Thank you everyone for your well considered words of advice. I have given this all some thought and have decided that tomorrow I will arrive kilted with trousers within reach. We are meeting at the house before going out to a chinese restaurant, so I'll have a chance to change if I receive a bad reaction or feel the situation warrants.

Episcopalscot advised that if I wear a kilt I should dress to the nines. This isn't really a very fancy occasion; a coatee would be too much. But I get the spirit of his recommendation and will dress well. To that end, I have a very nice day-look I tried out this afternoon centered around my new Kinloch Anderson Corporate tartan, lovat green tweed waistcoat, brown day sporran and day belt, and some nice casual yet dressy brown shoes I picked up. It should do quite well. I coordinated the outfit for exactly this sort of occasion. This is the first time that I have worn a traditional kilt, by the way, and I debuted the look at at a local mall while shoppping for the shoes. It was very nice wearing a tartan kilt with matching flashes! I have to admit that it makes me feel more comfortable, in a sense, than when I am dressed more casual. I had a very nice chat with the clerk who helped me with the shoes, but I digress...

So, the plan is to arrive at the house looking respectably traditional, and if need be, off comes the kilt with no hard feelings. It isn't a matter of principle, really. I do not feel manipulated in any way. I simply feel like being me and will try doing so if I deem it does not come at the expense of the Birthday Girl. I agree, Jamie; older folks are a lot more flexible than they sometimes let on.

Since everyone here has invested their time into assisting me with this decision, I will of course issue a report upon my return. Wish me well!

By the way, being a word geek I looked up the term 'dressed to the nines'. According to William and Mary Morris from their Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins, the theory is that it originally appeared as 'dressed to the eyes'. In old English this would have appeared as 'dressed to then eyne.' From there it is an easy jump to the expression that we know today.

Mychael