Impossible Dream - A Poem of Simplicity

 

Impossible Dream

A Poem of Simplicity 

I dreamed a dream
One that could never become true.

And once I saw it — in the light of day —
I knew something was missing,
not just in my life,
But somewhere deep inside of me.

I reached for it anyway,
A desperate hope,
knowing it would slip through,
for the dream is already out of reach.

Still I reached.
Still I tried.

Knowing it was beyond me,
But the hope was there,
Silly as that might seem to some.

I would be forever reaching —
This much I knew.

Yet the trying, the striving,
Might bring something new.

Not the dream itself,
But something close.

Not the same, but the same,
In ways I can’t explain.

You’d have to be me to understand.

For the dream is mine alone.
Unreachable, yes.
But mine just the same.

Always reaching.
Always dreaming.
Always hoping.
Never gaining.

And maybe that’s okay too.

If you were me,
You’d probably try too —
For my impossible dream.

Copyright September 2025 M. W. Van Dyke
All Rights Reserved

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Author’s Note

Impossible Dream – A Poem of Simplicity

I don’t usually explain my poetry. But this time, I’ll offer a few thoughts — not to define the meaning, but to suggest the shape.

This poem is written in first-person, not to tell my story, but to invite yours. Each reader brings their own reach, their own dream, and their own distance. The voice is deliberately ageless — no sage wisdom, no youthful longing. What remains are the innate things: hope, belief, and determination.

All dreams are impossible dreams. That’s what makes them dreams. When we reach for them, when we make them real, they change. They are no longer dreams, and no longer impossible. They are the same, but not the same. And only we know how far we reached.

This poem isn’t about triumph. It’s about the motion of trying — how even unreachable dreams leave a trace. Whether you're young and just beginning to reach, or older and still reaching, the dream remains yours. And maybe that’s enough.

— M. W. Van Dyke

____________________________________

Footprints Behind Me - A Poem of the Truths of Me

 

Footprints Behind Me

A Truth of Me

I see,
I learn,
I read,
And I ponder, endlessly.

There is nothing set in stone,
Not to me.
I hold dear the eraser, and the chisel.

I have learned many truths,
That turned out to be... temporary.
Understandings of the moment.
None have proven to be... universal.

The tide changes the beach, ever,
Imperceptibly.
But change it, it does,
Often beyond my understanding.

What I see in front of me,
That is in front of me,
And not the entirety.
Most of what is, exists beyond me.
I do not see the changes I make,
The footprints of my passing,
Because they are behind me.
I am a tide. I rarely remember that.
The butterfly effect is never seen by the butterfly,
Or the one that passed on over it.

I have changed lives,
As others have changed mine.
Few of us aware of the doing,
But often, blindly, we blame,
Innocently or not.
We blame forward,
Because we do not look behind us,
At our own footprints in the sand.

I have learned that love is not eternal,
But often fondness remains instead.
I have learned that what I have felt,
And learned, and loved, and held dear,
And I was taught to believe,
Often became untrue.

Often. How often I use that word.
How often my life has revolved around it,
Even unbeknownst to me.
Often, it seems, uses me more than I use it.

I realize of myself that I am no longer who I used to be,
But know that others, society, will never forgive me,
For who I used to be. Revision, not often in the ability.
There are records that never can be changed, willfully.
Forever blamed for my... chemistry.

I see. I've seen.
I learn. I've learned.
I read. I've read.
And I've pondered, endlessly.

I have learned many truths,
Often they turned out to be... temporary.

There is nothing set in stone,
Not to me, or for me,
Except my own history,
Which I do not myself own.
Apparently.

And still—
I have yet to discover one that is... universal.
Or eternal.

But all I can do is go on as me,
And try to be more aware,
Of my footprints behind me.

Copyright September 2025 M. W. Van Dyke
All Rights Reserved

Footnote

Butterfly Effect (revised):

Influence is not always gentle.

The flap of wings may change the world.

So might the sole that crushed them.

Neither the butterfly nor the passerby ever knows.

When It’s Time to Empty the Nest - Step Up or Step Out

 I read a post here that stuck with me: 

A woman is caring for her elderly parents while also housing her two grown sons, ages 28 and 31. Both are unemployed. Neither contributes to rent or food. She’s relying on food pantries and still coming up short.

She finally told her sons they’d need to start paying or leave. Her mother overheard and called her a bad mother, saying she’d leave with them.

She’s not married. She’s the only one holding the house together. And she’s asking if she’s wrong for expecting grown men to contribute.

__________________________________________

I had something to say about that. I only share my reply here by request, and for others who might need to see it.

___________________________________________

Let’s start with the truth — your sons didn’t become this way overnight. This is their normal. They were allowed, not directed. They were accommodated, not challenged. And now, at 28 and 31, they have no jobs, no drive, no urgency — because the house has never required it.

If nothing changes, they’ll still be there at 40. And your mother? She’s used to them being there too. That’s her normal. She’s not helping you raise men — she’s helping you keep them dependent.

This is enabling — full stop.

But let’s also be real — kicking them out cold won’t magically grow them up. They don’t have the mindset or the life skills — not yet. And in this modern world, where survival takes hustle and grit, they’re not equipped. That’s not all your fault — but it is your reality.

It’s called entitlement. Not the loud kind — the quiet kind that grows when expectations are never set and consequences are always delayed. It was allowed to take root. It’s a mindset shaped by comfort without accountability, proximity without responsibility. Spoiled into it — not by intent, but by omission. That’s the truth.

So here’s the first shift:  

Stop calling it “help.”  

Covering their own food and living expenses isn’t helping you. It’s basic adulthood. “Help” is what happens after they meet their own responsibilities. And they’re not watching their grandparents — they’re simply present. That’s not caregiving. That’s proximity. Stop pretending they’re earning their keep. They’re not. That lie is costing you.

And let’s drop the fantasy:  

You’re not renting out rooms.  

You’re caring for elderly parents. Dementia is in the mix. No one’s moving in. That’s not a viable plan — it’s a placeholder for the hope that things will change without confrontation.

So here’s what confrontation looks like:

“No more. I’m sorry we didn’t do right by you when you were younger — didn’t drive you, didn’t direct you. I’m doing it now, before it’s too late.  

You have 30 days to find a job or find somewhere else to live and eat. If you don’t, I will file eviction proceedings.  

You have 45 days from today to start paying your share of rent, utilities, and food. If you need two jobs, get two jobs. Clean floors at McDonald’s if you have to.  

Part-time work won’t cut it. It’s time to step up — or step out.”

This isn’t cruelty — it’s clarity.  

This isn’t abandonment — it’s accountability.  

This isn’t a threat — it’s a correction.

And for every caregiver reading this — silence doesn’t protect you. It just prolongs the cost. Boundaries aren’t betrayal. They’re the only way to survive with your sanity intact.

I feel for you. I know this is hard — and it will be hard. You don’t want to be hard-nosed, but this is about survival. You’re out digging for potatoes and roots in frozen ground while two able-bodied men — boys — sit inside, warm and waiting for you to provide. This caregiving is going to get harder, not easier. And our lives are going to get harder with age and the economy. It’s time to start caring for yourself first — because it’s clear there’s no one there now caring for you.

When the Books Go Quiet — A Poem About Vanishing

When the Books Go Quiet

from "Poems of the Truths of Me"

Don’t wait for the machines to beep.
Watch the shelf.
If it gathers dust,
If the pages stay closed,
If the spine no longer bends —
Then I’ve already begun to vanish.
I am not the name on the chart.
I am the one who reads.
And when I stop,
Start saying goodbye.


Copyright 2025 M. W. Van Dyke
All Rights Reserved

🛠️ System Integrity Check with a Batch File: A Practical Guide

Author: Mark Warren Van Dyke
Date: September 11, 2025
Tags: Batch scripting, system maintenance, SSD health, DISM, SFC, CrystalDiskInfo, modular logic

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🧭 Why This Exists

This batch file performs a basic system integrity check using built-in Windows tools and CrystalDiskInfo. It’s designed for everyday users—not sysadmins, not PowerShell experts. Just people who want to run a clean check, log the results, and move on.

PowerShell offers more control and flexibility, but this script sticks to batch for accessibility. No modules, no syntax traps. Just commands.

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📁 What It Does

• Cleans up superseded updates
• Repairs Windows image health
• Scans system files for corruption
• Checks SSD SMART health (optional)
• Logs everything to a timestamped file
• Reboots the system after a countdown

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🧱 The Batch File

Copy and paste the following into Notepad. Save it as SystemCheck.bat on your desktop.

@ECHO OFF
SETLOCAL ENABLEEXTENSIONS

:: === Setup log file in same folder as script ===
SET LOGFILE=%~dp0System_Integrity_%DATE:/=-%_%TIME::=-%.log

:: === Initial delay before starting ===
timeout /t 10 >nul

:: === Log and display start timestamp ===
ECHO === System Integrity Check Started: %DATE% %TIME% ===
ECHO === System Integrity Check Started: %DATE% %TIME% === >> "%LOGFILE%"

:: === STEP 1: StartComponentCleanup ===
ECHO [1/4] Cleaning up superseded updates...
ECHO [1/4] Cleaning up superseded updates... >> "%LOGFILE%"
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup >> "%LOGFILE%" 2>&1

timeout /t 5 >nul

:: === STEP 2: RestoreHealth ===
ECHO [2/4] Restoring health of component store...
ECHO [2/4] Restoring health of component store... >> "%LOGFILE%"
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth >> "%LOGFILE%" 2>&1

timeout /t 5 >nul

:: === STEP 3: SFC Scan ===
ECHO [3/4] Scanning system files for corruption...
ECHO [3/4] Scanning system files for corruption... >> "%LOGFILE%"
SFC /SCANNOW >> "%LOGFILE%" 2>&1

timeout /t 5 >nul

:: === STEP 4: CrystalDiskInfo SMART Check ===
ECHO [4/4] Checking SSD SMART health via CrystalDiskInfo...
ECHO [4/4] Checking SSD SMART health via CrystalDiskInfo... >> "%LOGFILE%"

SET CDI_PATH="C:\Program Files\CrystalDiskInfo\DiskInfo64.exe"

IF EXIST %CDI_PATH% (
    %CDI_PATH% /CopyExit

    IF EXIST "%ProgramFiles%\CrystalDiskInfo\DiskInfo.txt" (
        ECHO --- SMART Health Summary ---
        ECHO --- SMART Health Summary --- >> "%LOGFILE%"
        findstr /C:"Health Status" "%ProgramFiles%\CrystalDiskInfo\DiskInfo.txt" >> "%LOGFILE%"
        findstr /C:"Temperature" "%ProgramFiles%\CrystalDiskInfo\DiskInfo.txt" >> "%LOGFILE%"
    ) ELSE (
        ECHO CrystalDiskInfo output not found.
        ECHO CrystalDiskInfo output not found. >> "%LOGFILE%"
    )
) ELSE (
    ECHO CrystalDiskInfo not found at expected path.
    ECHO CrystalDiskInfo not found at expected path. >> "%LOGFILE%"
)

timeout /t 5 >nul

:: === Final log entry ===
ECHO === System Integrity Check Complete: %DATE% %TIME% ===
ECHO === System Integrity Check Complete: %DATE% %TIME% === >> "%LOGFILE%"

:: === Visual countdown before reboot ===
ECHO.
ECHO System will reboot in 60 seconds. Press CTRL+C to cancel.
timeout /t 60

:: === Reboot ===
ECHO Rebooting now...
shutdown /r /t 0

---

🔍 What You’ll See

In the command window (must be run as administrator):

[1/4] Cleaning up superseded updates...
[2/4] Restoring health of component store...
[3/4] Scanning system files for corruption...
[4/4] Checking SSD SMART health via CrystalDiskInfo...

In the log file (saved to your desktop):

Health Status : Good (98 %)
Temperature   : 34 C (93 F)

If CrystalDiskInfo isn’t installed, the script logs that and moves on. No errors, no drama.

---

🧪 Optional: Replace or Remove CrystalDiskInfo

If you prefer another SMART tool, swap out the logic in Step 4. If you don’t want SSD checks at all, delete that section. The rest of the script runs fine without it.

---

🔁 Why Not PowerShell?

PowerShell could handle this with more finesse — progress bars, error handling, object parsing. But this batch file is built for simplicity. No learning curve. No dependencies. Just run it.

---

🧵 Final Notes

• You can run this as-is, or tweak it to fit your system.
• Log files are timestamped and saved wherever the batch file is located.
• You can archive them, inspect them, or delete them. Your call.
• The reboot at the end is optional — just remove those lines if you prefer manual control.

---

 

Country Fried Pitter Patter Plate - The Blue Plate Special at Home

 

The Country Fried Pitter Patter Plate delivers a full protein stack, creamy cohesion, and sweet contrast — all for about $3 or less per serving. No thawing, no pan drama, just freezer logic and canned grace. Canned fruit (peach or pear) adds shelf-stable sweetness and textural contrast. Requires no prep, pairs with protein stack, and completes the plate with minimal cost.

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🍽️ Country Fried Pitter Patter Plate

The Blue Plate Special at Home

• Breaded Chicken Patty: Air-fried for 9 minutes—crispy shell, soft center, no thaw drama
• Sausage Gravy Cloak: Canned, creamy, pork-laced, poured with intent
• Sunny-Side Eggs: 1–2, yolk intact, soft contrast to the crunch
• Canned Fruit Side: Syrupy brightness, shelf-stable grace
• Optional Biscuit or Bread: For ballast, if the day demands it
  
  

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🧮 Cost Breakdown: Country Fried Pitter Patter Plate

🥫 Kroger Sausage Gravy (15 oz can)

• Price: ~$1.79 per can
• Servings per can: ~3–4 generous ladles
• Cans for 8 servings: 2–3 (you said 2 is enough)
• Cost per serving: ~$0.45

🍗 Tyson Breaded Chicken Patties (8 count)

• Price: ~$6.46 for 8 patties
• Cost per serving: ~$0.81

🥚 Eggs

• Price: ~$8.99 per dozen (Eggland's Best Grade A large, average US price)
• Cost per serving (2 eggs): ~$0.74

🍑 Canned Fruit

• Price: ~$1.79 per 15 oz can (Slice Peaches or Pears)
• Servings per can: ~3–4
• Cost per serving: ~$0.51

🍞 Optional Bread/Biscuit

• Price: ~$2.50 for a pack of 8 biscuits or loaf of bread
• Cost per serving: ~$0.31 (optional)
  
  

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💵 Total Cost Per Serving

Item	Cost
Sausage Gravy	$0.45
Chicken Patty	$0.81
Eggs (2)	$0.33
Canned Fruit	$0.42
Bread/Biscuit (opt)	$0.31
Total (w/ bread)	$2.32
Total (no bread)	$2.01

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🔢 Calorie Breakdown per Serving

Component	Calories
🧆 Breaded Chicken Patty (Tyson, 1 patty)	~230
🥫 Sausage Gravy (Kroger, ~1/4 can)	~80–100
🥚 Eggs (Eggland’s Best, 2 large)	~140–160
🍑 Canned Peaches or Pears (1/3 can)	~60–80
🍞 Biscuit or Bread (optional)	~120–160

Estimated Total:

• With biscuit: ~630–730 calories
• Without biscuit: ~510–570 calories

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📘 What Is a Blue Plate Special?

The Blue Plate Special was the backbone of American diners from the 1920s through the 1950s — a low-cost, no-frills meal served on a divided plate (often blue porcelain or plastic) that bundled a meat, two or three sides, maybe bread, and sometimes a drink. It was designed for speed, affordability, and consistency, especially for travelers and working folks who needed calories, not ceremony.

Fred Harvey, the railroad restaurateur, helped popularize it in his Harvey House chain, serving up quick meals to passengers on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. During the Great Depression, it became a symbol of dignified frugality — a way to eat well without spending much.

Even if the plate wasn’t literally blue, the name stuck. And the ethos remains: a complete meal, no substitutions, priced for survival.

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📎 Footnote: On Constructs, Specials, and Survival

The Country Fried Pitter Patter Plate is less a recipe than a construct — a modular breakfast ritual designed for once-a-week comfort. It’s not for everyday use, and that’s the point. When a meal becomes routine, it loses its grace. This plate is meant to be special, served on a Saturday or Sunday morning when time slows and care is possible. It’s a nod to the old Blue Plate Special: a complete meal, priced for survival, plated with intention. And yes, leftovers belong in a pot, reborn as hash or casserole — because even scraps deserve a second life.

But in a pinch — when the fridge is thin and the month is long — this plate can shift from ritual to routine. With canned gravy, frozen patties, and shelf-stable fruit, it becomes a daily go-to that gets you through until next payday. It’s not just comfort food — it’s survival food with dignity.

Noisy in My Candlelight: A Poem of the Truths of Me

 

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Noisy in My Candlelight

I live my life out loud,
because silence is too dark.
I live my life in doing—
not for fame, not for recognition,
not for adulation or applause,
but because I cannot see myself in the dark.
I cannot breathe in the dark.
I cannot live, or be alive, in the dark.
Not always in the dark.
That is the light, the spark:
I am noisy in my candlelight.

The flicker through the window pane,
that is to remind the world—
and yes, even myself—
that I am still here,
and the candle is still lit.
It still burns.

I am still alive.
And I will live loudly.

Copyright 2025 M. W. Van Dyke
All Rights Reserved