Dear Sun Spots: It’s Christmas night. All the gifts have been opened and the food has been eaten. What a memorable day today has been. As I sit here, I think about the few weeks prior to tonight. I was sitting here much like tonight, at my computer desk trying to come up with a way to help my nieces have a nice Christmas. My parents raise my nieces and my dad had a sudden heart attack that left him out of work and just trying to get by (my mother is disabled).

These little girls (2 and 9) are wonderful little girls, and let’s just say are very deserving of a good Christmas. So I finally came up with an idea, call churches. I did. Lists were already full, but one offered a dinner, which we were very grateful for. Still, I wanted them to get a couple of gifts, and so I wrote Sun Spots.

I expected to maybe receive a couple of replies, and a couple of gifts so they had something to open. I so wanted to help, but I have five kids in my home and was just at a loss. To my amazement we received tremendous responses! There are so many wonderful people in our area, and I am so thankful. Words can’t even begin to describe the gratitude and sense of closeness I feel for these people. Like angels they went above and beyond for my nieces and my parents.

I want to say a general thank-you. To those whom I met and have thanked: again what you’ve done is just indescribable, thank you. To those who called to get an address, and anonymously sent gifts: you’re truly a blessing, thank you. And to those of you that dropped things off on Christmas Eve: you made us believe in Santa all over again, thank you.

When people started responding, after the first couple of donations I told people we were all set and the girls had something to open, they would not take “no” for an answer and brought food, gifts and even a little something for my mom and dad! So, thank you to our angels who not only made two little girls extremely happy, but restored my family’s faith in humanity. You’ve also helped to make my dad’s road to recovery easier for him. God Bless you all! – Andrya, Auburn.

Dear Sun Spots: The Women’s Club of Greene wishes to extend their sincere appreciation to all the individuals, families, businesses, churches and civic groups that provided their continued support of the club’s annual “Share So Others Will Know You Care” Christmas program.

Twenty-seven local families, four seniors, AWAP and RCAM benefited from all the donations.

Without your generous donations of cash, new clothing, toys and gift certificates, our friends and neighbors would not have been able to have a Merry Christmas.

Your continued support of this much-needed project is heartwarming. We are already planning for Christmas 2009. On behalf of the recipients of the program and the club members, we would like to wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. – Brenda Theriault, Women’s Club of Greene.

Dear Sun Spots: With the New Year upon us, would you mind printing the lyrics to “Auld Lang Syne?” Many thanks. – D.L., Buckfield.

Answer: Sun Spots located a few translations of “Auld Lang Syne.” This song is generally credited to Robert Burns of Scotland and is believed to have been written in 1788. As one story goes, he copied the poem from a older gentleman who recited it to him, but took credit as the author. Another story is that Burns simply combined a common Scottish folk song with his own lyrics to arrive at the version we know today.

The phrase “auld lang syne” also has a few translations. “Old long since,” “long, long ago” and “days gone by,” among others.

Its popularity in the United States is often credited to band leader Guy Lombardo. He used the song at New Year’s celebrations, through his annual broadcasts on radio and television, beginning in 1929. The song later became his trademark. In addition to his live broadcasts, he recorded the song in 1939 and 1947.

“Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind?

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and old times since?

Chorus:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.



And surely you’ll buy your pint cup!

And surely I’ll buy mine!

And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

Chorus:

We two have run about the slopes,

and picked the daisies fine;

But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,

since auld lang syne.

Chorus:

We two have paddled in the stream,

from morning sun till dine;

But seas between us broad have roared

since auld lang syne.

Chorus:

And there’s a hand my trusty friend!

And give us a hand o’ thine!

And we’ll take a right good-will draught,

for auld lang syne.”

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be posted at www.sunjournal.com in the Advice section under Opinion on the left-hand corner of your computer screen. In addition, you can e-mail your inquiries to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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