As “mature” adults (yes, I know – a relative term), we sometimes find ourselves stuck in a vortex of never ending responsibilities and commitments that leave us feeling as if we’re on the midnight express of “Gotta Get ‘R Done” while the world whizzes by at hyper speed. It may be days, weeks, months, even years before we slow down and wonder “How did my life end up like this?”
Sound familiar? I thought so.
While riding that midnight express of responsibility and looming deadlines recently, I found myself frantically scouring the Internet looking for kid songs to use in an upcoming library program. Page after page slipped by without any satisfying results and I could feel my frustration mount with each click of the mouse. I was nearly ready to give up when my eyes fell upon these five words:
“The Happy Wanderer – Val-deri, Valdera”
I frowned. Raffi, The Wiggles, Jim Gill – these were the artists whose songs I had expected to find. Instead, it took several moments to wrap my mind around what was on the screen and wonder why those words sounded so familiar, and yet seemed so strange. And then, a far off memory began nudging its way out of the nebulous part of my brain. A smile crossed my face as I whispered,
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
I’m really glad the Children’s Room was empty during that time or the patrons might have wondered about my mental capabilities as a round of emotions played through my mind and surely reflected on my face. I could feel my smile grow broader when the tune I hadn’t heard in almost 40 years began playing in my head and I could envision my eight year old self belting out this song at the top of my lungs in Mrs. Ogle’s third grade class. With each note I mentally sang, a few more memories came tumbling back; forgotten moments when life was a whole lot simpler.
“The Happy Wanderer” was one of my absolute favorite songs when I was a child; especially when Mrs. Ogle would have us sing the chorus in what I believe was meant to be two-part harmony. There were times when I secretly expected Maria Van Trapp and the Van Trapp children to come dancing through the classroom door like something out of “The Sound of Music.” After all, “The Happy Wanderer” seemed like their kind of song.
I also recalled the morning classroom routine – saying the Pledge of Allegiance, singing those timeless tunes out of that old song book, and anticipating what special job listed on the Helper Board I might have for the day.
It was a delightful treat to recall such a simple moment in my childhood (not to mention great for my blood pressure), especially at a time when life has been pretty darn hectic acclimating to a new job and increased responsibilities. I guess the subconscious has a way of providing you with a brief reprieve from all the ups and downs we face every day.
Although you can’t live in the past and completely escape life’s challenges, just remember - you can “go a-wanderin’.” So the next time you’re on a nonstop trip to deadlines and commitments, take a moment to put a knapsack on your back and call to mind one of those happy, childhood memories just waiting to be rediscovered.
It’s elementary, you know.
Check out the words below or better yet, watch the Muppets very entertaining version of the song. Enjoy!
THE HAPPY WANDERER
I love to go a-wandering,
Along the mountain track,
And as I go, I love to sing,
My knapsack on my back.
Chorus:
Val-deri,Val-dera,
Val-deri,
Val-dera-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha
Val-deri,Val-dera.
My knapsack on my back.
I love to wander by the stream
That dances in the sun,
So joyously it calls to me,
"Come! Join my happy song!"
I wave my hat to all I meet,
And they wave back to me,
And blackbirds call so loud and sweet
From ev'ry green wood tree.
High overhead, the skylarks wing,
They never rest at home
But just like me, they love to sing,
As o'er the world we roam.
Oh, may I go a-wandering
Until the day I die!
Oh, may I always laugh and sing,
Beneath God's clear blue sky!
What favorite elementary school memory do you remember? Let us know in the comments section below.
