Write a commentI hope you all had a wondie Christmas. We sure did here on the farm.
If it wasn’t for those pesty boys on the other side of the barn, I would say it was quite fantastical. This year we girls decided we were going to try something new when it came to gifts.
Since our herd has grown to 24 it has become problematic to get everyone a present. And besides, we really don’t need a thing. Well anyway, I came up with the fantastically unique idea of putting each of our names on a piece of hay, throwing them in the bin, and drawing names. And, of course, it worked out so well. Each of us got the most fabulous gifts for one another.
Pearl got a new harness, Sasha got a gift card for a toe nail clipping and buffing, and I, Maddie, got the best present of all…Are you Ready? Oh, my…I got an entire bag of Alpaca feed. Can you believe it, an entire bag all my own. I am absolutely over the moon…Hee, hee, hee
Well, I could go on and on, but it would take up the next four pages. Let’s just say that my original idea was a huge hit. Hee, hee, hee… Now, here’s the funny part. When I suggested we do this again for a New Year’s Eve Party, heads turned toward me, and everyone’s eyes popped out.
Then, Pearl leaned in to me and whispered, “What’s New Years?
“Pearl! I answered back. For goodness’s sake. That’s when the year turns from 2022 to 2023.”
“Well, I’m sorry Maddie, but I think you’re the only one of us that knows that. Didn’t you see the looks on everyone’s faces?”
I took a deep breath, calmed myself down, and thought…Do these girls not know anything about anything? I then decided to explain to everyone that according to “the other one” (Paulie) it has been a human tradition to celebrate New Year’s around the world. It’s a time of change, renewal, and looking forward to a new year ahead he told me.
At that point, Rosie stepped forward and announced, “Girls, this sounds like something we should do as well. So, what do you say?”
We took a vote, and it was unanimous that we would have a party and bring in the new year in fine fashion. We also decided we would celebrate along with the boys here on the farm.
Can we sing songs, Maddie?” asked Winston with a big smile on his face. “Of course, we can,” I said joyfully back. This little cria guy is such a joy. “What do we sing for New Years?” shouted Noah his buddy.
Now this took some quick thinking, but I remembered that Billy had told me about a song he loved to sing on New Year’s Eve at midnight. “Well Billy said that humans like to sing “Auld Lang Syne,” I pronounced. As soon as it was out of my mouth and in the air, everyone burst out laughing. “Auld Lang Syne? What the heck does that stand for,” hollered Howie from the other side of the barn. “Well, it comes from an old Scottish poem that was later set to music. It means, for the sake of old times.”
“Here, let me sing a little bit to you all,” I said calmly. I cleared by throat a bit, took a deep breath and with my melodic singing voice began…
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.
Well, my dears, let’s just say that by the time I finished, there wasn’t a dry eye in the barn. I was overwhelmed with joy. Everyone had obviously got the point. Even those pesty boys.
I hope you, my dear readers, do too. May you all have the good blessings of the New Year from all of us at Seven Acres Alpaca Farm.
XXXOOO
MADDIE
