I heard it before I heard it, '70s Seals & Crofts, one of my favorites of theirs. It was only when I stepped out of the shower to towel off that I heard myself humming along to the radio.
Life, so they say, is but a game and we let it slip away.
Love, like the Autumn sun, should be dyin' but it's only just begun.
Like the twilight in the road up ahead, they don't see just where we're goin'.
And all the secrets in the Universe, whisper in our ears
And all the years will come and go, take us up, always up.
For the better part of three days, I've lived with my family in our car and at a Hampton Inn in Times Square South. We have never been closer, literally and figuratively.
1,600 miles.
24 hours in a car.
Three days in New York City, packed to the overflow with people and places but not many things.
Perfect.
Priceless.
Dreams, so they say, are for the fools and they let 'em drift away.
Peace, like the silent dove, should be flyin' but it's only just begun.
Like Columbus in the olden days, we must gather all our courage.
Sail our ships out on the open sea. Cast away our fears
And all the years will come and go, and take us up, always up.
You see, there's this countdown going on but for a few days I forget about it and defy Time. We live fully and we live well and we live together. Home now, I'm desperate wanting to write this trip on their hearts, ink it on their skin, chisel it into memory forever and always–theirs and mine. Lord, help me remember the days and the details…it's prayer and demand and plea. I wage war against my own forgetfulness; maybe that's why I take so many pictures. They remember for me.
But we're home, and it is sweet, but we've already scattered. Time mocks.
So, I wanna laugh while the laughin' is easy.
I wanna cry if it makes it worthwhile.
I drink in the bittersweet, this cup of life. And though I wince at the bitter, I am thankful for it; doesn't it only give strength to the sweet? What are shadows without sunshine?
We may never pass this way again. We may never pass this way again.
We may never pass this way again. We may never pass this way again.
So I'm toweling dry and humming the familiar, a love song that speaks to me, I suppose, about a different kind of love story.
And then the lyrics sink in.
"We may never pass this way again…." The words are bricks crushing my heart and my eyes tear fill. I sense time's fleet because I know we'll never pass this way again.
And just like that, I shake my head no, resolute, defiant. We're minutes home from a wonderful family vacation; and, yes, my first born's departure for college is just days away.
But isn't this Ecclesiastical? There is a time.
Seasons.
Purposes.
Under heaven.
There IS a time….
So I turn…
and start humming the Byrds…. 🙂
Woman – you are one gifted writer. As always, thanks. (headed to youtube to dig up some C, S, N & Y…)
Wow! Hard to tell Mom from daughter.
I’m glad you guys had a nice trip. I was just earlier thinking about that ABBA song “slipping through my fingers”. Same idea. Same tears. And mine are only going into K and 1st grade!
Someday if i have my own family i am dreaming a road trip the same as your amazing and memorable trip guys. I am really happy that i read your blog, it really makes me inspired. Family closeness is the best thing to this world. Greatly appreciated;)
Ah, sweet lady,
Thanks for the tears. Boy. We are all abuzz about this “countdown” here in our home, too, now just two weeks from that “day.” But, for us, this time, our baby will be, may God bless him safely, richly, and abundantly, back to college (sophomore year),but with yet another part of him going too, as he will be driving back this time in his own car with a buddy. Thankfully, our Father has blessed him with this little “extended family”, who can caravan with him. (This boy’s mom and day will be just a car-length behind them.)But, I try to remember that even if he were going back alone, he is never, ever ALONE. He is Greater, Who is in him, than he who is in the world. Amen. Safe-keeping in our Father’s Mighty Hands, I pray.
Lynn
Hi Robin! I am looking forward to reading where you went in NYC.
I know about countdowns…had a few of those in my life. The first leaving is very hard and I think harder if it’s your daughter. Is she going far?
We have a new countdown here, my 22 year old son will be leaving for the Marines sometime soon. big sigh…
I can’t believe how much your life is like mine. I live on the Jersey shore and am 53 and heard Seals & Crofts live in Ocean Grove many years ago. That song was our graduation song. And now my first born is headed off to college and I feel such a mixture of pain, excitement for him, and fear for the way the world is. He is off to party … and study I hope…but he so wants to be BMOC. Pray for him. I know we all have our own journey … and their is a time for every purpose under Heaven… but it is still hard to let him go.
Rae,
Your comment? Made…my…day! Just goes to show you a little goes a loooong way!! Thank you!
Jim,
Well, hey there! How come you didn't link to your blog??? 😉 🙂
Bridget,
It's all relative; I had those same feelings of push and pull back then, too. Years just dig a little deeper each time… 🙂
Mayjex, it's been years in the making; with my daughter headed to college, this summer made it "now or never"!
Lynn, {{hugs}} It IS a comfort that we send them out with One who loves them better than we possibly can. I try to remember that :).
Oh, Robin…I have a dear friend whose son is a Marine and he's stationed overseas. Thank you for letting him go to serve our country. That is sacrifice and blessing! I'm having a little tech trouble with pictures (and catching up in life!) but I can't wait to recount our trip. It…was…FABULOUS!! 🙂
Bonnie, I hear ya…. (and hugs for you, too!) I'm thankful that someone shocked me into holding my kids with an open hand years ago; I think that helped me prepare for the "now" of it. (But she'll be relatively close to home, though I'm doubtful we'll see her for a while.)
I well know the cup from which you sup. Our last trip before the kids began leaving home was a family trip out west. Your post brought back so many of my thoughts and feelings from that trip.
But what I noticed…. in your picture…. you’re the shortest one in your family now. Do you sometimes wonder when on earth that happened?