Goodbye2013

As the winter’s tight and bitter grip exerts its frozen force in these last remaining days of the year, I for one am joyfully releasing the past 365 days from my grip. It’s a year that I won’t pine for or recall with fondness.

I do though welcome whatever the next solar circuit around the sun brings knowing that the odds are it WILL deliver a far better circumstance than its predecessor! Auld lang syne indeed!

If ever there were days to remember and good times long since past, I am grateful that I have so many to make this year pale and fade away. Auld Lang Syne – the hymn of my heritage and ode to endings ( and beginnings). You may not know the words or have a good feel what what they say, since the Scots dialect is unintelligible to all but a few :-).

It’s a poignant poem written by Rabbie Burns the poet laureate of all that is Scotland.

“Auld Lang Syne” can be translated to mean something like “old long since,” “long long ago,” “days gone by,” “old times” or “the good old times.” An examination of the words reveals a sort of toast to old friends and good times of the past and hopes for the future.

According to Scotland.org, “Auld Lang Syne is one of Scotland’s gifts to the world, recalling the love and kindness of days gone by, but in the communion of taking our neighbors’ hands, it also gives us a sense of belonging and fellowship to take into the future.” Here is an English translation of the famous holiday song. Brush up on the lyrics so you can join in the group singing at midnight.

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup!
and surely I’ll buy mine !
And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

So let’s raise a glass and toast the best of our past, and the promise of good times again in the days to come.
Ah the new year. See you in the new year!