Then.
“When you coming home, Son? I don’t when, but we’ll get together then, Dad. We’re gonna have a good time then.”
Those, of course, are the words of the late and great Harry Chapin in his 1974 folk rock song that has transcended generations, “Cats in the Cradle.”
My sister had a 45 of it that I played repeatedly on my General Electric Solid State portable record player nearly four decades ago. I memorized the words then, and I still know them today.
Many of those words hit home, but mostly the word “then” — back in the 1970s and now.
I thought of the song recently after a conversation with my good friend, Brian, who told me he was going on fishing trip with his 80-some-year-old father. This conversation, of course, made me think of a similar trip my father and I discussed but never took.
Dad asked if I would join him on this ice-fishing trip. Like the lyrics of the song, I came up with a number of excuses.
“The new job’s a hassle, and the kid’s got the flu.” Or something like that.
A mentor offered great advice when deciding when to do things. He said to ask yourself, “If someday, why not now?” Sometimes, there are legit excuses. More often than not, we simply procrastinate. That’s true with tasks, but it’s also true with things we really want to do.
Like going fishing with your dad.
In his final years, my dad likely had regrets of not spending more time with his children. I know I have regrets of not spending more time with him. Hopefully, I am learning. In reality, we tend to be like our parents, whether we want to or not.
“He’d grown up just like me. My boy was just like me.”
Let’s hope we can turn more “thens” into todays. Why not? Enjoy your fishing trip with your dad, Brian.
Have a thoughtful Thursday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com | 
