Today is Robert Burns Day... a celebration of Scotland and Robert Burns, composer of Address to a Haggis, among other things.
Alas it falls on a Monday this year, which makes it difficult to celebrate in the style it should be and still get up on Tuesday morning ready to face the world. Thus, some friends invited us over for Burns Supper last night, which was a bit better, though still not perfect. (I guess there are lower expectations for Monday morning than Tuesday morning, which makes an odd sort of sense.) We ate home made haggis, neeps, and tatties, among other things. Most importantly we toasted Robert Burns, Scotland, each other, and absent friends with a couple of good single malt whiskeys.
As an aside, we decided that since it wasn't really Robert Burns' birthday we were probably celebrating something else, which we decided was Montgomery Burns Day, which is entirely different, but still (in your best and most appropriate Simpson's voice) excellent.
A couple of years ago I spent a few days in Scotland and met a bunch of wonderful people. Islay was particularly amazing, and I think I could live there, though my wife needs a bit more in the way of civilization. Still, we both dearly loved it and would happily go back.
In any case, wherever you are, take a moment to think about Robert Burns, Scotland, and your friends, both present and gone. And make the time to thank those you have for being there for you.
Cheers!
