Chasing Foxes

I remember learning to sing this song as a kid. It was one of those where the whole family sings along. The song reminds me of living in Virginia, in the then rural areas outside Washington D.C. where my Dad worked. It was pretty country then. Rolling hills with lots of forest. Of course, it's well developed today.

This song reminds me of my first day of kindergarten. My Mom was driving me to school. I really never wanted to go to school. It seemed so "unfun"...so un-kid like to have to sit in a room all day and be told what to do. Where's the freedom, fun and imagination in that?

So we're driving down this country road on the way to my little school when all of sudden this red fox darts out in front of us and races across the road. My Mom slammed on the brakes to keep from hitting him. She was pretty startled by the whole thing and took a moment to collect herself with the car stopped. Me, I wanted to get out of the car and chase that red fox. Really, I can vividly remember wanting nothing else in the whole world but to chase that fox through the woods of Virginia all day.

I pleaded with my Mom to let me. I tried to reason with her that I could start school the next day - come on, what's one day? Imagine my disappointment that she'd have "none of that, I was going to school". I cried a bit. And when I got to school, I stared out the window thinking "man, that fox sure was lucky to be out running free in those woods". You know, I'd still rather be chasing that red fox than sit in some boring school room all day. "Take me home" John.