Re: Poem about Holland

[Guest guest]

There is suppose to be another poem out there I know I've read it about after

you've been to Holland and the experience. I know I have it some where in my

home files; but not sure where. I'm pretty sure if you type in the search Trip

to Holland you may come up with it. Both poems are very good and just lets you

look at life in general.

Nerenhausen

mom to Leah

Dan and Heidi Payton wrote:

> I think that this may be what you are looking for.

>

> Heidi Payton

>

> Welcome To Holland

>

> by

>

> Perl Kingsley

>

> c1987 by Perl Kingsley. All rights reserved.

>

>

> I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a

> disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique

> experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like

> this......

>

> When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation

> trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful

> plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo . The gondolas in Venice. You may

> learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

>

> After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your

> bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess

> comes in and says, " Welcome to Holland. "

>

> " Holland?!? " you say. " What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm

> supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy. "

>

> But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and

> there you must stay.

>

> The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible,

> disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just

> a different place.

>

> So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new

> language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have

> met.

>

> It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than

> Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath,

> you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has

> windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

>

> But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all

> bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of

> your life, you will say " Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what

> I had planned. "

> And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because

> the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.

>

> But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to

> Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely

> things ... about Holland.

>

>

> Please contact mito-owner with any problems or questions.

>

>