Leaders of Britain's major political parties, in their campaign to save the union, promised to devolve more powers to the Scottish parliament. Friday's verdict marks a new beginning for both Scotland and the United Kingdom because there is expected to be a major shift in their political and economic structures.
For older Scots, though, some of this is deja vu. Scotland has been hoping for new beginnings for a long time. Here's one example of the hope for chance, from 1947, as Sir William Darling, who served as Member of Parliament in Edinburgh, wishes his countrymen and countrywomen on New Years' day. Ironically, 67 years later, his great nephew, Edinburgh MP Alistair Darling, led the Better Together campaign urging Scotland not to leave the United Kingdom.