Happy New Year!

I'm so optimistic that 2010 is going to be great! 

In celebrating ringing in the New Year, we sang Auld Lang Syne and I happened to with be old friends - and I was reminded how perfect that was.  That while ringing in and welcoming new friends, new experiences, and change - how blessed we are to remain with those we've known a while as well. 

I came across this young kid Declan Galbraith on You Tube with an amazing voice - so if you want to hear a beautiful modern rendition of the old song, click here - "Auld Lang Syne"

Here is some history of the song: 

It began as a poem written by Scotland's Robert Burns in 1788 (with a few of the lyrics cribbed from a James Watson ballad from 1711 called "Old Long Syne").

The tune is a traditional Scottish folk song, and it quickly gained popularity in the U.K. as a song sung at the end of the year as well as at funerals.

As Brits emigrated to other parts of the globe, the tradition spread, and took hold in the United States as early as 1896.

It didn't become a popular American staple in this country until band leader Guy Lombardo played the tune during his year-end radio broadcast in 1929.

The title of the tune literally translates to "Old Long Since," though people readily accept "Long Long Ago" or "In Olden Times" as reasonable transpositions.

The first verse goes a little something like this: "Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Should old acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne?/ For auld lang syne my dear/ For auld lang syne/ We'll take a cup of kindness yet/ For auld lang syne."  

Cheers to you for a blessed and wonderful 2010!

Sheryl Matthys

Creator of Leashes and Lovers & The Dog Expert