For Auld Lang Syne

As we look towards the coming year and say farewell to this one, I am reminded of the friendships that have formed among us during the last three years or so and how precious they are.

The last year has brought some amazing changes – there have been new and wonderful developments (TNB for one) among some real challenges we’ve all faced. We’ve shared tears, laughter, disappointment, hope, anger, validation, more than a few curse words, some of the very best times, and the most amazing camaraderie with this little band of brothers we find ourselves in. There’s no better folks to be in the trenches with than you fine folks.

Tiff, Lenny, Alien, and Steve. Halodoc, Stig, Richard, Gretchen, Don, Annie, Andrew, August, Mrs. Marylou, Mike, and Lyin Don. And all of you wonderful readers, whether you comment prolifically or simply lurk. You are all the smartest and best people on any website, anywhere. Period.

As 2019 is welcomed in, we will hear the familiar song Auld Lang Syne – the traditional Scottish folk song we all sort of know but not really. Likely you don’t know the meaning of the words even if you know them all, because most of us don’t speak fluent Scots. The phrase “auld lang syne” translates literally to “old long since” but means “days gone by” or “the olden days”.

The lyrics, explained here, are more about the value of friendship than welcoming a new year, although it works for that purpose as well. Saying farewell to the old year tends to make us look back over our lives and priorities as we prepare for the new year to come. Friendship is certainly part of that retrospection.

Auld Lang Syne is a very old song, written down by the Scottish poet Robert Burns, telling about two old friends who have reunited and are reminiscing about their friendship of many years and the good old times they shared, over a drink.

We never sing all of the verses on New Year’s, so I am putting the easier-to-understand English translation here so you can see them and be reminded of the value of friendships, old and new – for what are new friendships but friendships waiting to grow old?

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

CHORUS:
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.

[CHORUS]

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot, since auld lang syne.

[CHORUS]

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared since auld lang syne.

[CHORUS]

And there’s a hand my trusty friend!
And give me a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll take a right good-will draught, for auld lang syne.

[CHORUS]

Thrillist

Here is an authentic version of Auld Lang Syne from one of my very favorite musicians, who just happens to be Scottish.

So, as we welcome the new year, here’s to the forged-in-fire bonds that have been strengthened here at The News Blender in the last year, to the new friends we have made, to the friendships yet to be made, and to the friends we may have lost along the way.

May the friendships here never lose their bloom, our new friends become our old friends, the friends yet to be come quickly, our friends who got lost find their way back to us, and may we all meet back here again next year to “tak a cup o’ kindness” together.

Happy New Year to one and all!