I’m [not] Scottish
I am American, born and bred to American parents. My ancestors are Germans from Russia. This means that I am not, contrary to the insistence of some, Scottish. (But I hope to be one day!)
But I have a great affinity for Scotland because it’s the one place in the entire world I’ve ever felt truly settled – the one place I’ve ever felt that I truly belong. Paul wasn’t Scottish, either. No, contrary to popular belief, he was English. (From the North East, if you wondered.) But Paul shared a passion for Scotland and when he moved there for university he stayed put until we settled in America. Because of our shared love for Scotland, we incorporated the traditions of our adopted home into our lives. After all, home is where the heart is.
But now I have a foster daughter who knows several things to be true: I speak with a funny accent; I lived in Scotland; I want to return to Scotland; I have lots of friends in Scotland (and family in England); and that I think Scotland is the greatest place in the world.
She also assumes several things and just won’t believe me when I tell her otherwise. Mainly that I am Scottish. I’m not, but she just shrugs her shoulders and says I seem Scottish to her.
Well, now that I’m in the midst of planning Burns’ Supper, as I also did last year, my foster daughter is learning loads of great things about Scotland and Robert Burns. And she’s even more insistent that I am Scottish.
So today when she was in the computer lab at school, she saw a link on one of the school-sanctioned websites about Robert Burns. She clicked it and started reading everything about the man then recognised a link as a song we listened to on New Year’s Eve, so she printed out the lyrics to Auld Lang Syne. Then she had to explain to her teacher why she was wasting resources.
Apparently, the teacher is familiar with Burns’ Night and was very excited to hear about how the kid’s ‘Scottish foster mom’ is having a big Burns’ Supper complete with haggis, neeps, and tatties.
You know how they say if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em? Well, I can’t seem to beat this Scottish wrap, so I may as well just brogue up and break out my Harris Tweed and shortbread!
Shall I tell her that you do have one branch on the maternal side that hails from, of all places, SCOTLAND?! That branch bears some more research, but family has already placed James Scott in Scotland. So, you see, you really do have Scots blood running through your veins. Just not as much as the German and German from Russia!!
Well, if I have my way and get that darn passport/citizenship, there will be an even more direct line in the family! 😉
You’re an honorary Scot, Rabbie would heartily approve. He always had an eye for a gallus lass!
xx
Rabbie had an eye for all sorts of lassies though, didn’t he? But I’m happy to take the title of honorary Scot!
Your more scottish than I am, and my great grandparents were from Scotland. They settled in Cle Elum and Morrison canyon is named after them.
I think your home is where your heart is, so you’ll always be Scottish!
A woman up on Peoh Point, off McDonald Road, whose family was from Scotland, made my wedding cake with her family’s wedding/fruit cake recipe. That’s not part of your family, is it?
I know that is near(ish) Morrison Canyon and didn’t know if the families were related…?