Don't miss your life.

In an earlier post, I explained the situation Jon & I are facing this next year.  The only way for us to not spend yet another 12 consecutive months apart is for me to fly back and forth every three months.  Maybe some of you are thinking we're a little crazy.  But, it's not as crazy as you might think.  Below are the lyrics to a song which might help you understand why we're making this decision.  It's called, "Don't Miss Your Life," by Phil Vassar.  (Here's a link if you want to listen to it, as well.)  When Jon & I are old and gray and sagging here and drooping there, we're not going to say, "You remember that year right after deployment?  It wasn't very smart to have flown back & forth; after all, it was costly, inconsistent, and unstable."  No.  We're going to remember the memories we made together overseas, the moments money can't buy, and the stories we'll tell our grandchildren about.  That's why we're doing this.  These are the moments we can't get back.


 "Don't Miss Your Life" by 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 sitting 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 sitting at the gate
My daughter called, she made straight A's and they're off to celebrate
Scrolling 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 precious moments 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 turn-around 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 probably 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,
"I heard some words that hit me hard last night,
A man said: 'Don't miss your life.'"