the old year behind us,
it fades with the snow

…
If you’re waking call me early.For I would see the sun rise upon the new year.
 
The last time we had a day of sun was back before Christmas. And even though the holidays were calm and stress free, gray, wet cold surrounded us.
 
Fare thee well, my friend,We’ll meet againWhen the moon climbs over the trees.
 
An email came in the new year announcing a second get-together of my novitiate group this coming summer. I’m looking forward to seeing these old friends again; and again the get-together will be in Narragansett.
Good times and rare times, they all fade the same.How gentle are the memories that carry me away.
 
For one of my old novitiate friends, the new year began with the death of his oldest brother – Jim. A Narragansett memory that has stayed with me all these years is of Jim and his dad showing up unannounced one evening. We were in chapel for Compline. Jim had come to say good-bye to his brother, my friend John, because he was leaving for Vietnam the next day.
 
Fare thee well, my friend,We’ll meet againOn the road just beyond the sea.
 
When I first heard Ashley Davis sing Fare Thee Well, I focused on the above tercet, because it made me think of Ocean Road in Narragansett. The Novitiate was on Ocean Road and across the street was the Atlantic. It took many listenings before I started to associate other memories, other images with the song.