Author's Note: The following was penned in the wee hours of Saturday, November the 26th in the Year of Our Lord two thousand five (Ano Domino).
It just occurred to me as I sit here on a cold Midwest morning. When I'm leaving a friend, loved one or acquaintance, I usually say something to the effect of "See ya later" or derivative thereof, but one phrase rarely escapes these pursed lips:
Goodbye.
Maybe it's the optimism I always hold in seeing that person somewhere along the path of life.
Maybe it's all wishful thinking on my part, that somewhere on this mortal coil, our souls will find one another again.
Maybe we'll rekindle our last time in each other's company, hoping then as now that this chance encounter won't be the last.
We meet so many wonderful, fascinating people in our lives, it's hard to fully entertain the thought of never seeing their face again. Never hearing their voice. Never sharing a laugh. A fond memory.
Johnny Cash's final album was a beautiful album with a sense of finality and closure, and when I say that, I mean I'm not alone in thinking that he knew it was his swan song in life, love and craft.
The last song on the album was a cover of the classic Benny Goodman song, We'll Meet Again.
If you're not familiar, here are the lyrics:
We'll meet again
Don't know where
Don't know when
But I know we'll meet again some sunny day
Keep smilin' through
Just like you always do
Till the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away
So will you please say hello
To the folks that I know
Tell them I won't be long
They'll be happy to know
That as you saw me go
I was singing this song
We'll meet again
Don't know where
Don't know when
But I know we'll meet again some sunny day
Every time I hear that song now, I well up. It's like Johnny's saying goodbye to me all over again.
But, in the same breath, he's not.
He's telling me that I should hold on hope for the time when we will meet again. That's when I know that I will see him again, anytime I want. All I have to do is push play.
With that in mind, I won't dare speak the dreaded "G" word. Not my style.
Instead, I'll leave you with a heartfelt and hopeful "See ya later" or even "We'll meet again", and when we do, I hope we make the most of it.
