I thought 60 miles was far enough, I thought an hour delay was long enough, I thought $20 for gas was high enough that everyone would learn to stand alone:
that nobody would call me just for a ride, or to find them a bottle or a place to hide, or reinforce them when they cried; I could find a life of my own.
I guess I should have thought it through and known the thing I needed to do was start when they were one or two to teach them we're all alone.
But when they're small and cute and sweet And the most they ask is a hug & a treat You can't expect your babies to meet the big world all alone.
And just because time rolls along You don't see that they're not being strong and when you realize something's wrong it's too late to atone.
So you try to push them out of the nest, Planning to get a little rest You go east & send them west-- And-- You don't hear a word for several days and figure they've all changed their ways until suddenly a small voice says "Thank gosh you answered the phone--"
So of course you say "OK" "Yes, I'll be there right away" (What the hell else can a mother say? You can't just whine & moan!)
So the old lady rises, the old car starts And you can guess the rest of the parts, "Cuz we grump with our lips but love with our hearts and it's better than being alone.
OK, I complain about people whining & here I go doing the same. I'd just been thinking I hadn't heard from the family for a few days & cynically thought "nobody must need anything" when the phone rang. . .!