Kilted, Nose to Nose with a Befuddled Drunk

**Riverkilt** · 13th August 06, 08:27 PM

So midafternoon yesterday my lady, her adult daughter, and I are shopping in downtown Flagstaff, AZ. We're in a western store where the daughter is buying some boots. A sign says there's a discount for government employees so my lady goes out to her car to get her Indian Health Service ID badge to save some bucks.

She comes in and says she caught a drunk putting a six pack of empties in the back of her pickup truck. Now I may be 61 and fat but I grew up boxing from about 9 through college, did the cop gig, and have done years of take downs on psychiatric wards, and I just ain't afraid of much. So it ain't long until I'm outside looking for this guy.

He's just returning from having put his empties in the store dumpster. Two store employees have followed me out to investigate this drunk in their parking lot. He's about 6'2" and 250 lbs easy.

Of course the drunk takes exception to the sudden attention. The employees hang back and just stare him down. He wants to know what I want. Just tell him politely that it was my lady's truck he was dumping his empties in....and we go from there to staring each other down and having less than polite converstation. He's doing the math...one of him, three of us...his lady is outside their car doing her "come on honey, lets go" speech.

The, sometimes less than polite discussion, lasts maybe five minutes...no one advances...he finally heeds his lady's advice and gets in his car and drives off. I got his license number and called the local PD with the plate and car description so hopefully they can get him off the road.

No clue if they got him or not.

But, this guy, this hostile drunk with an attitude, never once made a comment on my kilt (USA Kilts Thompson gray semi-trad). The tone of the conversation made it a natural insult for him to resort to. But he never did. He did keep looking at it and seemed confused or baffled by it. I never used the line but had it ready if he got physically hostile...something to the effect of do you really want to fight a 61 year old man in a kilt?

Or maybe he figured anyone with the juevos to be kilted could take him...who knows. Sad he was that drunk that early in the day....heck, maybe he could have pummeled me and his confusion over me being kilted and assertive saved my life....

Ron
I coulda took him...I really could have...he was too drunk to have any reaction or coordination, but too hostile to try and keep out of the car.

**Big Paul** · 13th August 06, 09:06 PM

Thats a great story, Ron, thanks for sharing it with us!

**mudd** · 13th August 06, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

I coulda took him...I really could have...he was too drunk to have any reaction or coordination, but too hostile to try and keep out of the car.

I'd bet you could have.

**pbpersson** · 13th August 06, 09:48 PM

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

The tone of the conversation made it a natural insult for him to resort to. But he never did. He did keep looking at it and seemed confused or baffled by it.

Maybe he thought he had so much to drink that he was seeing things.

**Kilted KT** · 13th August 06, 09:55 PM

Great story Ron. Goes to show that kilts are not only comfortable and fashionable, they save lives too!!!

**Tattoo Bradley** · 13th August 06, 10:48 PM

You would be a wee bit intimidating in that situation Ron!

**JayFilomena** · 13th August 06, 11:50 PM

There is a professor of military science,(Mr. Gossman ?) wrote a book called, "On Killing". bit of a hippie, but I highly recommend it. Anyway, Mr. Gossman contends that a confrontation consists of four components. Can include one or all four. They are Posturing, Submission, running away, and fighting. Years of research and studies in combat action reveal, that most fights never get past posturing. Two guys, two armies, what ever, flex and shoot in the air, or stand nose to nose. Very few will actually throw a punch. The fact that you stood up to him in a kilt was a posture he has never seen before. sounded like he submitted and left. Good on ya.

jaybird

**ozmeath** · 14th August 06, 03:06 AM

Nicely diffused Ron, wish I coulda seen that. The "unknown quantity" or JF's quote on Posturing would have been enhanced by the kilt. "Who's this bloke and what the hell is he wearing?! Maybe he knows something I don't..." It sure can catch people with their pants down pardon the pun.
Well done,
Erin

**Ialtog** · 14th August 06, 09:24 AM

Gosh. As a huge fan and supporter of Flagstaff's downtown, I'm not only sorry you had to go through that, but I want to say to everyone else out there that mean drunks are not common here. Well, actually they are and I have had similar experiences, but still, it really is a nice downtown.

**Bob C.** · 14th August 06, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by Ialtog

Gosh. As a huge fan and supporter of Flagstaff's downtown, I'm not only sorry you had to go through that, but I want to say to everyone else out there that mean drunks are not common here. Well, actually they are and I have had similar experiences, but still, it really is a nice downtown.

Mean drunks are everywhere. They need good men like Ron to stand up to them, kilted or not. They're not used to that.