Strange But True - Deja Vu

Back when Rebecca was applying to colleges, one Saturday we decided to drive down to Princeton to take a tour of the school.

I had been to the campus many times, since my Mom lived the last 10 years of her life in Plainsboro, New Jersey, the next town from Princeton. I had not been around there for a few years, the last time being when Brian and I finished cleaning out Mom's apartment. I didn’t have any particular trepidation about going back, I just hadn't had a reason.

Our GPS suggested getting off at Jersey Turnpike Exit 9, and then taking Route 1 for 18 miles to Princeton. This seemed like a stupid way to go (too much Route 1 with lights), so I decided to ignore the GPS and go to Exit 8A (9 miles to that Exit) and go through Plainsboro to Princeton. Naturally, as soon as I passed Exit 9 we encountered heavy traffic all the way to Exit 8A, but in hindsight, I think we were supposed to get stuck in traffic.

When we got off at Exit 8A, we started driving on the very familiar Route 130. I had driven this route MANY times while visiting Mom, and felt a warm feeling when we came upon the first cornfields.

We were listening to a local Princeton radio station. Just as we approached the first cornfield, the Crosby, Stills & Nash song Deja Vu started playing. I had to pull over for a moment. Deja Vu during my deja vu was a lot to handle. After I composed myself, I turned it up and kept driving. The cornfields were beautiful.

If you’re not familiar with the song, it’s worth a listen.

Lyrics:

If I had ever been here before I would probably know just what to do. Don't you?

If I had ever been here before on another time around the wheel I would probably know just how to deal - With all of you.

And I feel Like I've been here before. Feel Like I've been here before.

And you know - It makes me wonder - What's going on - under the ground

Do you know? Don't you wonder? What's going on down under you.

We have all been here before

We have all been here before

We have all been here before

We have all been here before

This piece was originally published on “Blogger” in 2010. I’m sharing it here because some moments stay with us — and sometimes, years later, they still know how to find us.