| [00:36.13] |
She had the window and I had the aisle |
| [00:40.02] |
She looked 25, but she was shaking like a child |
| [00:43.94] |
when we took off |
| [00:49.30] |
I looked over and clutched in her hand |
| [00:53.10] |
There was a cactus in a coffee can |
| [00:57.53] |
She was holding that thing like it was all that she had |
| [01:02.16] |
She smiled at me, but I could tell she was sad |
| [01:15.26] |
Somewhere over Denver, I asked her her name |
| [01:19.97] |
She said "Elena," and told me she came from Santa Fe |
| [01:28.78] |
She ordered a drink and a wall came down |
| [01:32.91] |
She started talking and pain poured out |
| [01:37.54] |
She told me a story I'll never forget |
| [01:41.67] |
She had me in tears when she looked at me and said |
| [01:47.24] |
"My mama's first love was crack |
| [01:50.72] |
She made her living lying on her back |
| [01:55.42] |
And she gave me away on the day that I was born" |
| [02:05.65] |
She said, "The last ten years I spent tracking her down |
| [02:10.32] |
It don't seem fair that when I finally found her |
| [02:14.36] |
she was almost gone |
| [02:19.07] |
We had two weeks together to laugh and to cry |
| [02:23.56] |
Two weeks to say hello and goodbye |
| [02:28.20] |
She gave me this cactus, said, 'It's kinda like me |
| [02:32.10] |
It'll hurt you to hold it, but it blooms every spring'" |
| [02:37.96] |
|
| [02:45.38] |
She said, "I'm on my way back to New Mexico |
| [02:49.42] |
Was gonna scatter these ashes where the desert winds blow |
| [02:55.05] |
But I came up with a better plan |
| [02:58.77] |
I'm gonna keep 'em in the bottom of this coffee can" |
| [03:04.36] |
"My mama was a tortured soul |
| [03:08.23] |
I still love her even though |
| [03:12.70] |
Oh, she gave me away on the day I was born" |
| [03:23.10] |
The plane touched down and we both got off |
| [03:27.62] |
I took her hand and said, "I'm sorry for your loss" |
| [03:32.56] |
She said, "Thanks for listening, and for being here |
| [03:36.13] |
I've been wantin' to talk about for so many years" |
| [03:41.07] |
Now I'll probably never see Elena again |
| [03:45.38] |
We met as strangers and parted as friends |
| [03:49.72] |
As we waved goodbye, I was sure of one thing |
| [03:53.80] |
There'll be a flower on that cactus come next spring |
