Subject: OUR LEGACY BY SHELDON & HAZEL HELL

In tribute to our Uncle Sheldon, who wanted to pass a legacy on to all of us, I am publishing this little booklet.  Some may have copies as he handed them out to everyone: Little Orange book.  

"OUR LEGACY"

BY

SHELDON & HAZEL HELLE

1982

To my children, my grandchildren, my relatives, and friends, To America: I owe a debt for the opportunity it gave me to be free and to be me.  I leave you everything worthwhile that I had in my lifetime, A good family, respect for learning, compassion for my fellow man, and some words for all occasions: Words like help, give, care, feel and love.

I leave you the years I would like to have lived so that I might have seen whether your generation will bring more love and peace to the world than mine did.  I not only hope you will, but I also pray you will.

I also hope you, my family, will always be compassionate for those who are less fortunate, even if they have less will power or strength.  In the long trail, I believe, you will be happier if you forgive those you feel have done you a wrong.

I have fought for "principle" all of my life.  But I have felt that holding a family together is always more important than "principle."

In my days on the farm I shocked oats, wheat and corn.  I learned that a shock of grain was strong and would withstand the winds only if many bundles were leaning on one another.  A corn shock was stronger because it always had some roots still firmly in the ground.  If all were taken apart and stood alone, they would fall in the first wind.

Always remember:  Be sure you are right then go ahead.  Be sure you are wrong before you quit.

Today as I am close to the Autumn years of life, I am sixty-eight years of age, I read the following poem many years ago.  I see where this poem could be interpreted to mean the life we have lived as well as the day we have spent.  It is now more special than ever.

"IS ANYBODY HAPPIER"

Is anybody happier

Because you passed this way?

Does anybody remember

That you spoke to him today?

The day is almost over

And the toiling time is through,

Is there anyone to utter now

A kindly word to you?

Did you waste the day or lose it

Was it well or poorly Spent?

Did you leave a trail of kindness

Or a scar of discontent?

As you close your eyes in slumber

Did you think that God would say?

You have earned one more tomorrow

By the work you did today.

Author Unknown

At the time this is being written, I expect to be here a long time yet, but also realize life is very uncertain and death is absolute.  So, I decided I should put on paper how I feel and let it be known how grateful I am for my wife's and my children's love and loyalty all these 46 years.  She supports me in leaving these thoughts with the people we care about.

Sheldon & Hazel Helle

POINTS TO PONDER BY SHELDON L. HELLE

As we continue down the walk through Memory Lane, I have located a little book of Uncle Sheldon's called "Points to Ponder".  It was written in December 1977.    There is a poem that he wanted to share, a favorite of his that he kept for many years that I would like to share.      Sharon

The Past Gets in My Eyes

My hair is getting' light again

I think of time that flies

The time that's linked with dreams

And then the past gets in my eyes.

It seems like it was yesterday

And I was young again

A boy who had the world t' beat,

Just goin' on t' ten

I see the old familiar haunts

The orchard by the lane,

The barnyard where I used t' play

And fields of golden grain

Across my vision passes too

The things my age denies

As time flies by it seems that more

The past gets in my eyes.

Those yesterdays of happy youth,

Those days so full of fun

Were but the stepping stones I've used

For things I have done.

And as they keep recurring in

The scenes that I recall

But something yet that saddens when

The past gets in my eyes

By Fred toothaker