All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go
I'm standing here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breaking, it's early morn
The taxi's waiting, he's blowing his horn
Already I'm so lonesome I could die
So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go
~ John Denver
I don't think I knew that John Denver wrote this song; I have always associated it with Peter, Paul & Mary. Denver wrote it in 1967 when he was part of the Chad Mitchell Trio, with whom he recorded it. It has since been recorded by several groups, including Spanky & Our Gang (remember them?), but it became a hit with the Peter, Paul & Mary version, released on Album 1700 in 1969.
I first heard the song in 1968 when I was a freshman in college. I lived on the 6th floor of North Hall (and climbed a lot of stairs during that time, as the elevator needed a human operator who worked sporadically at best). North Hall was an all-girls dorm, and most of us were indeed that . . . girls. But there was one resident on my floor who, despite being chronologically in sync with the rest of us, was definitely a woman. It surprises me that her name escapes me now, because I can still see her so clearly in my mind. Let's call her Sharon. She was beautiful, smart, and talented. She played an acoustic guitar and sang along in the best folkie style. She looked like Ann Margret in that opening scene from Bye Bye Birdie . . . the yellow dress, the blue background, the can't-help-but-notice nipples.
Sharon would bring her guitar out to the common area after study hours and play for us. That's where I first heard "Leaving on a Jet Plane" and fell in love with both the song and Sharon. We were all in awe of Sharon; we all wanted to be her. I wonder where she is now? I don't remember her after freshman year. I think she may have left school to live with a man, still a stunning thing to do during those years.
At this very moment, my son and his girlfriend are boarding a jet plane to return to Colorado. I dropped them off at the airport an hour ago, and to say that it was an emotional parting would be an understatement. We had a great week together . . . dinners with friends and cousins, an airboat ride in the Everglades, an afternoon on the beach, trivia night at a local brewery, a yacht cruise on the Intracoastal, a Mets spring training game, live music at an outdoor club . . . but you know what they say about all good things. What hurts my heart right now is that we will probably not see one another for at least six months. And this is not the only jet plane moment for me. In the past month, jet planes have taken my daughters away from me, too. But at least I will see them both in June.
My grandmother always told me never to say "goodbye." She said that "so long" means that you will see one another again.
So long, Sam and Andrea! I hate to see you go. Let's make that September visit happen, okay?
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