Scotland - the fair maiden

As we were driving up North in our old faithful blue car, filled to the brim with our most treasured items, we took another little turn, and then – and then the spectacular view of Scotland greets us like an old friend – we are home.
I turn around to the children, giddy with excitement, and say: “Welcome to Scotland - home of the brave, this is our home now.”
It has been 14 years since last I felt the Scottish soil underneath my feet and so we quickly pulled off to the side of the road, to breathe in the icy air; and felt a slight wind caressing our cheeks.
“O flower of Scotland
When will we see
Your like again.”
The melancholy of the song has been deeply ingrained in my heart, yearning to return to God’s favorite country, and here we were.
And my husband said: “But it’s so green everywhere.”
I almost fainted as I have been telling him for years that Scotland is the most beautiful place in all the world, and he would always just grin and walk away. You see, he remembers Scotland as cold, grey, and nothing for miles – but of course he would, as he saw it last when he was a small boy, visiting the Highlands in winter. Assumptions right…
Two years later; this little adventurous family from South Africa has settled in, being embraced, and welcomed as if we were natives by the locals.
All we had to do was pitch up and share our love with the locals and it was returned tenfold.
The other day, we went on yet another one of our monthly adventurous get-aways, and low and behold, we discovered our newest, most recent, and absolute favorite spots in all of Scotland.
Never mind that it was the exact same words that we uttered with shiny eyes and silly grins on our faces just a month ago, or the month before that, or the one before that. Never mind how many times we have proclaimed that this is now our all-time favorite and definitely the most beautiful spot in all of Scotland – because they are all our favorites.
We could have lived here for 50 years and still, we would not have seen and experienced all her magnificence and glory.
Scotland is like a wonderful lover; you cannot take your eyes off her and she always manages to surprise and delight you, while showing off her best side to you – (which is all the sides).
If she was eligible - I would have married her, so while I can’t marry her, I aim to make her love me as much I love her.
Just the other day, probably more like a year ago, I wanted to show her our skills and of course, get to know her better. What better way than to wild camp deep in her bosom?
The only problem was that we didn’t go deep enough, as we were still wet behind the ears when understanding local customs.
But no one said a thing. All the locals came for their morning walks and nodded and smiled, some even exchanged some pleasantries – but no one chastised us for camping in a spot that everyone knew was secretly forbidden.
It wasn’t until we packed up to go home that we discovered that we were in the wrong spot – who do you think had red, embarrassed cheeks for days?
It felt like my lover saw me tripping over a branch – face first in a pile of mud – and then pretending to look the other way to spare me the embarrassment.
Scotland – home of the kind.
Scotland – our home.
And with that, our journey continues here forever more. Long may she reign and be free and wild – adventurous, fun, and amorous like only Scotland can.
We love you deeply, madly, and forever and a day.