Friday, January 25, 2008

More Reminiscing

It's Robert Burns Day!

Slaandjivaa! (to your health)

All over the world, there will be celebrations honouring the Scottish poet.

The Bag Lady's parents never missed a Rabbie Burns Night - in fact, the Bag Lady's father was, on several occasions, given the honour of piping in the haggis.

The Bag Lady's father was not Scottish. His father was Swedish, but his mother may have had some Scottish blood. In the case of Robert Burns, though, blood isn't everything!

The picture to the left is the best the Bag Lady could find (in her haste) of her father playing the pipes. This was obviously not at a Rabbie Burns night, but you get the idea. The Bag Lady's father learned to play the pipes in his 'later' years, and played in a pipe band, but was also asked to play the pipes for weddings, funerals, in parades and for many other occasions.

The Bag Lady hopes you all have a great weekend, and remember to lift a wee dram in honour of Robert Burns tonight. She leaves you with a famous Scottish toast:

"Here's tae us;
Who's like us?
Damn few,
And they're a' deid!!"
Slaandjivaa!!

14 comments:

Leah J. Utas said...

Good pic. I've gone to two Robbie Burns celebrations in my life and I'm okay with haggis. As long as there's not too much of it and it's only once a year I can quite enjoy it.

I have a bit of Scot in my veins. Maybe that's why I woke up craving oatmeal today.

Slaandjivaa!!

the Bag Lady said...

Craving oatmeal? Oh my goodness, you must have more Scot in you than the Bag Lady does!! Must hae come from yer mam!

Time to get yourself some good Scotch whiskey!
Slaadjivaa!

elasticwaistbandlady said...

Your father is rocking those sexy little knee highs!

the Bag Lady said...

Cute, eh? We used to tease him mercilessly about his cute knees...

Emily said...

I'll have to share with my husband; their family is scottish (somewhere.maybe) and hubs would love to play the bag pipes...of course nothing is sexier than a man in a skirt : ) With the thigh high socks and all. I'm getting excited just thinking about it!!

the Bag Lady said...

Down, girl, down!! Sounds to the Bag Lady as though your hubby should take up the pipes soon!! Hope he's not a smoker, though...

Emily said...

He's not a smoker- do you need strong lungs to play the pipes?

Anonymous said...

Great pic! Will definitely lift a wee dram (or maybe not so wee) tonight...

Crabby McSlacker said...

Wow, all this is news to me--my last name is Scottish, so I'm assuming I've got some Scottish blood in me.

But I don't like Scotch Whiskey, oatmeal, or bagpipes!

I do like boys in skirts however, if that helps.

the Bag Lady said...

Oh, yes, Emily - that big ol' goatskin bag takes a huge amount of wind to fill, then you squeeze it to make the sound come out. But in the meantime, you have to keep blowing.
When the Bag Lady and the Cowboy first met, the Bag Lady's father was still alive - one of her funniest memories is of the Cowboy standing on the picnic table behind her dad, blowing on the pipes, while her dad stood below, playing the chanter. Everytime the Cowboy ran out of wind, her dad elbowed him in the unmentionables! Could explain why we have no children...
McMissicat - love that! (ashamed to say it took the Bag Lady a second or two to catch on...) Lift one for the Bag Lady, and one in memory of her father, too, would you?!
Crabby - perhaps Scottish crabs have different tastes? The Bag Lady isn't fond of Scotch whiskey, or oatmeal, either, but loves the Bagpipes when they are played well, and played outside!! She used to help her dad tune them, and almost went deaf as a result!!

Reb said...

And living through the learning was a bit torturous wasn't it? The end result was worth it though.

the Bag Lady said...

Too true, Reb!

Hilary said...

Late to the party, but Happy Haggis! ;)

the Bag Lady said...

Happy Haggis, Hilary!