Close to You

"(They Long to Be) Close to You" is a popular song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. It was first recorded by Richard Chamberlain and released as a single in 1963 as "They Long to Be Close to You," without parentheses. It was not until seven years later when this song finally spouted and grew. In 1970, it was released by Karen and Richard Carpenter as, (They Long to Be) Close to You. It became their breakthrough hit. The song stayed at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks.

We never know when a seed that we have planted will spring to life. Today I had coffee with one of my former (and first) students. I first met Rachael at 14. She was a freshman in high school. When she was a junior, I selected her to be the captain of our school’s volleyball team. Her senior year, my son chose her to be the assistant coach of the school’s soccer team.

Today, at 19, she started college. We agreed to meet for coffee. As we talked, I saw the first green shoots of her life coming out of the grounded state she has lived since High School graduation. Her dream is to become a forensic biologist. I believe she will.

Rachael represents the reason why I teach. I believe in and love dearly every one of my students.

Two other little known facts: First, “(They Long to Be) Close to You” is Homer and Marge's love song on The Simpsons. Second, Rachael is the only student I have given a math final that “Aced” the entire first page and then missed every question on the second page. Duh! (Thank-you Homer Simpson)

A Simple Song

In August 1968 the first single from the Beatles' record label Apple Records was released. The name was “Hey Jude”. Spending nine weeks as the number one in the United States, setting a new record, until “You Light Up My Life” beat it. More than seven minutes in length, "Hey Jude" begins with a verse-bridge structure based around McCartney's vocal performance. The ballad, and I love ballads, evolved from "Hey Jules," a song Paul McCartney wrote to comfort John Lennon's son Julian during his parents' divorce.

I am not sure there was any comfort offered to my children after my divorce. No songs or books to soothe any hurts. There were no fancy dinners or the closeness of friends rushing to their side. I can only imagine that it was quite the opposite. So here, in this blog, and then with my life I am composing a song to them. It simply says I love you. We are going to be all right.

Yesterday, I completed jogging 5k for the second time in as many weeks. I am working towards jogging a 5k to support nursing in Oklahoma. There will not be any fanfare when I cross the finish line. There may not even be a single person present that I know to see it happen. But, as long as God allows, it will. So, to my four children: David, Daniel, Faith, and Jeffery Jr., on September 25th I am running “Hey Jude, I love you. We are going to be all right”.

http://www.occc.edu/lifesaver/index.html