Re: green snow
Paul Kennedy (kennedyp@toronto.cbc.ca)
Sat, 18 Dec 1999 21:19:48 -0500
Hey Scottie!
I feel for you, my man....
I remember that it snowed ONCE (if that wet white semi-fluid could be called
snow) in the two years that I lived in Edinburgh. My wife and I put on our
parkas and made the standard special event pilgrimmage to the peak of
Arthur's Seat. Then I walked all over New Town, all night long.... The
following morning was traffic chaos--although most of the 'snow' had already
melted.
I also remember standing at the top of a "ski hill" in Aviemore in the
middle of January. It was far from white.
I'd offer to snail-mail you a care package of freshly fallen snow--except
that we're still waiting for winter here in the "Great White North"; and I
know what would happen during the journey across the Atlantic. (Besides, if
I put "snow" on the customs declaration, the RCMP would probably try to bust
both of us!)
Now, as to the "translation": I'm a bit at a disadvantage, since my Oxford
Complete Burns is not at hand. I think, in fact, that Harry and Sally did a
pretty good job. It's about the futility of trying to forget old friends,
because of memory's uncanny ability to defy intention.... "Try to Remember"
might be the soapy, sentimental opening to the longest running show in NYC.
"Try to Forget" could be the only-slightly ironic themesong of human
history. It might also be the reason why the Scots (and the Irish) drink so
much....
....and I think it's what Holden's hinting at in the final two sentences of
CitR.
Cheers,
Paul