Auld Lang Syne - In Times Gone By



Emerald Princess



We enjoyed the Christmas vacation on a beautiful cruise ship somewhere in the Caribbean.  We started in Fort Lauderdale and visited a number of exotic places such as Dominica, Grenada and Aruba. We had a wonderful time and unfortunately my only sin was that I ate too much! At times, while I sat on our balcony pondering the night sky and listing to the soothing sound of the water rushing along the side of the ship, my mind settled into a quiet contentment and a deep sense of peacefulness. What a fantastic way to end 2011. My life has been full in every way and I have no regrets. (Well perhaps one or two small ones!!)  A journey on a ship is so much like our passage through life that the analogy is hard to miss.

But like all trips, including life's journey, they come to an end. We octogenarians are probably more aware of this than others. However, it is not an alarming thought, but rather a slow and growing realization that that's the way it is. And there is nothing like a New Year's Eve with good friends to make me think: "Gosh, I made into another year!"

Many people say they make new year resolutions. It's an old tradition that probably dates back to the  time  Babylonians (circa: 1600 BC). However, it also has Christian roots where custom prompted the followers to think about correcting past mistakes. Might still be a good idea!

We brought in the New Year with great friends and we planned that, after a few glasses of Champagne at mid-night, we would sleep over! We attempted to sing Auld Lang Syne but, even after all these years, I had to struggle with  the words. They come from an old Scotch book of songs to which Bobby Burns made a few changes around 1796. However, it was a Canadian from Ontario, in the person of Guy Lomardo who, in 1930, performed it in Times Square. It became a tradition. Since then most of us belt it out at midnight, with a little liquid assistance of course!

Bobby Burns

"Should auld acquaintances be forgot,

And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And Auld Lang Syne."

Unfortunately, to answer the question in the song, we don't remember old friends and times on New Years Eve.  Instead,  many of us profess to make New Year resolutions, possibly more of a wish than a goal. Perhaps, we would be well advised, as did the early Christians, to think about correcting past mistakes. I guess that is just what I will do this year. If I can think of any!

"For auld lang syne, my dear

For auld lang syne.

We'll take a cup of kindness yet,

For auld lang syne."

And that's Dick's View of the World this Week