Piping in the Birthday Cake
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382240)
Rockingham, Australia
April 25, 2016 4:01am CST
On the weekend we attended the 70th birthday of a friend. He is a Vietnam vet who has had a few challenges along the way. A party was held on his daughter's farm. Over a period of a few weeks, our friend turned 70, his son-in-law turned 50 and his grand-daughter 21. So it was a mixed group who gathered for a barbecue and later congregated around a big bonfire.
Fire-bans have only recently been lifted in the area. There is something very lovely about gathering round a big blaze. The son-in-law plays in a pipe band and the birthday cake was piped in by two pipers and a drum major. All in all, it was a lovely evening.
There was a bit of discussion about the bagpipes. People seemed to love them or hate them. Which camp would you join? The lovers of bagpipes or the haters?
22 people like this
22 responses
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
25 Apr 16
It gave me goosebumps just to see a photo of someone playing them. I love the soulful sound of the bagpipes. Here in Canada we hear it often at parades, celebrations. government events and the last time I heard on was at a wedding.... The party sounds like fun and your friend who is a vet, may God Bless him and all vets from that awful war.
3 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
26 Apr 16
@JudyEv You gave me goosebumps. There is not one that came back that I know who had not changed in terrible ways.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Apr 16
Our Vietnam vets had a truly awful time when they came back. Very few went of their own accord but they were snuck in the back door back into Australia; the Returned Serviceman's League wouldn't have a bar of them for ages and there was a lot of public antagonism towards them. While some seemed to manage okay for some years, many now have PTSD and other problems. They still have a lot of trouble getting any sort of compensation or help. The paperwork they have to go through is horrendous. I could go on and on. The wife of our friend only just managed to save him from hanging himself and that was only a few years ago. He seems to be fine now but it is all very sad.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Apr 16
@PainsOnSlate Some are taking their own lives as they know their spouses will get widow pensions that way. The whole paper process is just beyond them otherwise. Vince plays golf with a group of friends, 4 of whom are vets and all TPI (totally and permanently incapacitated). When they first started, all the men could talk about was Vietnam but they have moved on from that now. People need to know just how affected they are.
Eric Bogle has written a great song 'Welcome Home' but I can't find a video of him singing it. Here's a link to a cover of it.
Eric Bogle, born in Peebles, Scotland, in 1944, is probably Australia's best-known singer-songwriter. He emigrated to Australia in 1969 and now lives in Adel...
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Apr 16
They seem quite hard to play but a pipe band with bagpipes and drums can be very stirring.
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
25 Apr 16
love them, unless I have a headache.
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
26 Apr 16
@JudyEv nope, like someone jamming nails in my eyeballs
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Apr 16
@Jessicalynnt That brings up a very nasty image. 
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Apr 16
It was certainly different. They walked from the house down to the bonfire. First the cake with candles flickering, then the drum major then two pipers. Very special. 
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Apr 16
They often sound a bit off-key. It's to do with the chanter. They can't get all the notes that other instruments can get.
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
25 Apr 16
i'm glad that ban was lifted 'n such festivities could be enjoyed by all the birthday guests :) there's somethin' both eerie 'n beautiful 'bout bagpipes. the instrument itself's always fascinated me.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
27 Apr 16
@JudyEv yes ma'am, what a splendid invention, eh? from what i gathered both the irish 'n scottish can be played whilst marchin'. i fear i'd lack such coordination :D
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Apr 16
@crazyhorseladycx I don't think I've ever seen the Irish pipes played on the march but they aren't as common as the Scottish.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Apr 16
I don't mind if they are not too close to me. They can be very loud sometimes.
@miniam (9151)
• Bern, Switzerland
25 Apr 16
I love bag pipes, i have always said i wish to be burried with bagpipes playing.That`s wishful thinking,we dont have bagpipes here.
Like them so much l have thought of going to music school just to learn bag pipes but then,where will i play later, l may end up having to play in the fields with no audience
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Apr 16
I think you should learn anyway. There might be a dozen or more 'closet' bagpipers in your area who are just waiting for one person to stand up and learn - then they'd all follow.
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Apr 16
They're a bit overpowering if they are indoors I find.
@teamfreak16 (43611)
• Denver, Colorado
25 Apr 16
I love bagpipes. A group of them march and play in every Colorado Springs parade. On St. Patrick's Day, they go from bar to bar, playing for about 20 minutes at each one.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43611)
• Denver, Colorado
26 Apr 16
@JudyEv - Oh yes, they do it up right. Full kit.
1 person likes this
@puddleglum (1380)
• United States
26 Apr 16
I love bagpipes. They were played at my university graduation. The pipes made the ceremonies feel very festive.
1 person likes this
@puddleglum (1380)
• United States
26 Apr 16
@JudyEv Yes, very much! The bagpipes are unique.
1 person likes this
