You have probably heard Harry Chapin’s 1974 hit song “Cat’s in the Cradle” but never understood the meaning of the title.
According to legend, the Saint Elizabeth’s Flood of 1421 ravished the land around Kinderdijk and drowned up to 10,000 people.
The following day, an infant girl was found drifting in a crib.
The baby had remained afloat by the tireless efforts of a cat jumping back and forth to keep the cradle balanced.
The story became a popular Dutch fairytale.
The village was named Kinderdijk meaning children’s dike.

The Harry Chapin is a very important name in my town.
His children went to school with my children and he was an involved parent.
He was at the kids soccer games and at least once a year gave a concert for charity.
He set up food pantries on Long Island for the hungry and was involved in finding ways to feed the hungry worldwide.
He was killed in a tragic car crash on the Long Island Expressway when the kids were in middle school.
My tears were mixed with the rain as I remembered this kind and talented man.