Upon simply being here
Have you ever stopped to wonder how lucky we are actually to be here? We have to date back tens of thousands of years - our ancestors survived the Ice Age by moving south and then a few thousand years ago found their way (back?) to Scotland. Our lot were probably Picts since they inhabited the lands of our immediate ancestors that are now Angus and Banffshire. St Vigeans, where many Raitts hail from, was an ancient Pictish religious site dating from around the year 700 when a monastery was established - lasting for some 300 years. The famous Pictish sculptured stones from this time are still preserved there.
They (our lot) were survivors (possibly more by luck than judgement) through many of the raids and wars that took place between the various factions (Irish, Northumbrian, English, Viking) at the time - though such names did not exist then. Owing allegiance to some king, chieftain or warlord, they would have been forced to take part in invasions and battles with many hundreds being slaughtered.
Many young men died a violent death before they could marry and have children; many children died as infants; many mothers died in childbirth. As a result of constant raids and warring, there was an interruption of crop cycles; food and homes were requisitioned. Malnutrition and disease were rife. The odds of reaching old age were slim - although in more recent times (the last couple of centuries) some of our ancestors did reach respectable ages of 75 and 80 or so.
Thus we can marvel at our good fortune in actually being here at all. However, we obviously are not descended from a terribly illustrious bunch - no kings or royalty, dukes, earls, thanes, landowners or whatever. If we were there would be much better records that there are today! No, our people were good, honest, hardworking folk - ordinary citizens - who were not farmers, but agricultural labourers; who were not mill owners, but weavers and flax dressers; who were not the owners of stately homes and castles, but servants in them. But it is these ancestors, the survivors, who have made us who we are today.
Saturday, 26 September 2009
