Elgielene and I had been married for less than a year. And each day was an exploration into love, joy, and laughter. But then a routine-changing glitch happened. The economy bottomed out. And we discovered what we had been doing wasn’t enough. So, we did what any normal couple would do. We hit the road.
What? You’ve never hit the road in a bad economy?
Well then, you don’t know what you’ve missed.
And that’s probably a good thing. For most people anyway.
Because I’ve heard so many couples mention how they couldn’t spend 24 hours a day together. Especially for days, weeks, months, and even years on end. And I think that’s sad. You can learn a lot about someone, in less time, when you spend more time with them. Sounds backward. But it’s really forward.
Elgielene and I saw a LOT of America while we traveled, full-time, back and forth across the country. And we met a LOT of people from a wide variety of states and towns. And we had a blast spending all the time together. In our little blue pickup. And in our fancy hotel rooms (yeah, right). Just the two of us. 24 hours a day.
But we found out what kind of person each of us had married. Turns out, we both liked what we got. And that’s more than most married couples can say anymore.
After we got off the road, we landed in Nashville where I made the songwriter rounds. And after a year there (and countless times of being told I should go to L.A.) we hit the road to Tampa, Florida. A friend told me there were lots of places where I could play beach music to appreciative crowds. And that ended up being true.
But, after a year there, we headed back up the road to Colorado.
And once we established ourselves back in the Rocky Mountain state, I recorded a CD of Christian inspired songs. One of those songs was about that road life we had together. And how it made me feel.
It was called Safe and Sound.
Through sales of the CD, across the country, I found out that a couple somewhere down South or in the heartland had even played that song in their wedding. What an honor that was for me.
The chorus, which also sounds like a song bridge, says…
We laugh like there’s no tomorrow.
We’re touched by the hand of God.
So what if there’s no new sunrise.
So what if the world won’t spin around.
We’re safe and sound.
And the verse that captures our road life says…
Miles have gone by; we dared to go see
The wide open space and seldom we frowned
Look how our love is safe and sound
Deep in our hearts and inside our minds
We capture the words and they keep us bound
Saying our love is safe and sound
That song, and 12 others, can be found on my Do Right CD. And I actually have some of those original CD’s left from 1996. So, I’m selling them as the Do Right 25th Anniversary Cheryl Care Package. Because all the profits, after shipping, will go to a wonderful woman who lost her husband just a few weeks ago. He was a pastor.
If you’d care to help out a pastor’s wife who’s been through a lot, the link to get the CD is below.
“Safe and Sound” © 1993 Tony Funderburk
Stay tuned,
Get the Do Right 25th Anniversary Cheryl Care Package Here