Out in Public

[Martin S]

I've not worn a kilt, ....

What?
A member of the forum that has not even worn one yet?
;-)
I'm flabbergasted!

Martin, who has worn trousers, but has no intention of repeating thez experience.

[Mathuna]

I am certain that I am the only kilted man that has ever been in the Bryan, Ohio Wal Mart.

I hate to burst your bubble on this, but I happen to know for a fact that the Bryan K-mart and Wal-Mart have both been visited by a man in a SWK Irish National, Utilikilt original (black), and just last week a Utilikilt Survival (tan).

(I don't think I've worn my Nightstalker or olive Utilikilt original in yet. )

I do service work out of Angola, and am fairly often in Bryan at the end of the day. I just change clothes out of the uniform in into the kilt and make whatever stops I need before coming back to Indiana.

If you're ever over in Angola and stop at The 101 Lounge, Las Limas restaurant, Piggy's Bar, Wacky Jack's or several other places in town, you'll most likely have people asking if you know Jim or Seamus (both me, it just depends on who's asking which name they use). One of the greeters at Meijer's will also ask you where your pipes are, even though I've told her repeatedly I don't play them.

So you see, you're not alone in this corner of the world. Just walk with a smile on your face and you'll be surprised how many good responses you'll get. I've been kilting around here for years and can still count on two hands the negative comments.

Isn't it funny though, when you're passing aisles in the Wal-Mart, watching people running along the other end of the aisle to keep up with you while waving others over to see?

[Clockwork John]

It's pretty funny when people come up and say, "Nice kilt. Where'd you get it?" and I respond, "Scotland."

It shuts them up real fast.

[sporranlegionaire]

The only remark I've overheard so far that was neither positive or negative, was by a little girl passing by me at the garden centre with her mum. She said 'Oh, look mummy, he's wearing a thing.'

[Mr. MacDougall]

She said 'Oh, look mummy, he's wearing a thing.'

Isn't that better than not wearing a thing?

[sporranlegionaire]

...

[sporranlegionaire]

..I didn't comment that he in fact should have the pleats to the back anyhow..

...that reminds me of the Rowan Atkinson 'Blackadder' joke where he claims that a war has not been fought so badly since Olaf The Hairy, Chief of the Vikings, mistakingly ordered 80,000 battle helmets with the horns on the inside.

[ScottEPooh]

The only remark I've overheard so far that was neither positive or negative, was by a little girl passing by me at the garden centre with her mum. She said 'Oh, look mummy, he's wearing a thing.'

That's much better than when I first read it. I thought it said "thong" instead of "thing". Funnier, but incorrect!

[Juggalotus]

I wore one of mine for the first time really out and about (I'd run to the store a few times in it) when we went to Tennessee for vacation. I spent our day in Gatlinburg kilted (Irisher from sportkilt). I could feel the eyes on me, but did a good job ignoring it. I got only 2 comments. One wasn't really a comment, it was kids laughing as me and Dan ran past in the ran to get to the car. The other was at dinner when the lady seated behind us asked what clan the tartan belonged to. So I explained to her where I got it and such.
I can say that I was completely exhausted at the end of the day, both because we spent all day walking and having all the eyes on you does make a difference. But it was fun, I just need to find some more occasions to wear it (besides just laying around the house).

[BruceK]

Once going into the local CVS I heard a little boy say to his Mom: "Look Mom! That man's wearing a skirt!". I was pleased to hear her educate him that I was in fact wearing a kilt.

This Saturday, though, I was at the local Public Market wearing my SK in US Navy tartan and an induhvidual came up to me and asked me if I made it out of a tablecloth. At the time I just laughed and explained what the tartan was. Looking back on it I can think of several other replies that would have been more appropriate. And some that would have gotten me arrested... <sigh>