Leaving on a Jet Plane

Yep. John Denver had it right.

I've got a few memories of John Denver.... I remember him on the Muppet Show and visually I guess that's how I'll always remember him. But my strongest memories of John Denver (and more noteably, his music) will always be of those summer weeks spent at my grandparents' house, headphones on, listening to John Denver's Greatest Hits on the 8-track.



Today, upon finally purchasing my ticket for Hawai'i (I've had several people ask if I'd bought the ticket yet, and here's the answer), I found this song stuck in my head:

All my bags are packed

Im ready to go

Im standin here outside your door

I hate to wake you up to say goodbye

But the dawn is breakin

Its early morn

The taxis waitin

Hes blowin his horn

Already Im so lonesome

I could die

So kiss me and smile for me

Tell me that youll wait for me

Hold me like youll never let me go

cause Im leavin on a jet plane

Dont know when Ill be back again

Oh babe, I hate to go

Theres so many times

Ive let you down

So many times Ive played around

I tell you now, they dont mean a thing

Evry place I go, Ill think of you

Evry song I sing, Ill sing for you

When I come back, Ill bring your wedding ring

So kiss me and smile for me

Tell me that youll wait for me

Hold me like youll never let me go

cause Im leavin on a jet plane

Dont know when Ill be back again

Oh babe, I hate to go

Now the time has come to leave you

One more timeLet me kiss you

Then close your eyes

Ill be on my way

Dream about the days to come

When I wont have to leave alone

About the times, I wont have to say

Oh, kiss me and smile for me

Tell me that youll wait for me

Hold me like youll never let me go

cause Im leavin on a jet plane

Dont know when Ill be back again

Oh babe, I hate to go

(words and music by John Denver)

So there you have it. My bags may not be packed, and the cab may not be waiting and honking, but the reality of this is starting to set in.

On March 3rd, I'll be leaving on a jet plane.

Don't know when I'll be back again.