Will
There is a Gaelic translation following the English.
"Hello from Michegan, USA!"
I have always had an interest in Scottish Gaelic ever since my Gran spoke to me calling me her “Wee Willy” and teaching me the ballad of Loch Lomond in her thick accent. My Gran MacIver who was born in Glasgow in 1905. She met and married my Granddad, he had migrated to Scotland after escaping the Russian revolution in 1918. They came to the U.S. in 1928 had a five children, my dad being the youngest. Gran passed in 1996 at the ripe age of 91. I guess I am an American mutt but I still have my Gran's voice inside me, I wear her family tartan proudly on my kilt and tell my children stories of her and her history. I do not want my Gran to fade into a name in a family Bible unknown and deserted. When I and my children do learn Gaelic you bet a trip to the Highlands is a priority. I have very many Scottish friends of purer lineage than myself and even those that are straight from Scotland have said I was brogach since I was a boy.
I look forward to learning Gaelic and honoring my Gran, thank you for this opportunity.
Brogach means sturdy
Thog mo ùidh anns a' Ghàidhlig nuair a bha mi òg agus b' e ‘Wee Willy' an far-ainm a bh' aig mo sheanmhair orm. Bha i a' teagaisg an òrain ‘Loch Laomainn' dhomh, agus bha blas-chainnt gu math làidir aice. Rugadh mo sheanmhair NicÌomhair ann an Glaschu ann an 1905 agus phòs i mo sheanair, a bha na fhògarrach. Theich mo sheanair bho Ar-a-mach na Ruis ann an 1918. Ràinig iad na Stàitean Aonaichte ann an 1928 agus bha còignear chloinne aca, b' e m' athair am fear a b' òige. Chaochail mo sheanmhair ann an 1996, agus bha i 91 bliadhna dh' aois. Saoilidh mi gur e measgachadh Ameireaganach a th' annam, ach tha guth mo sheanmhar fhathast annam! Bidh mi a' cur orm na fèile ann an tartan a cinnidh agus bidh mi ag innse na sgeòil aice, agus an eachdraidh aice dha mo chloinn. Chan eil mi airson gum bi mo sheanmhair mar ainm neo-aithnichte, aonarach, sa Bhìoball teaghlaich. Nuair a bhios Gàidhlig agamsa agus aig mo theaghlach, bidh cuairt air a' Ghàidhealtachd na phrìomhachas dhuinn! Tha caraidean agam a tha nas Albannaiche na tha mi fhèin, agus fiù ‘s an fheadhainn a tha à Alba fhèin, tha a h-uile gin dhiubh ag ràdh gun robh mi brogach bhon bha mi òg.
Tha mi a' coimhead air adhart ri a bhith ag ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig, agus a bhith a' cur urram air mo sheanmhar, ceud taing airson a' chothroim seo.
