Alaska or Bust

Today I visited with my cousin, Amanda.  We have not seen much of each other since early December and I have missed spending time with her.  We ran errands, visited with sister, Linda, ate a marvelous lunch with Emily, looked at all her pictures from her Iceland trip NewYears, and then of course the music and guitars came out and we spent an hour singing and learning some new material.  We are looking for a Coffee House gig somewhere nearby.  Just as my time to go drew near she pulled out a song by Andrew Peterson called Alaska or Bust.  As the song began we sat there and thought of Randy and Jimmy who both made it to Alaska before they died of the dreaded big "C".  Both of us cried....it was an ugly cry I can tell you.  My heart hurt.  However, the lyrics are amazing and I could not wait to get home and share them with you all. 

Alaska or Bust 

Margie, won't you listen to an old man's wish
They say it's mighty pretty in Alaska
My daddy used to talk about those deep sea fish
So there's something, darling, that I wanna ask you
So don't you turn me down

In the morning we would listen to the cattle calling
Lowing in the land of Okeechobee
Where it's flatter than the cardboard on the carport floor
And the cattails seem to wave just like they know me

Ah, but Enoch in the tackle shop
Goes on about the salmon caught
The time he and his brother sailed to Juneau

So get in, I'll do the driving
The bag's already packed and in the truck
Margie, get in, put down those dishes
The town will see us go if we're in luck
So come on, it's Alaska or bust

I've been holding down this farm that daddy left me, darling
The kids have married off and moved away
And the doctor says I'm healthy for an old man dying
Well enough to seize another day

So get in, I'll do the driving
Your bag's already packed and in the truck
Margie get it, these bones are dry
I've been running, but the cancer's catching up
So come on, it's Alaska or bust

There were days when I imagined that the clouds were mountains
Towering above the rolling ocean
And I was sailing on my tractor, turning hay out in the pasture
Catching salmon of my own while I was mowing

So get in, I'll do the driving
Your bag's already packed and in the truck
Margie get in, there's not much time
I've been running, but the cancer's catching up
The town will see us go if we're in luck

So come on, it's Alaska or bust

Alaska is number one on my bucket list.  Mary and I were planning to do an Alaska trip in 2016...the year we were going to retire.  She died in 2012 of cancer.  One day I will make it to Alaska so I can see it for both of us.  I don't know why today was a day heavy laden with a bunch of sad memories but it was.  When I got ready to leave she played one more song for the road...and I had to leave laughing...."Big Girls Don't Cry"....and I thought to myself...."oh yeah they do."