All on a Sunday

Sunday began early. We arose at six AM, had breakfast and left White Rock BC for Vancouver, to be there for the Provincial Track Meet. Our two grandsons, 10 and 12 years old, would be competing and the first race would begin at 8:30. The younger of the two lads ran first, -in the 800-metre race. He came in second. His opponent, who he had beaten before, had grown since the last race and his legs were just that much longer. He had also become stronger. Consolation for our lad was to be assured that he ran the course faster than he had last year. He was enlightened, and he expects to do well next time, after growing some more. He intends to train every day.



Our older grandson ran in the 1200-metre race. It was exciting to watch. He drew alongside his opponent, challenging him in the last stretch to the finish line and won, but only by a step. After congratulating both of our grandsons, we drove back to White Rock, to attend church service. It was a sunny day and we felt there was much to accomplish.



After lunch, I took my pipes to the forest area and found a clearing in the trail to do some fine-tuning and rehearsing for the birthday party for which I would be playing that afternoon. Something interesting happened. A lady, who had been listening, came over and said she liked the pipes very much and that she had a Scottish background. She said her maiden name was Buchanan. I introduced myself as Dr. MacDonald. She asked, “Are you Dr. Keith MacDonald?” I replied affirmatively, wondering how she would know. Was it because she had seen The Church Piper music books that I published, or that she knew me from the International Fellowship of Christian Pipers and Drummers? When she said she had been Judy Buchanan before she was married, I recognized her as having been my brother’s dental assistant after she graduated from High School. She reminded me that my brother, Ken and I, played the pipes for her wedding. That would have been 40 years ago. Her face was familiar. She said that she and Tom now have two daughters, and the dog, which she was taking for a walk in the forest. She lived in a nearby town and was in White Rock for the day, visiting one of her daughters. I guess you’d have to say, “It’s a small world.”



I went home and dressed in my MacDonald Highland outfit, had a quick bite and drove to the birthday party in Surrey. The map gave a very clear route and it wasn’t far to the home where the party would take place.



Being ahead of the scheduled arrival time, I tuned up in preparation for the arrival of the man whose 90th birthday party was to be celebrated. In my strategic spot on the back deck, I got the signal from the kitchen when to begin playing “Happy Birthday.” You can be sure the elderly gentleman and his wife were pleasantly surprised to be piped into the presence of their family and friends. In the spirit of the moment, “Let’s Have a Ceilidh,” was a great welcoming song to be played on the pipes.



A young Highland dancer demonstrated several dances and I continued with a few old familiar Scottish songs such as, “The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen,” “I Belong to Glasgow,” “The Road to the Isles,” and “Scotland the Brave.”



It was a wonderful day for an outdoor party, and everyone was enjoying it immensely, particularly the elderly couple who were originally from Scotland. What an appropriate celebration for one who is 90 years old and still able to enjoy being with his family and friends. It had been a joyous day for me as well, and I would be able to tell my own family and friends all that had transpired that Sunday.