A Wanderer!

[Kid Cossack]

A Wanderer! Now when did this happen? I cannot convey how pleased I am to have been awarded this sobriquet! I realize that there are both positive and negative ways in which this nom de internet could be regarded. On the one (negative) hand, there is the sense of one who has “strayed from the true path.” Naturally, being infused with at least average amour propre, I shall be quite content to apply the more positive definition: one who seeks. As Tolkien wrote, “Not all who wander are lost.”

Indeed, I think it would be entirely appropriate for me to adopt the Tolkien-esque interpretation of being awarded the title “Wanderer.” I see myself, in point of fact, as a seeker. With very few exceptions, I think that there are no verities, there are no eternal truths. Why, the things I believed as a child! Sometimes, they seem quite childish to me now. I do not deny the idea of Truth, oh no, but I think that finding Truth is probably quite a bit harder than we take it to be.

I am, so odd as it may sound, the veriest of conservatives. (Coming from a man whose very first eight yard, made-in-Scotland kilt was of denim, this may, indeed, sound odd.) I believe in received wisdom, or if I do not believe in it straightaway, I respect it. At the same time, I think received wisdom should be challenged. If it is true (much less, if it is True), then it can withstand any fair challenge, and not a few unfair ones.

To me, it seems only meet and just that tradition not only be capable of withstanding challenge, but also that it be seen to be doing so. “Because that’s the way we’ve always done it” could cover a multitude of sins, from slavery to harsh corporal punishment to the wearing of trousers. I am, among other things, a Christian, and I think that the Author of All gave us wits and reason that we might attempt to better ourselves.

At the same time, I think that we should move slowly and cautiously, and not give heed to the passions of a moment—certainly not when we stand to cross the Rubicon. Once we decide to invade Rome, we are committed to our course, and I believe in judging novel new theories by their results, with the chance to withdraw, prudently, if the new good idea is simply confounded by reality. It is a simple thing indeed to invest two or three hundred dollars investigating whether a particular idea would be worthwhile (say, a box pleated philabeg in PV); if one is unhappy with the results, a note is made and we continue on forward.

With direct relevance to this board, I have been a wanderer as regards kilts. I started with a Utilikilt, and have progressed through various permutations of modern and traditional kilts. I find myself edging towards the traditional kilt, more and more, although, of course, I have a slightly different take on “tradition” than most people! I wear the kilt, daily, as daily garb, dressed up and dressed down, and I find the short yardage kilts to be most suitable to my needs. It is hot where I live, and humid, and I am a fairly casual person, and I like relatively low maintenance clothing, and somehow all of those things in conjunction make me like a four or five yard kilt more than an eight or nine yarder.

If I was a kiltmaker looking to break into the market today, I would investigate a short yardage, wool or poly-wool blend, machine sewn kilt, using either box pleats or a Kinguisse style pleat, tailor made vice off the rack. I would study up on pockets in kilts, from the UK Mocker to the Freedom Kilts and other makers, and come up with my own take on it, and I would offer a high ride model for traditionalists and a low ride model for the modern crowd. Now, I could be wrong about this, but based on what I’ve read and studied and thought and experienced and tried to puzzle out in my head, that’s the kind of kilt I’d like to be able to buy.

“Now, I could be wrong about this.” How valued a lesson it was, the day I first thought that to myself! How many times have those seven words saved me from heartache and loss? (And, in truth, how many times have those seven words stopped me from reaping some great reward?)

As I said above, I am cautious about eternal verities. The kilt I described two paragraphs above is what I think is about an ideal kilt, for me, based on where I am now, and what I need a kilt to do, and the environment I would be wearing a kilt on . . . with the further caveat that that is how I see things right now. At this moment. As I write these words. (Maybe not while you’re reading these words.) Maybe it’s not the right answer. It is almost certainly not the only right answer, and it might be the right answer only for me, or maybe not even that.

There is a science fiction book, which I have not read. I haven’t read it because I love the title so much that I am afraid that the book couldn’t live up to my expectations. The book’s title is “And Still I Persist in Wondering.” (I refuse to verify the accuracy of that title via Google.) That title alone simply intrigues me. It is not so very far, it seems to me, from wondering to wandering. And so, still I shall persist in wondering. And so, still I shall persist in wandering.

I thank you for letting me share little observations from the wanderings, as I go my happy way.

[Panache]

Oh well I’m the type of guy who will never settle down
Where the cool kilts are, you know that I’m around
I wear ‘em modern and traditional, ‘cause to me they’re all the same
I wear 'em casual and formal and if you don’t know my name…
They call me the Wanderer yeah the Kilted Wanderer
I kilt around around around...

Oh well there’s a Freedom on my left and there’s a USA on my right
And a Stillwater is the kilt that I’ll wear tonight
And when you ask me which one of those I love the best
I laugh cause I’ve got Utilikits, Union Kilts, and Sport Kilts still in my chest!
‘Cause I’m the Wanderer yeah the Kilted Wanderer
I kilt around around around...

Oh well I kilt from town to town
I go pleated through life without a care
The kilted man will never frown
With my own kilt kollection I’m going somewhere!

I’m the type of guy that likes to kilt around
I’m never satisfied with my current kilts there are far more to be found!
And when I find myself a-fallin’ for some kilt
I hop right onto the internet and order another to be built
Yeah I’m the Wanderer yeah the Kilted Wanderer
I kilt around around around...

I’m the type of guy that likes to kilt around
I’m never satisfied with my current kilts there are far more to be found!
And when I find myself a-fallin’ for some kilt
I hop right onto the internet and order another to be built
Yeah I’m the Wanderer yeah the Kilted Wanderer
I kilt around around around...
Yeah I’m the Wanderer yeah the Kilted Wanderer
I kilt around around around...


With apologies to Dion

Cheers

Panache

[Alan H]

It is not so very far, it seems to me, from wondering to wandering.

Yup. Not far at all.

I enjoyed this. Thanks, mate.

[JimB]

Not all who wander are lost...

[Casper]

Better to be a wanderer, than a rambling man...

[BEEDEE]

From thefreedictionary.com:

wan·der (wndr)
v. wan·dered, wan·der·ing, wan·ders
v.intr.
1. To move about without a definite destination or purpose.
2. To go by an indirect route or at no set pace; amble: wander toward town.
3. To proceed in an irregular course; meander.
4. To go astray: wander from the path of righteousness.
5. To lose clarity or coherence of thought or expression.
v.tr.
To wander across or through: wander the forests and fields.
n.
The act or an instance of wandering; a stroll.
[Middle English wanderen, from Old English wandrian.]

I'm not convinced that the mods have pegged you right, but congratulations on the unique rank!

Brian

[Panache]

...I'm not convinced that the mods have pegged you right, but congratulations on the unique rank!

...I go by Kid Cossack because I'm still an ignorant young punk, and because the Russian word "Cossack" (well, 'kazak' if you want to be technical) was lifted from the Turkic languages of Central Asia---it means Free Man or wanderer. I spent two years in Kazakhstan (which is 'kazakh' not 'kazak' and so entirely different) and really enjoyed it, to include wooing winning and marrying the team captain of the women's rugby team of the Central Sporting Committee of the Army of the Republic of Kazakstan.

The League of the Moderators have long memories!

[Marshal Moroni]

Delightful title, delightful ramble, both excellent reasons to enjoy XMarks.

I am so pleased to have found this online community and to be a small part of it.

Congratulations Kid

Cheers,