Sentimental Journey

Gonna take a Sentimental Journey,
Gonna set my heart at ease.
Gonna make a Sentimental Journey,
to renew old memories

Alfred, resplendent in his fifty-year-old Sears catalogue suit, whirled around the large, rather elegant room. He was twenty-one again, with his entire life ahead of him. Smoother than Fred Astaire, handsomer than Gene Kelly he still had the moves. With Doris Day serenading he felt as if he could dance the night away.

Got my bags, got my reservations,
Spent each dime I could afford.
Like a child in wild anticipation,
I Long to hear that, "All aboard!"

“Remember Liza, New Years Eve 1944 when we first heard Sentimental Journey. I was fresh off the boat from the European front, still in uniform, alone in the big city. And you were a volunteer with the New York City USO. Our eyes met, my heart skipped a beat and I knew the remainder of my life would be spent wooing the girl of my dreams. How we danced that night Liza, oblivious to the crowd, the noise, two souls dancing as one to the sounds of their own big band. Creating a world which had not existed before the moment our fingers touched first touched.”

Seven...that's the time we leave at seven.
I'll be waitin' up at heaven,
Countin' every mile of railroad track,
that takes me back

“Remember our wedding. Saint Domanic’s filled to overflowing with army buddies and apparently to be the entire eastern membership of the USO. You were so beautiful. White dress, hair freshly coifed and laced with jasmine. There was not a princess, nor a Hollywood starlet who could have held a candle to you. I was more afraid at that moment than I had been in any foxhole in Europe. One look from you though and my fear was vanquished. Then as now I have always stood tall with you by my side. Sipping champagne at the reception I remember the bandleader called us out onto the floor for our first dance as a married couple and the song, of course the song was Sentimental Journey.”

Never thought my heart could be so yearny.
Why did I decide to roam?
Gotta take that Sentimental Journey,
Sentimental Journey home.
Sentimental Journey

“Excuse me, Mr. Jenkins. I am sorry for interrupting Mr. Jenkins but I have to lock up. Please Mr. Jenkins it is time to go.”
Suddenly aware of his surroundings Alfred stopped dancing and looked around him. The room was empty except for the nervous attendant, a large amount of flowers and a copper colored casket where his sweet Liza lay.

There was no reminiscing. No Sentimental Journey. His Liza was dead and a long empty stretch of cold and lonely days stretched out before him.

Mumbling an apology and suddenly feeling all of his 85 years, Alfred gave Liza a kiss on the forehead and with tears streaming down his face headed for the snow filled night.

Gonna take a Sentimental Journey,
Gonna set my heart at ease.
Gonna make a Sentimental Journey,
to renew old memories