But it's come at a price. I've been away from home a lot. It's a shock when you get home and your two year old doesn't look up from what he's playing with, because your presence isn't relevant to him.
The Brass Ring has a gleam to it that seduces. While there's a satisfaction in providing a good life to your family, it sometimes comes at the cost of life. The days go by and suddenly things are gone, never coming back.
This particular song hits close to home for me, having spent the majority of the last 12 months hundreds of miles from hearth and home. Having finally returned - permanently - to my family, I find myself enjoying the small goofy moments that you might not ever think twice about. Having missed so many, they're precious to me. It feels good to be there, in the moment.
It feels like life.
Don't Miss Your Life (Songwriter: Phil Vassar)
On a plane to the west coast
Laptop on my tray
Papers spread across my seat
A big deadline to make
An older man next to me said,
"Sorry to intrude
"Thirty years ago, my busy friend
"I was you
"I made a ton of money
"And I climbed up the ladder
"Yeah, I was Superman
"Now, what does it matter
"I missed the first steps my daughter took
"The time my son played Captain Hook
"In Peter Pan, I was in New York
"Said, 'Sorry, son, Dad has to work'
"I missed the father-daughter dance
"The first home run, no second chance
"To be there when he crossed the plate
"The moment's gone, now it's too late
"Fame and fortune come with a heavy price
"Son, don't miss your life"
Funny you should say that, I was
Sittin' at the gate
My daughter called, she made straight As
And they're off to celebrate
Scrollin' through the pictures of my little family
My daughter with her mom and friends
Not a single one with me
They know I love 'em, I know they know I care
The truth is half the time, I'm not even there
I missed our fourth and fifth anniversary
Our girl was early by a week
Her sister had to hold her hand
I was in L.A, she said, "I understand"
I missed her first day of school
Man, what kind of crazy fool
Lets such a precious moment pass
We all know time goes way too fast
Hold on tight 'cause it don't happen twice
Don't miss your life
When I get off this plane
I'll buy a turnaround ticket
Saturday's her eighth birthday
And I'm not gonna miss it
There'll be balloons and birthday cake
And I'll clean up the mess they make
My mom and dad are drivin' in
I haven't seen them in God knows when
My wife will proudly say to me,
"I thought you were supposed to be
"In Portland for a few more days"
I'll take her in my arms and say,
"Heard some words that hit me hard last night
"A man said, 'Don't miss your life'"
5 comments:
Yep, fact of life, and pretty much a lament on being a military person (minus the making money)... BUT we worked hard to keep this country free, and the USSR is no more! And I will always regret missing those things with my children.
Reminds me of the song "Cat in the Cradle" by Harry Chapin.
All very true. As much as I complained about the Navy, I kind of enjoyed what I did. Getting married while I was on shore duty made the decision not to re-enlist a 2nd time easier though.
Of course, my last year working for the Shipyard, I spent 8 months away from the family, including a 7 month period where I saw them for 10 days. Probably why it was my 'last year in the Shipyard'.
I was lucky that none of the trips were long enough for them to really forget who I was...but it was a concern, and now I'm lucky enough to work some place where I don't need to worry about that.
Old NFO, people don't really understand the sacrifice military families make. Well, some of us do, but not enough.
RabidAlien, except with the light dawning over Marblehead ...
Greg, I can appreciate that. Boring old life feels *good*.
BP et al, I envy y'all for the stability you have... Just sayin...
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