“We May Never Pass This Way Again…”

Good morning, World.

The title to my blog is in quotes because that was the main song at my high school graduation, and a big thank you to you, Seals & Crofts, for writing and singing about what we were going through back then. I listened to it on my Nano yesterday, while painting the walls of my family room.

Yeah, I’m dating myself, as if you didn’t already have a clue anyway.

But back to the song, and what it represented.

“…Like Columbus in the olden days
We must gather all our courage
Sail our ships out on the open sea
Cast away our fears
And all the years will come and go
And take us up, always up

We may never pass this way again…”

It sure spoke to me, a young girl with no direction other than to get through high school, get that all-powerful diploma, and be ready to let life take me where it would. So many memories of that night – the controversial speech our Valedictorian gave because the school wanted to censor her original one, the joy I felt about this stepping-stone of my life, my graduation party, and of course the song, “We may never pass this way again.”

As I reminisce this morning, I remember I lost my job that night.

I had been working as a busgirl for a very popular Chinese restaurant and June, the manager, needed staff for the celebratory night. All the schools for miles around had their graduations the same night so the place was set for reservation-only and of course, would be packed well up to midnight, standing room only.

She put me on the schedule.

I told her I wasn’t going to be able to work that night because I’d been looking forward to my high school graduation for over twelve years and I had no intention of missing it; she warned me that it would cost me my job if I didn’t.

I smiled; I guess I thought she was kidding.

I showed up in uniform the next night after my graduation for my shift; she sent me packing with instruction to give back the uniform. I shrugged and headed out through the kitchen. Bruce, the kitchen manager, asked where I was going. I told him June fired me. He tossed an apron to me and told me to get changed; he needed kitchen help. He had a heated discussion with June (in their native language) as I turned in my busgirl uniform, and then I went to work for Bruce in the kitchen, setting up buffet tables, doing dishes, and providing prep help to the chefs.

I worked there until my future husband showed back up into my life (a story I’ll save for another day). I remember Bruce hugged me and gave me a bonus.

Several years later, I heard that the place burned down. I don’t know if it was ever rebuilt – I never went back to see.

The lyrics fit then and still say it for me today.

“We may never pass this way again….”