Almost everyone at the tables was leaning back, so full they were uncomfortable. Several of the women were already gathering up the food to put it away. Mari didn’t even need to direct them. They all knew what to do.
In moments, they were all gathered around the tables. Malcolm rose and signaled to the fiddler, a spry older man of about 80. Heather surmised that he might be the man who came with the little older lady who had brought the haggis and whiskey sauce.
He began a light toe tapping song and Malcolm began.
“Step we gaily on we go, heel for heel and tow for tow, arm in arm and row on row, all for Mari’s wedding.
Over hillways up and down, myrtle green and bracken brown, past the shieling through the town all for the sake of Mari.
Another chorus and all joined in. “Step we gaily….”
Red her cheeks as rowans are bright her eye as any star, fairest of them all by far is my darling Mari.”
They continued with the chorus, “Step we gaily…”
“Plenty herring, plenty meal, plenty peat (fuel) to fill her creel (basket), plenty bonny bairns (babies) as weel. That’s the toast of Mari.
The whole crowd sang two more choruses.
Mari joined in with tears rolling down her full cheeks. “That’s the song we sang on our way to our wedding. So many years ago, so many.”
“Ah, my wee lassie, are you shedding your tears again?” He turned to the others. “My bride ne’er could control her tears. My love, tonight we celebrate fifty years of joy.” He motioned to the back of the room and almost immediately one of the men dressed in full kilt regalia, playing the bagpipe. Behind him, also dressed in kilt, another man carrying the large silver tray. It was covered with a cloth. Although it was not traditional, next came Bonnie, the little older lady holding high a bottle of Scotch. The piper stepped to the side while the man with the tray set it down and commenced to recite the lengthy poem by Robbie Burns.
“This is not Hogmanay (New Years).” Heather said.
“No, but it is a special day of celebration,” said Malcolm. “This is how we choose to celebrate fifty years together.”
Bonnie took the bottle and filled up each one’s small glass with the drink, while a few of the ladies rose to serve plates of the Haggis covered with the whisky sauce. They all raised their glasses and started singing Happy Anniversary. Heather was so choked up with emotion that she could barely join in. Such a delightful happy couple.
Bonnie’s husband stood and raised his glass for a toast. “May the best ye’ve ever seen be the worst ye’ll ever see, may a moose (mouse) ne’er leave yer girnal wi’ a tear drap in his e’e. May ye aye keep hale and hearty till ye’re auld enough tae dee. May ye aye be just as happy as I wish ye aye to be.”
(May the best you’ve ever seen be the worst you’ll ever see. May a mouse never leave your house hungry. May you keep hale and hearty until you’re old enough to die. May you always be as happy as I wish you to be.)
Malcolm handed Mari a large box. Without any hesitation, she ripped off the red plaid paper and opened the box. She held up the contents for all to see. It was a white flag with dark blue St. Andrews Cross on it. The words around the center of the cross were Air Son Gradh Na h Albann.
“For the love of Scotland.” She read. “How wonderful. We can fly this in front of the hoose. (house) Did you design this, Malcolm?”
“No, lassie. I dinna (did not) do it, though I wish I had. It's from the Scottish Society of Central California. I knew how important the flags are to you.”
Mari grabbed the big man and gave him one big kiss. “Thank you, my big man. Thank you. Now, let’s get on wi (with) the dancin’ before I start crying.”
Malcolm had one word, “Ha.” And the rest started laughing. She had been crying most of the evening. Tears of joy.