“All my bags are packed, I’m ready to go. I’m standing here outside your door. I hate to wake you up to say goodbye” This song made popular by the group Peter, Paul, & Mary came to my attention in my teen years. I remember well the day – sitting at the piano in the high school girls lounge, plunking the keys, singing like no one was listening – Because no one was!
Many teenagers sang this song mournfully through the years, all on the brink of a tearful goodbye, but among third culture kids it was considered our song. Because who left on jet planes more than us?
So as I scan the airport, bleary-eyed, I reminisce with a smile. I’m off to beautiful Colorado to a massive TCK ‘family’ reunion. I cannot wait to write about it next week. Until then, I will be taking a break from writing. I will be posting quotes from Between Worlds: Essays on Culture and Belonging every day. Each quote will be on a photo, ready to be shared, tweeted, most of all – enjoyed!
For today, here you go and thank you for reading! Make sure you head to Amazon or Barnes & Noble to buy Between Worlds and write a review about it!
The winner of the book giveaway will be announced on Tuesday, July 29! Tune in to see who won!
Did you mournfully listen to “Leaving on a Jet Plane” while traveling as a teenager? Do tell!
Buy Between Worlds. Between Worlds, Essays on Culture and Belonging a set of essays on living between worlds today. The book is divided into 7 sections and each section is illustrated by my talented daughter – Annie Gardner. Home, Identity, Belonging, Airports, Grief & Loss, Culture Clash, and Goodbyes set the stage for the individual essays within each section. Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Discover more from Marilyn R. Gardner
Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.
Marilyn R. Gardner 
Love Peter Paul and Mary!!
LikeLike
I remember Miriam Dalton in high school sitting on the top bunk of a bed in the room looking out over the parking area playing her guitar and singing that song ever so mournfully as only Miriam could do! Obviously it made an impression!
LikeLike
See you soon. Another evocative Peter, Paul and Mary song from the 1960s is “If you miss the train I’m on, you will know that I am gone . . . Lord I’m one, Lord I’m two, Lord I’m three, Lord I’m four, Lord I’m five hundred miles away from home”. Fewer people travel by train these days, even in Pakistan. But that particular song does bring back lots of memories!
LikeLike
Even in Kenya – we rode Kibwezi to Mombasa (and return) 1980 and at least as late as 1996. Now the Chinese are going to build a completely new passenger train system in Kenya (I believe). Also, we have used more than once the BritRail (pass). Even here in U.S. we got 15-day USA (and parts of Canada) Rail pass the month we retired – a little less than three years ago.
LikeLike
Love those pieces of word art. Though I have not been on airplanes as often as you missionary kids, I sympathize with the angst of this song.
LikeLike
Dick and Carolyn loved that song. They married, had one child, quite a long time ago Carolyn died.
LikeLike
Oh yes, that song is a TCK anthem!
I’ve been reading your book since early this morning. Even though our stories are very different, yours touches so many chords for me and brings so many memories to the surface. Beautiful.
Have a great time at the reunion!
LikeLike
See you soon!
LikeLike