mentally and physically… as to how to accept it and deal with it, determines what I am to become, generates an excitement about living a second of time and looking forward to what the next second of time brings, a day filled with adventure and mystery.” Larry “Dutch” Woller

“I am what I am, venturing down the path of life, following my dreams, chasing rainbows and leaving safe harbor to boldly go where I have not been before”… (Larry “Dutch” Woller)

I was not a king or president,
No powers did I hold,
I wasn’t a preacher or a pope,
No sermon for the fold.

So tell me , fate
You hold the key,
What is my destiny
Suppose to be?

Can no longer build cities
The back is tired and sore,
I was a soldier once
No longer have the heart for war.

So tell me, fate
You hold the key,
What is my destiny
Suppose to be?

I’ve tilled the soil as a farmer
Fed the world is what they say,
But I see the faces of hunger
Still this very day.

So tell me, fate
You hold the key,
What is my destiny
Suppose to be?

I’ve donated time and money
Ask for nothing in return,
I see nothing has changed
Will they ever learn?

So tell me, fate
You hold the key,
What is my destiny
Suppose to be?

I’ve tilled the fields and went to war
Built cities and bridges and much more,
Has my destiny run it’s course
Fate, is there any more?

So tell me, fate
You hold the key,
What is my destiny
Suppose to be?
(Larry “Dutch” Woller)

We will meet again one day, Fate… until then, Merry Christmas wherever you are….

“No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life, and the heart, does go on, and it will be a better tomorrow…” in the holiday mode on the path least traveled….

Diary of the journey on the path least traveled..

( “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 🙂 ).

“Love knows no bounds or time, love is the spirit of the heart, love is the life support of hope, love is the force behind compassion, love is the foundation for true friendships, relationships….without love, life has no meaning”…. (Larry “Dutch” Woller)

Christmas Is Coming, White Or Not…….

Tis rain and fog, not a snowflake in sight
Looks more like Christmas in Hawaii, and this I fear,
With the weather forecast in hand
May not be a white Christmas this year!

The tree is trimmed, not as many lights this year
The presents are fewer, but tis the thought that counts,
Maybe not as plentiful, but food is prepared
As Christmas draws near and excitement mounts!

The spirit is in the air, the weather not to matter
And I am caught up in the spirit, I must confess,
So white or no, Merry Christmas to ALL!
And may all your presents be filled…. with love and happiness!!
( Larry “Dutch” Woller, )

Hello Diary,

It is a Friday before Christmas day and it doesn’t look much like a Bing Crosby White Christmas… 🙂

But we will take here on the path… week near finished and before going into full holiday mode, going down the list, checking it twice… 🙂 leaves gathered, check!.. laundry done, check!. errands done, check!.. Christmas morning breakfast ready for the microwave…

Check!… Christmas dinner ready for microwave….

Check!… tree trimmed and presents under…

Check!… decorations finished…

Check!… Received a letter (and Christmas card) from Feed America and Wells Fargo yesterday saying they will triple my donation, so got into the piggy bank again and hopefully a child will have a bright holiday…“When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.” Helder Camara

Check!… Received a card from the Cunningham Children’s home yesterday with holiday wishes and decided to once again help out with another donation..“Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.” Dwight D. Eisenhower

Check!.. got the weather forms ready and organized for 2019… 🙂

Check!… got holiday romance books (along with Climbing Over Grit and Dog Bone Soup) downloaded on the Kindle for the holiday…

Check!… the forecast for Christmas day is chance of rain and maybe some snow mixed in.. Sooooooooooo to brighten the day and keeping with the holiday theme on the path least traveled, the clothes of choice are..

Check!.. and finally, to add a little color to the holiday and support for cancer research, pink is the color of choice for the nails…

Check!…. The list is complete, can now venture into a full holiday mode, relax, perhaps browse a Christmas past or two, maybe write a poem or two if mood permits and contemplate what the new year may bring… “For time and the world do not stand still. Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future.” John F. Kennedy

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language
And next year’s words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.” T.S. Eliot

“No one can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending” Maria Robinson

That being said I will close now, Diary.. will enjoy the holiday and think of those that are not as fortunate as I and hope their world will become a better place.. may pop in briefly from time to time but will not return until after Christmas day… I shall return again one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise…

Have a wonderful holiday, Diary, may it be all that you wish for it to be and each and every day be filled with love and happiness…“It is not easy to find happiness within ourselves, and it is not possible to find it elsewhere.” Agnes Repplier

Giving, humor and Santa is watching you on the path least traveled…

Diary of the journey on the path least traveled..

( “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 🙂 ).

The Gift of Giving… Frank Sonnenberg

Give out of love, not obligation.
Give when it’s least expected.
Give without strings attached.
Give from your heart.
Give of yourself.
Give to show that you care.
Give help without causing helplessness.
Give something that makes personal sacrifice.
Give to make a difference.
Give without keeping score.
Give for no reason at all.
Give a little if you can’t give a lot.
Give without attracting attention to yourself.
Give without being asked.
Give of your experience.
Give to those who need it most.

Hello Diary,

Well, it is a Monday morning, the holiday continues… a bit cloudy and cold this morning but sun later perhaps… yesterday the sun were out with a bit of fog but pleasant though cool…

I expect there are those who are taking advantage of the pleasant weather to do errands and shopping.. had a relaxing weekend after a busy week, now preparing for the next year… taking a moment from the activities to share a few thoughts… the holiday is also about giving… had a surprise visit from a young couple who lives down the street.. do not know their last name or very little about them but they stopped in over the weekend and gave me a present… a cute small pail and a card.. “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Inside was a delicious party mix that they made themselves…

I were caught by surprise so I did not have a card, but I did have a 3 pound canned ham that I purchased a short time back for special occasion and that special occasion arrived… 🙂 I gave them the ham and apologized for not having a card…. while thinking of Santa and the reindeer, a short time back I posted a rare occurrence of a couple of reindeer in the neighborhood…

I am wondering now if they were Santa’s reindeer on a mission… Hmmmmmmmmmm.. 🙂 yes, love, dreams, hope, giving, all part of the holiday… but humor has a place in the holiday season also… I penned these thoughts…

The 4th of July Holiday May Be Easier..

It were a few days before Christmas
With a half decorated tree,
No one were stirring
Not even me…

Still in my pajamas
All snuggled in bed,
With visions of winning the lottery
Dancing in my head…

There were a loud noise
And I awoke with a start,
I shuffled to the windows
The curtains I did part.

Was it 9 tiny reindeer
With a jolly elf dressed in red?
Disappointment in the air
It were the garbage collector instead.

I ventured to the kitchen
For a spot of tea and some toast,
Opened the fridge to find
A turkey and dressing to roast.

Ventured to the room with the tree
The room warmed by the morning sun,
At a glance I realized with a frown
That there’s dusting to be done.

In the corner were the vacuum
Looking so forlorn,
It needs to be run
Some time before Christmas morn.

Presents needing paper, ribbons
Bows and all that matter,
I stand outside with rake in hand
A yard full of leaves to gather.

A present under the tree
Could it be my favorite toy?
Then a thought came to mind
I may be too tired to enjoy… sighhhhh
(Larry “Dutch” Woller)

Well, I had better close.. life is calling and I need to answer the call to see what life wants… plus there are dreams to follow… so Diary, I wish you a Great start for Mon, Love for Tues, Peace for Wed, No worries for Thurs, Fun for Fri, Joy for Sat, Happiness for Sun. Have a wonderful week, and I shall return again one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise…

Ray Stevens says you best not be naughty ‘cause Santa is watching you… 🙂

A perfect Christmas on the path least traveled…

Diary of the journey on the path least traveled..

( “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 🙂 ).

Hope…

Let me but live my life from year to year,
With forward face and unreluctant soul;
Not hurrying to, nor turning from the goal;
Not mourning for the things that disappear
In the dim past, nor holding back in fear
From what the future veils; but with a whole
And happy heart, that pays its toll
To Youth and Age, and travels on with cheer.

So let the way wind up the hill or down,
O’er rough or smooth, the journey will be joy:
Still seeking what I sought when but a boy,
New friendship, high adventure, and a crown,
My heart will keep the courage of the quest,
And hope the road’s last turn will be the best.
(Henry Van Dyke )

Hello Diary,

It is a Friday morning, a gloomy morning outdoors… definitely doesn’t seem like winter holidays, unless one is in the Caribbean.. Took this photo a 7:30 AM this morning…

Nonetheless, the holiday spirit is in the air on the path least traveled… though presents and food is a part of, it is not about the holidays… it is about hope, as Mr. Van Dyke penned it… it is also about dreams.. “Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird, that cannot fly.” Langston Hughes … I believe Mr. Raines has some thoughts about dreams…

Dreams..
There’s a place where I go that no one else knows,
Where mysteries abound and excitement grows.
A place out of reach of any man’s hands,
Safely secluded in a far away land

Beyond the grasp of those who may plunder
The wealth of its power and its life changing wonder.
I go alone to my secret place, never leaving a trace
For someone to follow and discover my space

Where I keep my secrets, my fears, and my regrets
Away from the world and all of its threats.
It’s mine and mine alone!
The only place I can call my own.

I treasure the moments spent in this realm
Where anything is possible and I’m at the helm.
This place I describe is all that it seems …
It’s a magical place I call my dreams.
(John Raines)

Dreams are the fuel that guides one to their destiny… “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

Also did a bit of decorating around the hearth… no lights, just a bit of garland, some flowers and bows and a imagination… 🙂

Santa won’t use the chimney this year, don’t want to get his new suit dirty before the big day.. And because he wanted to spend more time with the little folk, he came by here early and used the backdoor when I were at the post office… 🙂

The holidays are also about love…“The moment you have in your heart this extraordinary thing called love and feel the depth, the delight, the ecstasy of it, you will discover that for you the world is transformed.”. Jiddu Krishnamurti … and here on the path holiday (or any day) love is not about decorations, presents, food, etc…
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” Helen Keller

I penned some thoughts in a holiday poem.. 🙂

A Holiday Poem…

As Christmas approaches, my love
One contemplates not the day,
But all the years of memories and thoughts
That one acquired along the way.

Memories filled with sadness, sorrow perhaps
Memories with happiness and joy, my dear
Memories to bring out the laughter
Memories to bring out a tear.

A special day and one to treasure, my love
And not because of the calendar age,
Because a life of memories and thoughts
Will be adding another page!

Even though if a distance and time apart
It will be a day that we will share,
Our love knows no time or distance
Be assured, my love, I will be there!

It will become our memory, and we will share
Christmas day, every day…… forever,
Because of our love eternal
Beyond…………. the 12th of Never!!

Merry Christmas, my love!
(Larry “Dutch” Woller)

Well, I had better close… “hoping” for a wonderful holiday with happiness for everyone, that “dreams” come true and “love” is in the air… but I shall return again one day, Fate be willin’ and the creeks don’t rise….

“Life gives us brief moments with another, but sometimes in those brief moments we get memories that last a lifetime, So live that your memories will be part of your happiness.”

My idea of a perfect Christmas
Is to spend it with you
In a party or dinner for two
Anywhere would do
Celebrating the yuletide season
Always lights up our lives
Simple pleasures are made special too
When they’re shared with you

Looking through some old photographs
Faces and friends we’ll always remember
Watching busy shoppers rushing about
In the cool breeze of December
Sparkling lights all over town
Children’s carols in the air
By the Christmas tree
A shower of stardust on your hair

I can’t think of a better Christmas
Than my wish coming true
And my wish is that you’d let me spend
My whole life with you