A Big Day

Well, an emotional day but it went by in a flash.  On the 10th of August 1955, my father played at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo when he was with the Black Watch Royal Highland Regiment of Canada. Sixty years later, to the day, I played at the very same Tattoo and on the very same parade square.  It was a lifetime ambition to play at this prestigious event and, quite frankly, one I reached for but was never convinced I would ever see happen.  Then, just before we formed up, as I stood at the top of the Edinburgh Castle mere moments before we went on stage, a beautiful double rainbow appeared over the Castle and the parade square.  Then, to have my brother Alister in the audience that same night!  What an honour!

I am not a superstitious person and definitely not one who believes in deeply spiritual matters, but geez, that really felt wierd.  Almost as if my dad was standing beside me with his arm around my shoulders. The damp chill of an Edinburgh evening totally vanished and a peacefulness settled over my entire body.  

Like I say, I don't believe in deep spiritual things, but I have to say that that quiet moment was one I'll always remember in a hauntingly beautiful way. 
To top it all off, I looked over at commemoration plaque on the Castle wall just above where this picture was taken.  Check out the date!  A few in our family will recognize the significance and coincidence of it.

Back at the lodgings, I sat in the quiet, dark room and had a healthy dram of smokey whiskey with dad's favourite pipe tunes playing in the background.  I think this is what "closure" must feel like.  It feels good.