Last night Bill and I attended Burn's Night, hosted by the St. Andrew's Society of Tidewater, at the Princess Anne Country Club in Virginia Beach. Honestly, the most fun I have had since our return to the states. The men were dressed in full Scottish garb. Some women wore skirts made of their clan's tartan or a fly (something akin to a scarf) worn over the right shoulder. Others, like me, wore evening gowns. It was a very lovely and proper setting.
We sat with a wonderful group of people, all of whom are of Scottish decent (except me). I was tickled to discover three of the group came from Scotland directly and revelled in listening to their beautiful accents all evening. Once we were seated, four flasks of single malt were pulled from various sporrans and hose. The malt was free flowing and the good times were rolling! The following made up our group:
(1) Me and Bill, obviously.
(2) To our left sat Marcey and Josiah (Skip) Hunter, both of Scottish decent. Both are very involved in the St. Andrew's Society of Tidewater and the Scottish Society of Tidewater; Marcie being the membership director of the latter. Tidbits about the couple: They live in Oceanview and have created an authentic Scottish pub above their garage. According to others at the table, they have the largest selection of single malt scotch (and most diverse) found in our area.
(3) Directly across from us sat John McGlynn and Donna. John is from Scotland, somewhere between Edinburgh and Glasgow, and is the President of The Scottish Society of Tidewater. He regaled us with tales of his life before the United States (he was snatched up by General Electric when he completed university). Most notable is the story about how he was hitchhiking in the country when along comes a Rolls Royce, which picks him up. There is no room in the Royce. Why? Because there is a sheep taking up the space in the back seat. So he has to hold onto the running board as they bump along for 15 miles. He is stressing because his hat is about to blow off. The driver of the Royce kindly rolls down his window and pulls John's hat down snugly on his head then rolls the window back up again. Unfortunately, I only had a minute to chat with Donna before we were called to sit and she was too far across the table to chat with. Tidbit about the couple: They are not married but I get the feeling they have been together quite some time and have put many miles traveling together under their belts. She lives in Ghent, he in Old Towne Portsmouth.
(4) To our right sat Susan and Jim Curry (of Clan Ranald), both from Glasgow, Scotland. Susan is of Clan Ross. They have visited their homeland but have not lived there since 1971. They sport the Scottish accent but when Jim said the word New Jersey (where they lived for about three years) he sounded just like a local! Tidbits about the couple: They have a great sense of humor. They reside in Chesapeake, very near us. Neither like Scotch whiskey!
Briefly, our evening when like this:
6:00-7:00 The Social Hour: I had a 7 and 7 ($6) and Bill had two fingers of 12 year MacAllan Single Malt Scotch ($15)
7:00-11:30 Piping To Dinner - we sat but it wasn't time to eat. First they made the introductions. The Selkirk Grace was performed, and then the Haggis ceremony. What exactly is a haggis ceremony? The haggis is paraded into the room and to each table to be seen by all. It is accompanied by the bagpiper, the broad swords, a silver tray with drams of scotch (to pay the pipers). Finally Robert Burn's Address To A Haggis is made and the ceremonial haggis is cut open (this one was not in a sheep's stomach but rather a bright red sausage skin). Our very own Skip made the haggis and performed the ceremony. To read Burn's Address To A Haggis and its translation, which is far to long to include in this blog, click here: http://www.worldburnsclub.com/poems/translations/address_to_a_haggis.htm
We were then served a scoop of haggis with tatties and neeps (mashed potatoes and turnips).
Dinner was served, either a lovely fillet of salmon with dill sauce, potatoes and asparagus or fillet mignon. I had the salmon and tasted Bill's fillet. I was so impressed with the food. It was wonderful.
Then we had a slew of toasts: to the President of the United States- given by Skip, to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, to the Scottish Government - given by John, to the Lassies, to the Laddies, and the final toast was given by Professor Adam S. Potkay, PHD from the College of William and Mary and it was to the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns. I had the great misfortune of sitting in the back and not being able to understand much of what he said in the beginning but caught a lot of the excerpt of Tam o'Shanter. A tale. Wanna read it? Click here:
http://www.robertburns.org.uk/Assets/Poems_Songs/tamoshanter.htm
The bagpiper then played the military service hymns and here comes the drama. The Scot of the Year Presentation was made and the grand recipient REFUSED IT. LOUDLY. AND IN A HUFF! (He is pictured in the first photo on the right hand side, (Robert D. Lockwood). He really made a stink and truth be told emphasized my not very good first opinion of him (pompous and arrogant come to mind). To their credit, the presenters went on as if he didn't speak. To the presenters! (That is how we toasted all night...)
The bagpiper played The Flowers of the Forest and as he did so several names of members who passed away last year were read. I couldn't hear the names over the pipes. I know, you are thinking several? I was not that astonished myself because there were numerous octogenarians in our midst that evening. The finale was Auld Lang Syne played by the piper, sung by us.
"For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne."