I've always wondered

I've always wondered what the lyrics were that are sung and midnight every new year and now I know! Below are the lyrics for those of you that are equally curious in both the Traditional and Modern English Translations. Happy New Year!

Auld Lang Syne (Traditional)

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 dear For auld lang syne, We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet For auld lang syne!

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.

We twa hae paidl’t in the burn Frae morning sun till dine, But seas between us braid hae roar’d Sin’ auld lang syne.

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere, And gie’s a hand o’ thine, And we’ll tak a right guid willie-waught For auld lang syne!

And surely ye’ll be your pint’ stoup, And surely I’ll be mine! And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet For auld lang syne!

Times Gone By (Modern English Version)

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

Chorus: For times gone by, my dear For times gone by, We will take a cup of kindness yet For times gone by.

We two have run about the hillsides And pulled the daisies fine, But we have wandered many a weary foot For times gone by.

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

And there is a hand, my trusty friend, And give us a hand of yours, And we will take a goodwill drink (of ale) For times gone by!

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 times gone by!

out 08 - in 09

We're getting closer to the famous midnight, the one celebrated worldwide. What will you be doing at midnight? Kissing your lover, wishing for a lover to kiss or missing your lover far away...



Or perhaps you're more the festive type that will be decked in boas, funny glasses and a head piece of some sort breaking your streamers, blowing your noise makers and shouting for the world to hear "HAPPY NEW YEAR!"



Whatever the case may be, raise your glass in toast to the wondrous possibilities of the near and distant future. To friendships to come, cultivating the ones you have, weeding out those that are fading, to family no matter how strong or weak the relationship, to love, loyalty, honesty and integrity all through out your life and of those that surround you. This is a new dawn, grasp it!



On a semi-side note: I've never been one for listing out an annual To-Do list and calling them resolutions because the majority were really meant for short-term or life happens and the items are no longer feasible. However, bringing in the new year does cause me to reflect on the pros and cons of the year ending and how to learn from them and apply those lessons going forward. A big one this time around is Friendships. As you may have gathered from some of my previous entries, my friends mean a lot to me. I put a lot of emotion and time and energy into all of my relationships but especially those that reciprocate and have been there for me during difficult times. So going forward I'm going to cultivate the relationships that are barely there, spend more quality time with the friends that have been there, hopefully create a couple of new friends and sever the ones that are only sucking my life source away.

Jingle, Jingle

Winter Wonderland.

It trully is the most wonderful time of the year! Even with all of the stress and full streets and crazy drivers... The Christmas music is such a highlight for me. I just love it! And for those especially difficult days it helps to bring the stress levels down and a the frown flipped upside down. :)


I'm not sure which part I enjoy more, hearing, watching or singing the melodious christmas tunes. All though I never sing for an audience there is something real and tactile about personally uttering those magically wonderful words. "For unto a child is born... O Holy Night... Joy to the World... It came upon a midnight clear... Where are you christmas... Silent Night..." I could go on forever!


Whether you'll be hearing, watching or singing along, I hope that you enjoy a wonderful Christmas full of cheer!

Merry Christmas!!

Friendships

According to Wikipedia: Friendship is a term used to denote co-operative and supportive behavior between two or more people. In this sense, the term connotes a relationship which involves mutual knowledge, esteem, and affection and respect along with a degree of rendering service to friends in times of need or crisis. Friends will welcome each other's company and exhibit loyalty towards each other, often to the point of altruism. Their tastes will usually be similar and may converge, and they will share enjoyable activities. They will also engage in mutually helping behavior, such as exchange of advice and the sharing of hardship. A friend is someone who may often demonstrate reciprocating and reflective behaviors. Yet for many, friendship is nothing more than the trust that someone or something will not harm them.
Value that is found in friendships is often the result of a friend demonstrating the following on a consistent basis:
the tendency to desire what is best for the other,
sympathy and empathy,
honesty, perhaps in situations where it may be difficult for others to speak the truth, especially in terms of pointing out the perceived faults of one's counterpart
mutual understanding.

And according to Dictionary.com: friend  /frɛnd/

-Noun
1. a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard.
2. a person who gives assistance; patron; supporter: friends of the Boston Symphony.
3. a person who is on good terms with another; a person who is not hostile: Who goes there? Friend or foe?
4. a member of the same nation, party, etc.
5. (initial capital letter) a member of the Religious Society of Friends; a Quaker.

–verb (used with object)
6. Rare. to befriend.

—Idiom
7. make friends with, to enter into friendly relations with; become a friend to.

How do you determine when you have gained a friend and when you have fallen out of a friendship?

The term "friend" is used in such a general manner these days. Mainly because acquaintance sounds a bit harsh, especially if it's a person that it in that limbo land between aquaintance and friendship.

Yes, as a close friend you are supposed to be able to be honest, especially when it is difficult. But even after you've uttered an extremely difficult statement of honesty and concern for a person and that friend turns their back further from you, what are you left to do next? Assume they are separating themselves from you? No matter the time invested or the history nurtured over the years? Sometimes I think loosing a long time friend is worse than ending a relationship with a partner. For those closest of friends know your soul.

Here's to a new year of gaining new friendships and reflecting on the possitive values of those you may have lost over this past year.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

I do not want to sit and reflect.

The actions of this past weekend have left me empty.

Within 48 hours I had a terrible lovers' quarel and the biggest event of personal disrespect. The first originally seemed so devistating until the latter came into existance.

I've been pouring energy, time, money, food and love into an individual for a year now. Last night I introduced him to the core of my being. My family and church. In turn he spat. He spat on me, my family and my church. Both verbally and in his physical actions.

You really can not help those that don't first want to help themselves. A morally bankrupt person is even worse though. You can express your hurt because of their actions and it doesn't even leave an abbrasive mark on their thick hide.



Rain, rain, go away.
Come again, some other day...

Treading Softly

I love you
Her whispered words hang in the stale night air
It’s too soon for him

I love you
Tracing the words on his skin

I love you