Happy New Year!

Dad and I stayed home as usual, sipped some Asti.

This is the year we hope to move. A big project. Huge. So much to do and I like to plan everything out. I'm the "fail to plan and you plan to fail" type. Dad just says, "Don't worry about it." So I'm trying not to worry about it.

Now, here's a bit of Scottish heritage I wanted to share with you. "Auld Lang Syne" is an 18th century song written by Robert Burns of Alloway, Ayrshire, Scotland in 1788. Your great-great-great grandfather Alexander Balfour was born in the same general area (near Glasgow) only 60 years after the song was written. I didn't know the song was Scottish, but every time I hear it I want to cry. Bagpipes make me cry, too. Here are the words, and below, a modern translation.

AULD LANG SYNE

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind ?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days o' lang syne ?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my jo,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp !
And surely I’ll be mine !
And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

CHORUS
We twa hae run about the braes,
And pu’d the gowans fine ;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary foot,
Sin auld lang syne.

CHORUS
We twa hae paidl’d i' the burn,
Frae morning sun till dine ;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
Sin auld lang syne.

CHORUS
And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere !
And gie's a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll tak a right gude-willy waught,
For auld lang syne.

CHORUS

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

And the translation:

Should old acquaintances be forgotten,
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintances be forgotten,
And days of long ago !

Chorus:
For old long ago, my dear
For old long ago,
We will take a cup of kindness yet
For old long ago.

We two have run about the hillsides
And pulled the daisies fine,
But we have wandered many a weary foot
For old long ago.

We two have paddled (waded) in the stream
From noon until dinner time,
But seas between us broad have roared
Since old long ago.

And there is a hand, my trusty friend,
And give us a hand of yours,
And we will take a goodwill draught (of ale)
For old long ago!

And surely you will pay for your pint,
And surely I will pay for mine!
And we will take a cup of kindness yet
For old long ago!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~