Alone Again, Naturally

To think that only yesterday
I was cheerful, bright and gay
Looking forward to well who wouldn’t do
The role I was about to play
But as if to knock me down
Reality came around
And without so much, as a mere touch
Cut me into little pieces
Leaving me to doubt
Talk about God and His mercy
Or if He really does exist
Why did He desert me in my hour of need
I truly am indeed Alone again, naturally

This song was released when I was the tender age of eight.  Strangely enough, it has been stuck in my mind since 1972, maybe because it was a number one hit and played over and over on the radio when that was all we had to listen to.  The Irish singer, Gilbert O'Sullivan, had a hauntingly unique voice and the melody was easily etched in my mind,  even though the song is about a guy planning on committing suicide after being left at the alter and then later about the death of his parents. 

While I don't personally have anything in common with the song, sometimes I find myself singing the "alone again, naturally" part when I am at the campground.  This week has been no exception.  No one is here.  It is very quiet.  All I hear for hours at a time is the birds singing and the cicadas and crickets chirping away.  Sometimes it is lonely. And if I have my wishes, I wouldn't spend quite so much time alone.  I would be home with my family.

When I first arrived in Kentucky, I despised the time alone.  Especially in the winter months when I was confined to 20 feet of camper space and there is absolutely no sound; no birds singing, no bugs chirping, no crickets or frogs at night.  Nothing.  In fact, sometimes it can get a little eery. 

But over the past three and a half years, I have learned to embrace the quietness and the solitude and the time alone.  I am able to read and digest incredible amounts of wisdom  and information from the books I read.  I am able to think.  And pray.  And plan; plan for when an opportunity presents itself and I move on to the next journey in my life.

And when that time comes, I hope to be able to spend some time alone to clear my head and focus and plan and read and write.  After all, I think I would miss my time alone, naturally.