A couple of encounters kilted

[McMurdo]

Furrykelt, and Derek and a few others got me thinking that I should post about the encounters I have had recently, and by recently I mean today. This morning as I was walking into my local Tim Hortons (a coffee shop, for those that dont get to Canada, or the northern States often) I held the door open for a few people, one gent says to me as he passes:

"Hello Jimmy, are you gonna play us a tune"

in his worst put on Scottish accent. As I had just woken up not to long before, my responce was:

"No, the pipes are in the boot"

He went away, not sure if my answer was what he was looking for, and I dont care, the funny thing is that later as I was thinking about it, I thought to myself, I should have said only if you can play me a tune on your banjo

Why do complete strangers think they have the right to comment on what I wear anyway.

The other encounter was way better, I went into my local Tandy Leather store, and the owner started talking to me about kilts he said he has one from when he was a drummer in a pipe and drum band, however as we all seem to do he has outgrown it, I was able to point him in a few directions
and gave him this address as well, hopefully he will drop by.

[The Supreme Canuck]

I would have just closed the door on the guy's face in Timmy's.

[Wompet]

"Hello Jimmy, are you gonna play us a tune"
"Not before my mornin' coffee, ya idjit."

I just know that sometime this week I am going to ask someone if they have bagpipes in the boot.

[Riverkilt]

Sometimes its good. Today I stopped by the local medical clinc for a routine visit and the nurse, who knows me through a relative who's a client at my agency, took time to say how much she enjoys that I wear kilts all the time and how cool that is etc etc. Sounded sincere.

It certainly was encouraging.

Ron

[Abax]

My wife and I went to see STOMP (a percussion / comedy troupe) at the local performing arts center a couple of weeks ago. People here in Anchorage wear everything from cut-off jeans to formal suits to these things. My wife said lots of people gawked at my kilt (I never really notice), but only one person made a comment.

Our usher was an elderly gentleman with a kind manner. He asked "Do you play the bagpipes?" I told him I did not, to which his working companion (an elderly lady) a few rows over replied "Yeah, I would have thought he played the bagpipes too."

I figure this question comes up because the only time they've seen kilts is when the local pipe band appears at an event. Or maybe they want to say something, don't know what to say, and this is the first thing that pops into their mind. This was the first time in a year of wearing kilts that anybody has asked me if I play the bagpipes, and I didn't mind, especially because the man that asked wasn't rude about it.

Abax

[Kid Cossack]

I play a tune upside your head with a crowbar, you like.

[prairieson]

As a whole, I'd have to say my experiences have been positive, although a bit strange at times...

A couple of weeks ago I volunteered for a meet and greet for the local Arts Council. All the city's movers and shakers were there, you know one of those $100 a ticket soirees. Many of the older men in attendance talked about their kilts, the ones they pull out every couple of years for a wedding or something, and were impressed and a bit envious that I'm kilted all the time. And there were an inordinate number of women there that seemed to have the impression that my sporran was a "tip jar", heheh.

The managers and wait staff at local eateries and stores remember me and seem to make a connection with me... and this is a good thing.

Just yesterday I was at the pet store and a couple of 12-ish year old boys walked up and asked me why I was wearing a skirt. When I explained the what's and why's, they were quite intrigued and immediatedly wanted to know where they could get one too.

If there has been one consistant downside it's this... I spent 25 years as a computer engineer and I had a t-shirt I used to wear regularly at social and family get togethers. It said... "No, I won't fix your computer!" I thinking a new one is in order... "No I don't play the effing bagpipes!" Heheh.

Well, not yet anyay.

[McMurdo]

The thing that really bugged me about is that it's been a while now, I am up to a month straight now all kilts all the time. Most people love it, they smile when I come into their stores I get nods, all sorts of positive things have happened. I guess I'm just not used to it anymore.

At least the guy at the leather store was interested, who knows he might be one of us soon.

[furrycelt]

i get asked rather often if i play the bag pipes. but so far every time the question was always offered with humbleness and caution. i'm too much of a "nice guy"; so i always smile and respond with the same: "no i don't; they are very difficult to play; perhaps some day i will give it a try."

(who knows, perhaps i will give it a shot someday. i am enjoying learning the irish/penny whistle right now.)

[gseven1]

I would agree completely, the kilt definitely helps people remember who you are. At the local bank, I'm one of the few who doesn't have to show id to cash a check, everyone seems to remember the guy in the kilt.

The only really negatives comments I've ever had have been from children. Most adults around my neck of the woods either have something positive to say, like "hey, where can I get one of those?" or "Do you play the pipes?" or they just pretend like they don't see it. Those are the greatest since I go out of my way to try and draw attention to the garment itself.

Probably the funniest experience I've ever had was on my way back from Nashville. I stopped in Kansas to purchase fuel, and while I was pumping the gas, a gust of wind came up and had my kilt up around my ears. It seemed like the harder I tried to get it back down in place the more determined the wind was to make sure this didn't happen. When I went in to pay for the fuel, the attendant, a very nice woman, was laughing so hard she could hardly talk. She told me she doesn't see too many kilts in that part of the country, to which I replied with wind like that I can guess why not.

Overall though, the switch to kilts has been one of the better moves I've made in my life.