Recent kilted experiences (WARNING -- very long append!!)

[mkmound]

Thought I'd add some discussion about recent experiences -- I've been on the road for the last six weeks for work, and have worn the kilt quite a bit for the last two weeks.

A little background first . . . the travel was for customer visits wrapping up a project which has been going on for about eighteen months: testing a "beta" release of a software product. [For those not involved heavily in computers, a software company develops a new release of a software product, and frequently enlists the assistance of its customers to test the product before releasing it to the general public. This allows for bugs to get fixed before the product is released, as customers often find ways of using a product which was not imagined by the developers, and these expose weaknesses in the code.] For products like Microsoft Windows, the company usually puts a copy of the beta code on a web site for customers to download; I'm in the other end of the business -- the "mainframe" end, where the computers may be running 1000 transactions per second, and have 10,000 users logged in simultaneously at any point in time -- Fortune 500 companies, e.g., banks, brokerage, manufacturing, hospitals, etc., which means that the beta programs need more planning and coordination. This last release of the software I support [for those in I/T, DB2 on z/OS] has been the largest-ever release in the 20+ years for the product. I opened the beta customer education class (Jan, 2003) in full formal Highland dress, and used that as an excuse to make a number of bad jokes about it being a "Braveheart" release, etc. I also changed at noon on the first day of class to a black Neo-trad Utilikilt, short hiking boots, black long-sleeve T-shirt and leather jacket to make some visual illustrations about "context" in one of my lectures ("kilt" in Scotland = Highland dress, "kilt" in Seattle = Utilikilt). [For those in the business, the topic was Unicode -- "universal" code for storing character data.]

Two weeks ago I was in Seattle. I knew that the project lead at the customer I was visiting was of Scottish descent, and liked kilts (we discussed it during the beginning of the class last year), so I showed up on Tuesday morning (Monday was a travel day) for our meetings kilted. A few comments, but mostly of the "oh, so you're wearing your kilt" variety. One of the guys made a comment about folks in the Seattle area being used to seeing kilts, with Utilikilts being nearby. Pretty much a nonevent, even when the project lead introduced me to a couple of 2nd / 3rd line managers in her organization -- hardly even raised eyebrows. For each of these visits, the primary goal was to do a formal wrap-up for the beta project, with a secondary goal of providing some education for the customer. Since the folks at this shop seemed pretty un-phased, and I was teaching the Unicode topic on Wednesday, it was obvious that Wednesday also needed to be a kilt day. Again, pretty much a nonevent -- a few innocuous comments which I've forgotten by now. Wednesday night I drove up to Vancouver to do some sightseeing and meet with Bear and Raphael on Thursday night. I was kilted the whole time to / from / in Vancouver except for a trip down to the beach Thursday afternoon, and I didn't want to get salt and sand on the kilt. I had intended to change into jeans to get through airport security, as 1) taking off the sporran and belt is somewhat of a hassle (in addition to taking off shoes and dealing with the laptop), especially the belt, as the belt loops are essentially right on top of the kilt buckles and 2) the buckles always set off the metal detectors. I ran short of time due to traffic in Seattle, so I barely got to the Seattle airport in time to get checked in for my flight. Of course, the buckles set off the metal detector and I got wanded -- the security guy asked me about the tartan, etc. -- turned out that he participates in Scottish Country Dance (as do I), so we had a nice, if brief, chat.

Last week I was in suburban Philadelphia. Didn't wear the kilt as often, but did wear it out to dinner -- pretty much politely ignored. On Thursday after my meetings I stopped by to meet Rocky and Kelly at USAKilts, and visited with them (kilted, of course) long enough that I again ran into bad traffic on the way to the airport (there was also an accident), so I didn't have time to change. Again, the kilt buckles set off the metal detector. The wand also picked up on the metal fasteners for the hose flashes! (Blu's idea for velcro-fastened flashes now has a lot of appeal!!) A couple of brief comments about "nice kilt".

The flight was delayed due to weather, so I parked myself at the gate and got out the laptop computer to type up minutes from the meetings. I was typing away when a couple of US Army soldiers (1 male, 1 female) returning from Iraq came into the gate area for the same flight. My first awareness of their presence was the male's comment: "DUDE!! I'M DIGGING THE KILT!!" We had a nice chat -- he's researching his genealogy and planning on getting a kilt eventually. Definitely one of the most positive comments I've had -- made my day!!

Regards,
Mark

p.s. Adding to several recent discussions, wearing the kilt definitely gets easier with practice -- especially when you experience the restriction of pants / trousers after a week kilted!!

[Freelander Sporrano]

Some really great comments and ideas here.

It's amazing how wearing a kilt raises very few eyebrows among people you have to deal will contra, those you pass in the street.

I think it has somthing to do with the fact that people are far to wrapped up in their own world theese days.This is especially evident in large cities and towns.(Have you seen what other people wear these days )

Also I feel that the kilt is no longer somthing you see while on your hol's in Scotland. What with films and tv today the general public has maybe become de-sensesized.

This all leads me to my point. What strangers say to me carries no weight. ( Unless its a compliment or a question.) The opinion I find hardest to ignore is my wifes. She doesn't follow me everywhere.Its just Her opinion counts for me.

Never apologize for the length of your postings Wev'e got one-liners in good supply (I'm one of the worst offenders)

Keep on kilting..

[GMan]

Mark Dude,

I am really digging the story What a great experience you had, it really is nice to hear stories like this, no matter where you go nothing but compliments or non events, it truly is a great experience.

Glad you shared it with us!

[mkmound]

Mark Dude,

. . . no matter where you go nothing but compliments or non events, it truly is a great experience. . .

Glen,

Well, it hasn't been TOTALLY positive -- when Bear and Raphael and I were walking down the street after our pub night, in an area of downtown Vancouver with a lot of clubs, there was the stray remark by the "young punk" walking the other direction on the sidewalk, but he was pretty easy to ignore, since I don't think he even turned around after he passed us to let us see who had made the remark . . . but that was the ONLY negative remark that I heard, and we passed quite a few people.

As many others have said, the majority of people seem not to care, or at least don't let on . . . and I can take that for positive / non-event!

Mark

[Rufus]

Mark,

Thanks for sharing that great experience with us. I think it's great that you got to meet so many of the people that post on here, and that you got to spend so much time kilted.

[mkmound]

Mark,

Thanks for sharing that great experience with us. I think it's great that you got to meet so many of the people that post on here, and that you got to spend so much time kilted.

Rufus,

It was fun to meet the folks! Speaking of that, I will be in New York City (in Manhattan)for a conference Aug 15-20 for anyone in that area that might be able to get together.

Mark

[richardljohnson]

Good Story.

When kilted I (a 40+++ male) have been stopped many times by guys in their 20's wanting information and wanting to 'talk kilt'. Some negative comment have come up and my standard is to ignore or the other is a "Bet you don't have enough b*lls to fill out a kilt!" and they walk off thinking, but not sure, that they have been insulted back.

It does sound like you have a good visit.

RLJ-

[David Woodington]

Its times like these that wipe away any negaives we might have had to endure in the past.
Dave

[Graham]

Good post Mark, heck I'm starting to think there are more kilts in the USA than Scotland!

I was encouraged to read your story, thanks for posting it.

[bubba]

Good post Mark, heck I'm starting to think there are more kilts in the USA than Scotland!

There probably are. With so many Americans interested in their roots it doesn't seem odd to me.