"We all live inside bodies that will deteriorate. But when you look at human beings, they're capable of very decent things: love, loyalty. When time is running out, they don't care about possessions or status. They want to put things right if they've done wrong." ~ Sir Kazuo Ishiguro, Japanese-British novelist, screenwriter, musician, and short-story writer.

As Willie Nelson wrote, "My, ain't it funny how time slips away". How true that is for those of us who have seen a lot of wear and tear during our sojourn here on the planet. Today is Monday, and, get this, it is already the 3rd day of August, 2026. Wowie-Zowie! I used that one, causing the spell-checker to emit smoke from its electronic brain. Ha! This past Friday evening we continued our association with the Cow from Chick-fil-A. Seventeen years of association with the franchise owner of these two locations, and we have, thus far, lived to tell about it. How ironic is it that some of the counter workers and kitchen help were not even born when we first started our Santa journey? Yikes. These kids would not recognize a busy signal when trying to use a phone; delivery of phone books; Blockbuster rental returns; TV Guide; Floppy Disks; and so many others we dealt with they wouldn't ever remember unless they saw it in a history book. I heard a pastor say the other day how the fellow leading their Junior Department had never heard of Diana Ross. See what I mean? I think we should give them a break because they do know how to operate the latest technology gadgets that cause us to pull our hair out. They speak the languages of Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft, and they can input information on their cell phones faster than a speeding bullet. Many of us do that using the old-fashioned hunt-and-peck approach. They represent the TikTok generation, but there is good news. Whether these youngsters are wearing the Cow suit or waiting on customers, they show love and respect for everyone, including Santa and Mrs. Claus, and we are forever grateful for that. We are. We really are. 

 

As I get ever closer to the 80th year of my sojourn, I can't help waxing somewhat philosophical. For many years I've loved the music and the sentiment expressed in the song, 'Goin' Home'. The history of how it came about is interesting: Dvořák's Symphony No. 9 was premiered by the New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall on December 16th, 1893. The composer died in Prague in 1904. One of Dvořák's students, William Arms Fisher, put words to the longing melody from the second movement. He called the new song "Goin' Home," and had it published in 1922. Fisher died in 1948, but the song lived on. I particularly enjoy the rendition of the song lyrics by the great tenor, David Phelps. You can look up David's song on YouTube and many other platforms as well. Here are the lyrics:

 

 Goin Home

 

Goin' home, goin' home, I'm a goin' home
Quiet like, some still day, I'm just goin' home
It's not far, just close by, through an open door
Work all done, care laid by
Going to fear no more
Mother's there, expecting me
Father's waiting too
Lots of folks gathered there
All the friends I knew

 

 

Nothin's lost, all is gain
No more fret or pain
No more stumblin' on the way
No more longin' for the day
Goin' to roam no more

 

 

Morning star lights the way
Restless dream all done
Shadows gone, break of day
Real life just begun
There's no break, There's no end
I'll be living on.
Wide awake with a smile, going on and on
Goin' home, goin' home, I'm a goin' home

 

It's not far, just close by, through an open door
I'll be goin' home, I'll be goin' home
I'm goin' home, I'm goin' home
Lord, I'm goin' home

 

 

That, my friend, may sound a wee bit morbid to you, but for me, it's a reminder of where I am headed. It is. It really is. Another song says, "I've got more to go to heaven for than I had yesterday." I do hope that's your longed-for destination as well. I do. I really do. May God bless each one. Amen.