How much time has passed...?

I think about this song often, have for nearly 2 decades. It's a song that resonated with me as a teen and continues to, to this day. I imagine, 2 decades from now it will still hold a place in my heart, sort of a guiding check on reality. Every time I hear it, I think of people in both of our families and our circle of friends, people I wish we saw more often. There are people we've seen often and no longer do, and others we've never seen often but wish we did.

Sometimes, we've asked for years, sometimes for months, sometimes we've had the courage to ask even when we know the answer will be 'maybe next year', 'maybe in a few months',...I'm sad to say, there have also been times when we gave up, when the pain of asking "one more time" was too much. Silence and avoidance become a better option than any more rejection... losing Sophia was a turning point, sometimes now unable to risk any more pain.

There's a few cases in our life where we wish things were different, but we just can't see a way that will be different. I continue to hope though.

Yes, that's regret and disappointment you hear in my voice.

As you enter into this holiday season, here's some questions to ponder, did someone get turned down when they for help? When you knew someone needed you, did you wait till they found the courage to ask? Has time passed without the ones you love, how much warmth went unsaid, did misunderstandings go unresolved, did 'other priorities' get in the way?

A child arrived just the other day,
He came to the world in the usual way.
But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay.
He learned to walk while I was away.
And he was talking 'fore I knew it, and as he grew,
He'd say, "I'm gonna be like you, dad.
You know I'm gonna be like you."

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man in the moon.
"When you coming home, dad?" "I don't know when,
But we'll get together then.
You know we'll have a good time then."

My son turned ten just the other day.
He said, "Thanks for the ball, dad, come on let's play.
Can you teach me to throw?" I said, "Not today,
I got a lot to do." He said, "That's ok."
And he walked away, but his smile never dimmed,
Said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah.
You know I'm gonna be like him."

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man in the moon.
"When you coming home, dad?" "I don't know when,
But we'll get together then.
You know we'll have a good time then."

Well, he came from college just the other day,
So much like a man I just had to say,
"Son, I'm proud of you. Can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head, and he said with a smile,
"What I'd really like, dad, is to borrow the car keys.
See you later. Can I have them please?"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man in the moon.
"When you coming home, son?" "I don't know when,
But we'll get together then, dad.
You know we'll have a good time then."

I've long since retired and my son's moved away.
I called him up just the other day.
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind."
He said, "I'd love to, dad, if I could find the time.
You see, my new job's a hassle, and the kid's got the flu,
But it's sure nice talking to you, dad.
It's been sure nice talking to you."
And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me,
He'd grown up just like me.
My boy was just like me.

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man in the moon.
"When you coming home, son?" "I don't know when,
But we'll get together then, dad.
You know we'll have a good time then."

By Harry Chapin, 1974