It never goes away

[arrogcow]

I have been a member of the church I attend for nearly ten years. I have not set foot inside the building unkilted in over 4 years. I will grant that my attendance has been a little spotty for the last six months (toddler and pregnant wife).

So why is this relavant? At church this morning, we were running a little late. I took my daughter to the nusery and as I was heading back to the sanctuary, I ran into a woman who said,"Oh no, I'm running late, did I miss you play already?" Now this woman has seen me kilted hundreds of times, and never heard me play anything, but she saw a kilt and immediately went to bagpipes.

Go figure.

Adam

[jjoseph]

Yup... my corner grocer asks me if I play pipes each and every time he sees me kilted.. it's almost like he's trying to reassure himself. LOL.... I guess as long as kilts are identified w/ national dress, the scene will replay itself ad infinitum.

[auld argonian]

I'll tell you...I think that we owe it to everyone to go out and procure bagpipes - every manjack of us - and let 'em have it whether we can actually play or not...I've heard that there is nothing that sounds as hideous a set of pipes that are out of tune and being played by someone who has no idea what they're doing. Perhaps I've been lucky enough to have never heard the pipes played under those conditions but if it will get folks to think twice before they ask that question.

And I don't think that we should waste our hard earned cash on quality pipes...I'm thinking of those $129 dollar jobs made in Pakistan that you can buy on the internet...why pay more? I can only imagine that they must sound great!

I suppose that if you were wearing an Indian headdress someone would ask if they were late for the pow-wow....

best

auld argonian

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Or how about these for $39.95! And they probably fit in a small duffel bag.

[Graham]

I have been a member of the church I attend for nearly ten years. I have not set foot inside the building unkilted in over 4 years. I will grant that my attendance has been a little spotty for the last six months (toddler and pregnant wife).

So why is this relavant? At church this morning, we were running a little late. I took my daughter to the nusery and as I was heading back to the sanctuary, I ran into a woman who said,"Oh no, I'm running late, did I miss you play already?" Now this woman has seen me kilted hundreds of times, and never heard me play anything, but she saw a kilt and immediately went to bagpipes.

Go figure.

Adam

It's funny how the mind works...associations and the like.
I couldn't think of how I would reply the woman, guess I would just shake my head in confusion.

Maybe next Sunday, stand up and announce "hello, my name is Adam, I wear a kilt but do not play the pipes"

[macwilkin]

I guess I really don't understand why some get so upset about this question -- at least the people asking are associating kilts with a positive image -- and let's face it, since 9/11, the piper and the kilt have been associated together on national television, since so many police and fire departments maintain pipe bands -- this may be many people's only association with a kilt.

After seeing the massed bands this weekend at the St. Louis Games, I only wish I could play -- one of these days I will finally stop talking & attempt it!

Pipers were and still are revered for their craft -- from the McCrimmons of Skye to the Pipes and Drums of the Scottish Regiments of the British & Commonwealth forces -- and even our own pipers in the US military, police and fire departments. Or the pipers like George Findlater of the Gordons, James Richardson of the Canadian Scottish or Daniel Laidlaw of the King's Own Scottish Borderers who were awarded the Victoria Cross for playing under hostile fire. There is a long & proud tradition & history associated with the pipes.

But don't take my word for it; all you need to do is watch the excellent documentary "Instrument of War" or the movie "Tunes of Glory", or see the massed bands.

So when people associate my kilt with the pipes I thank them for the honour!

Regards,

Todd

[GMan]

I was with a friend who had broken his leg at the grocery store near his place, when a lass came and asked me if my friend broke his leg while doing a jig that I was playing for? A different take on the same question. Struck me as funny.

[tomcherv]

Or how about these for $39.95! And they probably fit in a small duffel bag.

Actually, this is one of my favorite music stores. I don't know how much money I've spent there. This is their second location since I started going to them. It looks like an old grocery store from the outside, but they did a nice job inside.

[highlander_Daz]

In Scots society the piper is a respected person, in the past they were even more revered as educated men.
in a world of computers, supersonic flight, and goodness knows what else, people arent impressed by anything anymore, until they walk down the street and hear a piper playing !!! then they are impressed!!

be proud

[starbkjrus]

Or how about these for $39.95! And they probably fit in a small duffel bag.

Now I know what I'm getting everyone on my list for Christmas.