Trip to Ohio

[elijah]

Well, I took my trip out to Columbus, Ohio to see my in-laws for the first-time in my kilt. I was out there seven days and most days, it simply wasn't an issue. My mother and father-in-law had no comments at all on my kilt and made it really easy for me to forget I was even wearing a kilt.

My sister-in-law said that I looked good in the kilt and that when she'd told her friends about it, they said it was cool.

One night, a friend of her and my wife came over and he said he really admired me wearing the kilt. He said he was interested in getting one. As my wife makes Kilts (i.e Through King Kilts), he asked if the one I was wearing was made by her. I told him, no, but that we had brought one she made. He asked to try on. You have to undestand I'm about six feet, three inches tall and he's about five feet, four inches tall with about half my waist line. He tried on the kilt, but it went about 3/4 of the way down his calves. He showed a classic case of Foot-in-Mouth disease by saying, "Wow, my father would have disowned me, too if I wore this."

My wife explained that the kilt didn't fit right because he was too small for mine, but that if he ordered one, it'd be made for him.

We went to the Columbus zoo and there were Amish people at the zoo the same day. My wife used to wear pants, but switched to wearing skirts all the time, but she doesn't stand out as much as the Amish people.

My sister-in-law remarked, "I'm glad you didn't become Amish. It'd be embarrassing having everyone look at you all the time." I thought it was extraordinary that she was saying this while walking with me through the zoo while I was wearing my Amerikilt.

My wife made some comments out of my sister-in-law's earshot about the Amish were dressed funny and I told her not to make fun of them because of how they dressed.

A few minutes later, while I was kneeling down to get a drink from a low water fountain, my sister-in-law noticed the Amish had been watching me and giving me strange looks.

She said, "It's bad when the Amish are giving you strange looks."

With that, I playfully splashed her with water from the water fountain.

[Mychael Sporrano]

She said, "It's bad when the Amish are giving you strange looks."

Har! You are right about that, Elijah!!

My experience with the Amish is that they can be(especially their children) curious about seeing things outside their culture, and I suppose that seeing a fellow wearing a skirt is waaaaaaay outside the norm for them. I'll bet you provided mom and dad some fodder for a good life lesson in the form of a cautionary tale on the way home in the old horse-and-buggy. Of course, you might even have given them cause to cross the zoo off their list of things to do- though I doubt it!!

As an aside containing a relevant segue, I have a friend who is in a rock band that dresses up like the Amish [http://www.earthquakers.com/]. It started as a gag some years ago, but it was so successful that the members continued the gag, even growing beards and taking on fictitious names such as Eli and Seth, etc. They had a bit part in a bad movie called 'For Richer or Poorer' starring Tim Alley and Kirstie Alley, and still enjoy local fame.

Anyway, my friend has mentioned that occasionally there will be an Amish kid or two at a show, just standing there staring at them. It made me laugh when he also mentioned that as a litmus test to check their authenticity, the kids will toss out phrases in Pennsylvania Dutch to see if the band can respond. I guess they must look that convincing to the Amish populace. Of course they don't know the language, so invariably one of the kids will turn to the others and say something on the order of, "See, I told you. They aren't real."

Speaking of being proven "authentic", I had a fellow come up behind me the other day and say that if I was wearing a kilt I had better be able to speak Gaelic. I thought that he was kidding and turned to speak with him (in English). He turned out to be a most unpleasant sort.

That was my very first encounter with the kilt police. Since that time, I have learned a few choice Gaelic words to have on hand should this ever happen again. I have also been learning a few nicer phrases just to balance things out.


Mychael

[bubba]

Mychael, considering most Scots don't speak Gaelic anymore the fool had his head up his butt looking for trouble.

[Mychael Sporrano]

Very true, Bubba. Some folks set out to be annoying to those around them, and this fellow proved himself of that variety.

Compared to Gaelic, a language that is nearing extinction, wearing kilts is definitely on the upswing!


Mychael

[bubba]

Mychael,there is no doubt there are troublemakers around. I'm not sure why but I seem to not have any problems with that type. It's surprising in this area really considering this is a pretty redneck town. I haven't had the slightest problem and I've been wearing kilts full time since March.
I did put a couple pics of the wifes almost finished outfit in my personal gallery so you can get a good idea what I'm doing.
This afternoon I'm going over to Appleton for an event, Art in the Park, where all the local artists and craftsmen set up to show their stuff and there is a judging for prizes. My wife has to work so I'll be going by myself. Could be interesting. I'll let y'all know how it goes.

[Hamish]

Mychael, considering most Scots don't speak Gaelic anymore the fool had his head up his butt looking for trouble.

Bubba,

You will find that Gaelic is growing in popularity as a subject in Scottish schools, that the BBC Radio broadcasts on some transmitters exclusively in Gaelic, and that it is proposed that all public signs (road signs, etc.) in Scotland be 'dual-language' - English/Gaelic.

[Xcop]

When I left Nova Scotia about 15 yrs ago there was starting to be a new interest in gaelic. In fact my neighbours daughter took classes at College St Anne on Cape Breton Island. Mind you in the northeastern part of the province there is a great interest in things Scottish. There is even a recently completed replica of the ship Hector in Pictou. You never know the next time I get home signs may be tri-lingual. Mycheal, I'm sure you know that there will be fools no matter where you go; and the fact that you are confident and proud when wearing your kilt will threaten their shallow little world. They are usually not intellectual enough to bother having a conversation with.

David

[Mychael Sporrano]

In case anyone has a notion to learn a few basic Gaelic phrases, here is an *excellent* internet resource that gives voice examples:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/alba/f...eag_air_bheag/

My wife and I have been trying to learn together, and so far it has been fun. Due to being into ham radio, I am fluent in Morse code. Learning Gaelic feels like a new challenge, I suppose, and one that is probably as practical as Morse. Since both have fallen into disuse, that might not be saying much.

Sometimes we use Morse to talk in front of the kids. Who knows, perhaps after they catch on we'll be into Gaelic <g>. Gotta always be one step ahead of the wily young 'uns.

Thanks for the vote of confidence, David. I do feel confident, as well as proud. I also feel comfortable!


I had a good experience today in a local Home Depot. My fellow customers were giving me looks, but on two separate occasions I had employees quiz me about my kilt. This is not the first time for that at Home Depot. There has been interest in adopting kilts as work wear since their corporate office has an anti-shorts policy within the store itself. Interesting, as well as a positive thing. I wish they would pursue the notion.

Mychael