We lost another of "the great ones" a couple of days ago. I'll never think of this time of year in quite the same way without Dan Fogelberg.

The first song of his I recall being aware of was "Same Auld Lang Syne." Oddly enough, it's not a pleasant memory; but my memory of the song & the first time I remember hearing it are fitting. I was going through a nasty break-up at the time. There was something about the bittersweet quality of the lyrics and the story that spoke to me then, in 1979-80, and still speak to me almost 30 years later. I've moved on in my life, and I think life is better now for me than it was then; but I'll never forget a dark December evening when ". . .the snow turned into rain" and I had a heck of a hard time driving home through the tears that were streaming down my cheeks. Thanks, Dan; rest in peace. . .

"Same Old Lang Syne

Met my old lover in the grocery store
The snow was falling Christmas Eve
I stole behind her in the frozen foods
And I touched her on the sleeve
She didn't recognize the face at first
But then her eyes flew open wide
She went to hug me and she spilled her purse
And we laughed until we cried

We took her groceries to the checkout stand
The food was totalled up and bagged
We stood there lost in our embarrassment
As the conversation dragged
We went to have ourselves a drink or two
But couldn't find an open bar
We bought a six-pack at the liquor store
And we drank it in her car

We drank a toast to innocence, we drank a toast to now
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness but neither one knew how

She said she'd married her an architect
Who kept her warm and safe and dry
She would have liked to say she loved the man
But she didn't like to lie
I said the years had been a friend to her
And that her eyes were still as blue
But in those eyes I wasn't sure if I saw doubt or gratitude
She said she saw me in the record stores
And that I must be doing well
I said the audience was heavenly but the traveling was hell

We drank a toast to innocence, we drank a toast to now
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness but neither one knew how
We drank a toast to innocence, we drank a toast to time
Reliving in our eloquence, another 'auld lang syne'

The beer was empty and our tongues were tired
And running out of things to say
She gave a kiss to me as I got out and I watched her drive away
Just for a moment I was back at school
And felt that old familiar pain
And as I turned to make my way back home
The snow turned in to rain..."