Dear one, how many years is it – I forget –
Since that luminous evening when you joined us In the celebration of whatever it was that we were celebrating – I forget –
It is a mark of a successful celebration
Farewell
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That one should have little recollection of the cause; As long as the happiness itself remains a memory.
Our tiny planet, viewed from afar, is a place of swirling clouds And dimmish blue; Scotland, though lodged large in all our hearts Is invisible at that distance, not much perhaps, But to us it is our all, our place, the opposite of nowhere; Nowhere can be seen by looking up
And realising, with shock, that we really are very small; You would say, yes, we are, but never overcompensate, Be content with small places, the local, the short story Rather than the saga; take pleasure in private jokes, In expressions that cannot be translated, In references that can be understood by only two or three, But which speak with such eloquence for small places And the fellowship of those whom you know so well And whose sayings and moods are as familiar As the weather; these mean everything, They mean the world, they mean the world.
Document Outline
Praise for Alexander McCall Smith?s
Preface
1. Semiotics, Pubs, Decisions
2. Letting Go
3. Narcissism and Social Progress
4. On the Way Back to Scotland Street
5. All Downhill from Here
6. Domenica Gets into Top Gear
7. Anger and Apology
8. An Exchange of Cruel Insults
9. Sally?s Thoughts
10. Bruce?s Plan
11. A Bus for Bertie
12. A Thin Summer
13. Bertie?s List
14. Pat and Bruce Work It Out
15. Domenica Advises
16. Bertie Goes to School Eventually
17. Down Among the Innocents
18. On the Way Home
19. Matthew?s Situation
20. Second Flowering
21. Demographic Discussions
22. Chow
23. An Astonishing Revelation Is Almost Made
24. Bruce Meets a Friend
25. Agreement Is Reached
26. Bertie?s Idea
27. Socks
28. Lonely Tonight
29. At the Film Theatre
30. At Big Lou?s
31. Act and Omission
32. The Two Wicked Uncles: Possible Solutions
