12.31.13 - "Auld Lang Syne" by Michael Tolcher
If there's anything that I've learned from writing these blogs for a year, it's that I love nostalgia and enjoy looking back on this moments that have made me who I am today. Those moments that have made me laugh, or smile, those taught me a tough lesson, or those started a new friendship. In the end, I think those are the things that matter most to me and that should be celebrated and remembered. Each year on New Year's Eve those emotions are captured briefly during those few seconds at the start of the new year. If I were to pick my favorite seconds of the year, those would have to be it. When you look around at your friends who are with you, or those you're watching on TV, or even your pets who aren't even aware whats going on...what you'll see is Happiness. It's in those few brief moments that I think people let go of their worries, their frustrations, their disappoints, and their stress and allow themselves to be happy, to have hope, to dream, and to believe that this new year will be better than anything that we have seen before.
The beautiful thing about that period of the year, is that it comes with it's very own soundtrack of the song "Auld Lang Syne." As song so closely tied to New Year's Eve that I find it a bit jarring when I hear it at other times of the year. The song is based on a Scottish Poem and was set to a folk song melody. The message of the song poses the rhetorical question of whether old times should be forgotten, and then turns into a celebration of long standing friendships and hope for the future. While I can't imagine it beyond New Year's Eve, it's also become a popular tradition for graduations and other goodbyes, even funerals, as a way to celebrate the transition into something new while still remembering the past.
While there are more versions of this song available than almost any other, I'm partial to a short and simple version by Michael Tolcher that was released as an iTunes single a few years ago. The simplicity of the arrangement with just Michael and guitar seems to heighten the moment itself for me.
Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind ? Should old acquaintance be forgot, and old lang syne ?
For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.
After 16 years with Disney, I'm often asked if there is a favorite moment, or one that stands out. While it's difficult to pick just one, a particularly New Year's Even ranks highly up there. I was working in Guest Relations as a leader at the time, and if you've been to the parks on NYE you know that they are slightly crowded...ok, there's no slightly to it. For most of the day, I spent my time listening to people asking for refunds, talking about how crowded it was, or retelling me their horror stories of the day. My shift ended slightly before midnight and I wasn't sure if I should try to make it home to my apartment in time for the ball drop, or to stay and celebrate at work. I ended up going to the top of one of the Main Street, USA buildings with a few leaders and watched the fireworks at midnight with them. While the show was amazing and perfect for the moment, what I'll always remember was what happened next. As midnight struck, I looked down on the crowds of people in the street, and all of the sudden everyone started to hug and kiss their families, and the sea of people, and all of the crowds, and all of the concerns and complaints seemed to melt into a moment of hope and love of that moment that has stayed with me over the years.
So tonight, as the ball drops and 2014 begins, I would challenge each of us to find a way to make those moments last longer. To dive into 2014 with that same hope and peace, and to remember old friends while looking towards the brighter future.
Happy New Year!
MICHAEL TOLCHER - AULD LANG SYNE (Video)
http://youtu.be/KC2kuZH2Rcc