a memory suddenly re-born

 

A truth two decades ago:  following a whisky laden New Year's Eve, three of us went out on the first of the first - repeatedly muttering, 'Never, never again!' Encased in Scottish made socks an' boots bought from an Ullapool store, we slipped then paused as we tried to keep upright along the snow covered trail, our pounding heads ha-ha-hanging with pain.

A few minutes later, to the left of our prints, appeared a raucous red robin maybe - who knows, protecting his patch or song-singing Robbie Burn's 'auld  lang syne'.  He bibbed an' bobbed from midst the snowy veil of a hedgerow thick with white as  proud bravehearted defender of what he considered was 'all his'

Snow increasing. the little trickster-come-tracker flit and flew, stopping, starting - perhaps spying upon us, playing catch up as needed, surely to make us think he was on a secret mission to dispel thought of how own ceilidh's shivering beak: noisy proof that he too had imbibed a touch too much of holly wine or whatever had turned his wee chest florid red! 

Finally we reached the spot where peering down into a shallow gorge we'd usually see bushes, trees an' little else.  But.. hey!  wonder of wonders, at that very moment a wad of blush red snow slowly moved, displaying two deer, heads to one side - listening to the song of the mischievous robin  accompanying  frozen humans wandering for wandering's state.

The light, such as had been, lessened, we turned to look back  about a half mile gone.  There in the distance was our dad waving a flag - the blue and white saltire, urging us back into the warmth an' safety of our holiday home.  There where music an' singing had gone to sofa, floor or bed, where the first of January would be less a robin but - an ever-throbbing memory! 

Reviews

[Cherrie Palmer]

I needed this frosty flashback and hope you are feeling better.

[emmajoygreen]

Am only to glad to share this frosty flashback with you, Cherrie; I think the alcoholic excess engraved itself on my being forever! Don't think I've ever felt so 'poorly' - one learns the hard way. I'm managing, many thanks - by keeping busy with card writing and list making! Sending you my love and gentle hugs, dear friend.

[Sami Khalil]

A lovely memory; perhaps unforgettable. Party, snow, deer, safety concerns. Ah, the good ol' days.

[emmajoygreen]

Many thank yous, Sami! This is a true story, going back to when we 'youngsters' suffered from over indulging in new year celebrations. The robin and deer were a great compensation however!

[Sami Khalil]

OMG! You are welcome Emmajoygreen.
Can't say the other word you know. Lol

[emmajoygreen]

Good man, you remember! :)

[Sami Khalil]

Hehehe!!!!!!

[Ken Simm.]

What a lovely, sweet memory of my homeland. I could see it all so clearly.
Cleared the hangover. I used to have a 'friend' I use the word advisedly. Who always said to me whilst I still drank. "You enjoyed getting like that so why don't you enjoy being like that.? I was more violent in those days too.
This is so peaceful and lovely as I watch my own Robins fight and squabble outside and there will be Roe in the marsh.

[Ken Simm.]

I also echo what Lorry said aboot the best wee country and the hollowed oot ships.

[emmajoygreen]

Was true although slightly manoevred.. sadly I remember it too well.. so does brother Jack! The beautiful part of it was being tracked by the ever singing robin.. surely should have been hunkered down somewhere.. and, also, the look of the deer red, reflected upwards from the small gorge, snow gently falling... truly memorable! That quote you mention: is memorable but rarely remembered! Many thanks for your review, sir Simm.

[Chris]

A coffee-less morning... but this was needful... thanks Em.

[emmajoygreen]

Hope you're not missing the coffee too much, my friend.. but delighted the poem has helped a little. Take great care of yourself, please, Chris.

[Lorry]

Welcome to Scotland! 😊
I always rush under those welcome signs, as I am sure they are just waiting for me to pass, before clunking down on my head 🤕
But hey, we aren't known as the best small country in the world for nothing, as you too well know.
I mean, where else can you buy two hollowed out sheep and get away with calling them socks? 😊
And if all else fails, you always have the Amber fluid to make you forget about the cold!
But not too much mind, or you might forget yourself a bit too much! 😊

[emmajoygreen]

Such an interesting and fun review, sir Lorry - many thank yous. Need do some tidying with one of the stanzas.. but later.. the warder calls! :)

[Lorry]

Hope you get early release for good behaviour. 😊