Kilted to Airports

[graham_s]

Sometimes you get noticed more than others.
I think I have only ever flown without my Kilt once. (And I have flown A LOT!)
Usually the guys letting me into the country are polite and interested and there is always one woman who just has to do a kilt check while my arms are full of luggage.
The only bad experience I have had was when they asked me to remove my Kilt (Not in a private room) so they could put it through the x-ray machine. I did it because I was more interested in getting into the country to see my wife than causing a fuss.

Glad you enjoyed your trip!

That happened to me once.
I was "travelling regimental"
Security officer (female) changed her mind after the situation was explained.

[Aldisimo]

... there's tons of people staring and giving me all kinds of looks.

Are you wearing that black & white, military box-pleat kilt that you recently made? Dare I say that the stares are coming from envy?

[turpin]

Sometimes you get noticed more than others....

Oh, Ya think so, Arlen?

Like yesterday for me. I'm going to lunch in LaCenter Kentucky (15 mi west of Paducah, of course). We go into the Bluegrass Cafe, a local mecca for Southern U.S/Greek fusion cuisine (think chicken-fried baklava). The Greek owner spotted me in my Gordon kilt and came right up to ask if I was from Scotland. "No, Chicago" I replied. We got through the usual "why" questions in a very friendly way and I sat down with my co-workers, who were not really used to seeing the attention a kilt garners.

Not long into our buffet luncheon the owner brings out 4 slices of pie. "Complementary" he says, "for coming to my place like that. I like it." The lady across from me was just staring at me and semi-speechless (something about "does that alwats...how can you...I don't get it." I just smiled braodly and replied "BEHOLD, the power of the kilt!" in my best Charlton Heston as Moses voice. They all cracked up. (The pie slices were coconut cram, chocolate cream, peach cheescake with peach topping, and something called sawdust pie (think coconut pecan pie with whipped topping).

Next thing I know there's an attractive blonde lady tapping on my shoulder. She starts asking me questions. All types of questions. Turns out she's a reporter for the Ballard County press (such as it is) who had spied a human interest story in the making. Many questions and three pix later, I am left to complete my meal in some semblance of peace. She promise to send me a link to the story when it's published. I'll post it here if it happens.

Just another day on business travel. Except it was a real kick to see the reactions of my friends from the Comomnwealth of Kentucky.

[turpin]

weird. slow server response caused me to double post

[Carolina Kiltman]

Gee, that was woth posting twice!

[Rex_Tremende]

I'm going to lunch in LaCenter Kentucky (15 mi west of Paducah, of course). We go into the Bluegrass Cafe, a local mecca for Southern U.S/Greek fusion cuisine (think chicken-fried baklava).

I know that place! What are you doing in LaCenter? My mother grew up outside of LaCenter (my father in Bandana), a handful of aunts and uncles and cousins still reside in the area, and my grandparents and several dearly departed relatives are buried there, but it's not exactly a destination. My folks have retired to Paducah, so I haven't been there in a while, but I remember it well.

Regards,
Rex.

[Nick the DSM]

That happened to me once.
I was "travelling regimental"
Security officer (female) changed her mind after the situation was explained.

I'd love to see the look on her face!

[hospitaller]

Are you wearing that black & white, military box-pleat kilt that you recently made? Dare I say that the stares are coming from envy?

Indeed I was, reason is I didn't use leather straps (with the metal buckles) but rather velcro adjustables.

That thing swings just by thinking about it, I love it.

[hospitaller]

The only bad experience I have had was when they asked me to remove my Kilt (Not in a private room) so they could put it through the x-ray machine.

This I would have made a big scene about.

There are always women in skirts walking by and NO ONE ever asks them to remove them to pass them thru the X-Ray.

I call BS on the part of whatever TSA emplyee suggested that.

But then again...as I heard someone say on TV theother day, 'you don't take an IQ test to become a TSA emplyee'

The minute someone asks me to take it off there'll be a scene. I have missed/lost flights before because I've refused to do things the TSA employees think they are allowed to ask you to do, and they are not. I know they are not allowed so I refuse to do them. They don;t want to let me through, fine, one phone call to the local TSA HQ and the situation is fixed and just to see the faces of the same TSA employees that were called on and told to let me in....was priceless.

(reason is, working in a security firm, we get to know a lot of the security related matters decision makers in our area)

[turpin]

I know that place! What are you doing in LaCenter? My mother grew up outside of LaCenter (my father in Bandana), a handful of aunts and uncles and cousins still reside in the area, and my grandparents and several dearly departed relatives are buried there, but it's not exactly a destination. My folks have retired to Paducah, so I haven't been there in a while, but I remember it well.

Regards,
Rex.

Rex, I have an environmental cleanup project at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, so I'm going there about monthly, usually the third week of each month. If you're ever visiting the P's drop me a line and I'll see if we can coordinate a get-together.