A Lonely Auld Lang Syne

For Christmas, my daughter gave me a digital photo frame, one of those devices that offers a continuous slide show—in this case, countless wonderful photos from some of the many trips she and I have taken together.  Not only are the photographs beautiful, but they are of course also wistfully reminiscent of all the good times we had and places we visited.  This year, because of the pandemic, I have stayed home and haven’t been able to visit with people except through phone calls, Zoom meetings, or occasional strictly social distanced get-togethers with Bloomington friends or neighbors.  So, my own house has supplied my visits and vistas.  I’ve paid more attention to the objects on my walls rather then the objects on gallery or museum walls in far-flung places.  Many of these are pieces of art, some created by my daughter, my brother, or others, some simply objects that remind me of people I miss.  Robert Burns’ Auld Lang Syne has always seemed a sad, nostalgic song to me, now more than ever.  But it helps to have these objects that bring so many people to mind.  I’m happy to share these associations with you.