The day after our old cat died
I don't know what made me decide
To climb into our car and drive
Through the biggest snowstorm in 17 years
Was it he'd been with us for so long
That I couldn't stand it with him gone
Had to make a journey of my own
Just to banish the pain, be born again
Well it was there, up on that mountainside
That I got scared, the car began to slide
Became aware this wasn't such a hot idea
Was it this small loss at just this time
Punched in that loss of '79
Was enough to make me leave my mind behind
Far behind
Through the mountains interstate was out
So we had to take that alternate route
Was just two lanes, only one of them plowed
Oh the going to slow as it continued snowing
And not quite dark, visibility short
No better news from traffic report
By the time we finally reach I-40
Some jackknifed truck shut it down of course
And it was there, deep blanketed on-ramp
That I prepared to pitch impromptu camp
Pulled out my hair, we should have listened to your grandfather
Was it this small loss at just this time
Punched in that loss of '79
Was enough to make me leave my mind behind
Situation critical: no room at Comfort Inn
And we were something pitiful when Martha took us in
Had to abandon vehicle eight inches deep in snow
But found a world transfigured way up in Ponder Cove
'Cause it was this small loss at just this time
Punched in that loss of '79
Was enough to make me leave my mind behind
So far behind