There’s a song written and performed by John Denver called ‘Leaving on a Jet Plan.’ It’s a sad song, played on the guitar, about him leaving his loved one behind to go on a trip somewhere far away. In the song, there’s no end date to the trip, and you can feel the regret in his voice for having to leave.
If you know anything about John Denver, then you also know that he died in a plane crash, which makes the song all-the-more sad in hindsight. But even without his death, the song would still carry its sad weight, and it would still be the song that comes to mind anytime I have to say goodbye to my own loved ones.
Today, my wife left on a trip. She’ll be gone the next week. And my parents also left on a trip in which they’ll be gone the next four.
I’m not saying that I’m not expecting any of them to come back. I am fully anticipating a huge hug and kiss from my wife on Monday and a call from my parents on Sunday, but still, saying goodbye is never easy.
There’s missing those you love, being left alone, feeling left out and wondering what to do on your own time. There’s also mystery and longing.
Being left along and saying goodbye are unique feelings in their own right, and they seem to get even more deep the older I get when I reflect on them, with the help of John Denver of course.
We’re never guaranteed tomorrow, nor our loved ones. So if you love them, let them know, always.
-Cliff
Cliff’s Note: It’s not sad to say goodbye; it’s another chance to say how you feel.