Musings at Altitude

While at 37,000 feet today, I was deep into the music on my iPod.  And just before descent, “Time in a Bottle” by Jim Croce began to play.

I immediately thought back to 32 years ago this month when I shyly asked a beautiful young lady out on a date.  She was 14 and I was 16.  She wasn’t allowed to go solo with me, so we had to count on her sister and now brother-in-law to be that second couple to act as chaperones.  Thankfully, that 14 year old said yes, and equally as thankfully, her sister said yes.

That beautiful girl from back then is still that beautiful girl now, 32 years later!

But a few months after that first date, for some very bizarre reason, I wanted to try out for a sing and dance ensemble at school.  I was a senior, and based on my lack of rhythm and incredibly shy personality, it was a long shot that I would be selected.  As part of the audition, I needed to perform a solo up on stage in the high school auditorium.  It took no time to pick the song that I would sing – Time in a Bottle by Jim Croce.  As I practiced that song, I would close my eyes and think of her.  The words fit so perfectly.  And on the day of the audition, I sang my heart out.  And sure enough, because of that song and that girl, I was selected to be part of that group.

It wasn’t easy for us from that point forward.  For the next 5 and 1/2 years, we were on again and off again, twice because of me and then twice because of her.  But at the end of those wanderings, we committed to a lifetime together that grows with excitement even today.  Through the smiles and the tears, we’ve clung to each other.  And just like Jim Croce, I can honestly say, “if I could save time in a bottle, the first thing that I’d like to do, is to save every day till eternity passes away just to spend them with you.”

So now, 32 years later, I’m thankful to both Jim Croce and that 14 year old.  Both gave me memories that even today make me smile!