Dan Fogelberg

I have been wanting to write about a man I never knew personally; but loved and enjoyed through his music. Dan Fogelberg.
I was one of his best fans in the 80's and sang a lot of his songs to my children.
He has a soft, kind beautiful voice that touches a person's heart;
a bit like my son-in-law Vin Thomas.

Every Christmas I would look forward to hearing my favorite Christmas song by Dan on the radio,
"Same Old Lang Syne".

Met my old love at the grocery store. The snow was falling Christmas Eve. I stole behind her in the frozen foods and I touched her arm and 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 check out 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 married her an architect who kept her warm and safe and dry. She said she'd like 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 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 in school and felt that old familiar pain, and as I turned to make my way back home, the snow turned into rain~

Out Christmas shopping one evening I heard that song and cried a bit. I can see my own life in the words. I thought about what a beautiful story teller Dan was and wondered what it would be like to hang-out with him and be his friend. I wondered if he knew Jesus?

When I got home just in time to turn on the news the first thing I heard was that Dan Fogelberg had passed away. I was in shock and just couldn't believe how my thoughts had just been of him and now he was no longer on earth.
I prayed for him. I begged that he was a Christ follower and that his soul would be with God.
I cried and felt sad.
I went to my computer and found his web site; he was a man of God. He knew and loved Jesus.

I will look forward to meeting the man I loved but never knew in heaven one day. I look forward to sitting beside him and talking to him; I will have a chance to tell him how much I enjoyed his music and how it touched my heart.

Through his music he will continue to live on earth and in my heart.
God's peace and love to Dan.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo