One more passage from Esther de Waal*, and this is for you if like me you have children heading back to the world of work or university after being with you at Christmas.
It appears in a section in the book on coming of age and is "a blessing that a mother in the Hebrides would give to a son or daughter leaving home". As one of my children went south today - with the dogs at the door to say goodbye - these lines are very much in my mind:
Be the great God between thy two shoulders
To protect thee in thy going and in thy coming.
That just kills me. The dogs at the door. I would have cried and cried, if I were your child or you.
Posted by: Nan | 02 January 2019 at 09:45 PM
Oh, the faces on those dogs. The story they tell. And yes, the children, though no longer youngsters, protect them, please.
Posted by: Mary | 03 January 2019 at 12:15 AM
*wiping eyes* Lovely...
Posted by: Sam | 03 January 2019 at 01:54 PM
Overheard when the family was on its travels:
"William, are you sure you're OK to go across London to Kings Cross?"
"Granny, I'm an Army Officer!"
Posted by: Mr Cornflower | 03 January 2019 at 09:07 PM
That told Granny!
Posted by: Toffeeapple | 04 January 2019 at 07:36 PM
Ah, Mr C., he'll have to forgive Granny the lapse. I feel for her. I still tell my military sons to be careful (...almost 20 years into their careers). Sometimes, we just can't help ourselves. ;)
Posted by: Mary | 05 January 2019 at 03:13 PM