I like fall...

[flyv65]

...usually: the weather is nicer for sleeping, the water is low and clear so the flyfishing is tougher (but you've had all summer to practice the soft casts), and the canyon roads are still not too sandy from early snows (sportbike heaven). My one complaint is that when I walk into a store/mall/park someone asks me if I'm going to a costume party 'cuz of the kilt! I've started just saying "no, why? Is one going on around here?" Some folks get flustered, but some start asking about the kilt and the heritage. I had two little wizened hispanic ladies almost hold me captive in Foley's today asking me questions (a group, by the way, that at least out here takes their heritage quite seriously). Anybody else get this around Hallow's Eve?

Bryan...not complaining: it's a chance to educate the masses, right?...

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Bryan,

Actually had a similar interaction yesterday. Took the kids out for a walk in the woods to enjoy the fall colors and tramp around in all the leaves on the ground. After, we went for lunch to a local pancake house/diner. Great meal, small town atmosphere with mostly locals. Think you know the kind of place. Anyway, as we are standing at the front counter paying, the cashier turns to me and says "I just have to ask, are you going to a party or is that for Halloween, or some other reason?" I responded that I wore the kilt because I liked it and because I am of Welsh descent. He was fine with that and we left.

I did like your response, mine would probably have been similar but I would have said "No, but I would love to join yours!"

[Blu (Ontario)]

Where I am, it doesn't seem to matter what time of year it is... I rarely get comments any more. I think people have become used to seeing me about. (Although probably thinking "There goes that weirdo in the kilt again!") This weekend I've been to two clothing stores, three grocery stores, Wal*Mart, The Bay (department store), gas station, Home Depot, and the park for an hours walk this afternoon (lots of people). Got the usual double takes and one "nice legs" from a guy on a bicycle wearing tights. Halloween doesn't seem to make any difference here. Fine by me.

blu

[Southern Breeze]

I had pretty much the same reaction yesterday evening. I was at a church cook-out and it was the first time the majority of people there had seen me kilted.The overall feeling was that I was wearing a kilt simply because of halloween.My pastor jokingly told me I needed to start wearing it on Sunday and Wednesday nights.I didn't wear it today,but he's got a suprise coming Wednesday night.

[Riverkilt]

Must be the barometer Bryan,

Me too.

Stopped at the local trading post yesterday in my UK brown leather kilt and a mature, obviously well educated, Navajo lady behind the counter asked me in a most respectful way what I was wearing. We had a long polite discussion of how Navajo and Scottish history strongly paralleled each other, being conquered, being forbidden to speak our language or wear our traditional garments by our conquerors, our mutual clan systems, and being forced off our lands.

When I was pointing out that Navajo people, though forced off their lands on the Long Walk, were eventually allowed to return to their homelands where Scots sent to North American and Australia during the Clearances didn't return to Scotland, she had trouble understanding that passage home to Scotland was expensive in those days.

She also couldn't follow the very ancient history of Scotland, being invaded by the Vikings et.al. over the centuries. She insisted that her people had been conquered three times, and the Scots only once by the English. Not worth arguing about since she was primarily admiring the leather kilt. She knew that Navajo and Hopi warriors often wore deerskin skirts in the old days and she made the association with respect, asking me, what the kilt was called, not assuming it was just a skirt.

One of the most refreshing discussions of kilts and culture I've had in our little frontier town.

Ron

[starbkjrus]

I actually had not thought to post this until I read this thread. We went to a Halloween party last night and while my Partner was in a costume I just for the life of me couldn't think of anything to wear. So while he was Dracula I was just me in a wool sweater and kilt.

I got as many compliments on my "costume" as he did. They even tried to get me into the costume contest. It finally got to be a bit exasperating to explain for the umpteenth time that I was not in costume but after a while several friends were stopping the question before it even got asked. I know it sounds a bit silly and I"m used to "the question" in it's various forms but this got silly.

Oh, well it was a fun party and I guess I'm still not quite used to the attention a kilt brings ....even when the entire Munster family is there and there are also flying monkeys!

Taking it in stride.............. or trying to.......

[NancyMan]

I wandered out to the local mall today to do a little shoppin-in my shadow-tartan Stillwater. As I negotiated a passage toward the checkout, a red haired woman declared, "I'm a Campbell, what are you?." Without a moments hesitation I said, "I'm a Clarke!" (I'm as much my mother's, as my father's son, aren't I? -my great grandfather on my mother's side was Scottish.) "Good for you!" she declared. And we both went our ways.........

[Andrew Breecher]

Oh, well it was a fun party [...] and there are also flying monkeys!

Man, I miss all the good parties!

I live in a huge college city, and in a particular area that's known (disreputably) for its college population. The past weekend there were many, many students in costumes wandering the streets. Last night I was at work and I caught a flash of tartan out the window. "A kilt?" I thought to myself, and took a closer look. Well, it was a guy in an unpleated tartan skirt, and another - different - plaid thrown over his shoulder. Even my co-workers noticed (they see my kilts all the time, and have never seen me in trousers) that something was "not right" with this guy's costume, and we all had a little laugh.

But I haven't had anyone ask me if I'm wearing a costume.

Andrew.