Bill and I met through music, and spent a lot of our early years singing and playing guitar together. Dan Fogelberg was a big favorite of ours, and his song, “Along the Road” went through my mind as we journeyed through Scotland. I definitely left a part of my heart in Scotland, and will always treasure this time, shared with my best friend.
Along the Road Lyrics (Dan Fogelberg)
Joy at the start
Fear in the journey
Joy in the coming home
A part of the heart
Gets lost in the learning
Somewhere along the road.
The roads wind along the ancient paths
Along the road
Your path may wander
A pilgrim’s faith may fail
Absence makes the heart grow stronger
Darkness obscures the trail.
Cursing the quest
Courting disaster
Measureless nights forebode
Moments of rest
Glimpses of laughter
Are treasured along the road.
Along the road
Your steps may tumble
Your thoughts may start to stray
But through it all a heart held humble
Levels and lights your way.
This is just an average church and cemetery for Scotland, just below Stirling castle. Bill and I look for cemeteries, because they always have great views. There are so many of them that you can begin to take them for granted, but they are all over 500 years old and we have nothing like them in the US.
This is the view from the cemetery. There are a few roads and buildings, but it is easy to imagine what it might have looked like hundreds of years ago.
Joy at the start
Fear in the journey
Joy in the coming home
A part of the heart
Gets lost in the learning
Somewhere along the road
Bill had his camera with him constantly, and I love watching him work. Knitting note: yes, I knit that hat for him about 5 years ago. The yarn is Fibre Company Road to China (and I can’t believe that I remember that!) The scarf is a Scottish weave, purchased on our trip last year.