As a take off from causal Friday I call today Kilted Friday. I had had earlier in the week called the Chief of the Fredericksburg Scottish Society, Don MacCleay to have lunch downtown and would spring for the check if he wore his kilt.

That morning at work (day job- manage a gated homeowners association of active adults) I had admirers and no scoffers. One member had her family visiting and brought them to the office to meet me. She later confessed that she actually wanted to them to see me in the kilt!

I had Don meet me at my favorite restaurant, Sammy T's. Don and I were planning to talk about how to give the Scottish Society more visibility in the area and to increase peoples' interest in their Scottish roots. Upon arriving, the owner Sam asked what clan I belonged to. I responded Malcolm and he then mentioned he once had an employee named Malcolm, but that was his first name. Later when Don arrived he starting talking to Sam and as it turned on that the Malcolm was Don’s son! It was a great lunch – Middle East vegetarian.

Back in the office that afternoon, one of the gals that I had met that morning that were visiting her mom came to ask a question about the birthday party they were giving her. She commented that they had seen me downtown with another guy in a kilt! She then started to tell me about her Scottish ancestry through her Dad’s side. He had given her a family tartan which she held dear.

Don and I had not reached any conclusions how to give the Scottish Society more visibility in the area. So we agreed to have lunch again in the future. We thought it would be a good idea to wear our kilts, too.

Ern, Sam and Don in front of Sammy T's downtown Fredericksburg, VA

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