Why no one ever says anything negative to me...

**NorCalPiper** · 17th November 09, 05:38 PM

I'm literally in shock! I have often been told that I carry my 6'5 , 250 pound (YES!!!-Almost 40 lbs lost!) in a serious way, but today was something else. First off, never in my 30 years of wearing a kilt have I ever had trouble. I guess growing up in the center of the city of Atlanta, and being a tough kid helped, but I never thought of myself as someone who walks around "Looking" like a bad ***. Just the opposite actually....i think I carry myself pretty gently.
Anyway, i stopped by the local Rite Aid with my daughter to pick some stuff up, and as I walked in, i past some local vatos Cholos who hang out in the area. Everyone knows me in this part of town, so I always get a honk, or a hey. Anyway, as I past homie #1, he said "I want to ask you why you wear that, but you always are walking looking like you're ready to jump (fight)". It just caught me off guard, and I said with a grimace "What?" , and then I realized I was acting exactly how he described...I took a minute to back up and explain what the kilt was and what it meant. Somehow the clan thing got turned into relation to the gang thing and I figured it probably not be best to associate the 2, but at least it put him on a level he could understand. I have often wondered why no one has ever bothered me, even in the hood here and in Atlanta....I gotta work on softening my walk and my look!

Side note: This guys car was incredible. It was an old Buick Skylark that had a small chandelier in it, and the top of the roof had been made to look like a cannon ball had blown out of it. This guy had taken a carousel horse and cut it off at the neck and one of its hoofs and put it on the center of the hole, giving the effect that it was busting through the roof. I know it sounds ridiculous, but it looked awesome in a norteno kind of way....Man....Only in California!

**NorCalPiper** · 17th November 09, 05:57 PM

OK-i went down to my spare bedroom in my shop and took a picture of myself....I mean..OK...So I look gruff. My Indian sourhtern belle is working night shifts now, so I have to run the biz AND take care of little Skye which means about 5 hours of sleep. So I haven't shaved in a while. I think its a deshelved look, not mean...I am wearing silk garters with my castellated hose though-COME ON!!!

**Geoff Withnell** · 17th November 09, 06:45 PM

As long as you talk softly, looking tough isn't really a problem. Good to know about it so you can turn it off at need.

Geoff Withnell

**bricelythgoe** · 17th November 09, 06:50 PM

Great Story! I need to follow your example a little more. Maybe then the teenagers at the school I teach at would leave it alone.

Brice

**Nighthawk** · 17th November 09, 06:50 PM

I get the same thing. The only negative remarks I ever get are from people driving by in their cars. I see the same people at the 7-11, and they say not a word. Maybe it's the 5'9'' 290lb Sumo wrestler look I have going for me... My sensei has actually teased me about my tree trunk Sumo legs. Maybe they think I can kick them onto the next block- which in fact, I can!

And what tartan are you wearing? I can't tell in that picture, but I think I like it.

**thescot** · 17th November 09, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by NorCalPiper

Looks like a real B.A. to me.

You guys ought to see him decked out in full dress like last year at our Burns Supper. I think it's the hair sporran myself.

I was in a bar one time years ago, and we got to talking about my kilt. A guy I didn't know said, "I'm glad you brought it up. I wanted to ask, but I figured anyone with the b***s to a kilt wear was not someone to mess with."

**dfmacliam** · 17th November 09, 07:35 PM

Its good he asked.. and good you took the time to explain..

I am asked why I look mad a lot.. but its funny, cause most who know me.. know I love to laugh, and make others laugh.. what they see is a 6'2" 260 lbs construction/oil field trash...LOL.. oh well

**Nighthawk** · 17th November 09, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by peacekeeper83

Its good he asked.. and good you took the time to explain..

I am asked why I look mad a lot.. but its funny, cause most who know me.. know I love to laugh, and make others laugh.. what they see is a 6'2" 260 lbs construction/oil field trash...LOL.. oh well

Yes. I have often said that is the difference between intelligent people and stupid ones. Intelligent people see things they don't understand and say "Hey- what's that?" Stupid ones just point, laugh and learn nothing. I personally always make the time to answer questions because I respect intelligent people.