My Kilting Challenge

[emeraldfalconoflight]

Since posting the above, the wife has just informed me that she is going on into the city an hour or so before me to do some shopping with my mother. Were all meeting up in a Wetherspoons pub by the station for a beer before we all head off to the festival. That means now I'll have to go it alone as far as the pub/station. This is defintely a FIRST for me. I must admit, I'm a little nervous but I'm gonna give it a shot.
Derek.

If I can do it here in "Southern" United States where almost everyone owns a gun or two, I am sure that you will be fine in the UK.

[Mike n NC]

Derek the only thing I see that may cause you a problem is that without your wife, all the women on the bus and train are going to be hitting on you. :-P

Go on and have a great time, stand tall and keep your head up.

Mike

[GMan]

Knowing you Derek, you will do fine.

[Ranald]

Derek, you are hard core man , nothing will stop you.
Your posts on your new life kilted and your experiences are just inspirational to us newbies.
Keep up the good work and one day you may find you'll just bump into another guy in a kilt !
Best wishes.

[Freedomlover]

If I can do it here in "Southern" United States where almost everyone owns a gun or two, I am sure that you will be fine in the UK.

When did Batavia, New York, become part of the "Southern" States? Did I miss something? I seem to remember a dispute between the States wherein folks from New York took up arms against folks from the South.

But seriously, although it may seem a bit daunting, you will find that few people care. You are the 'normal' one. If others have issues that is their problem.

[Archangel]

it's all part of my wicked life but I've heard too many rude jokes that start with "a man in a kilt sits down on the train..." to keep a straight face here.
I suggest the Samurai principle of "prepare to die": i.e., what is the worst case scenario I can imagine? What can I do to deal with it or prevent it? Can I live/die with that?

[davedove]

what is the worst case scenario I can imagine? What can I do to deal with it or prevent it? Can I live/die with that?

There's certainly nothing wrong with being prepared, but don't go expecting trouble, or you will surely find it. If you expect people are going to be rude, your own actions will reflect that, and so they WILL be rude. So prepare for the worst, but expect the best.

Derek, just do it! Every "first" is difficult, but once yo get through it you only have to worry about second and third times, and those are a whole lot easier.

[Archangel]

There's certainly nothing wrong with being prepared, but don't go expecting trouble, or you will surely find it. If you expect people are going to be rude, your own actions will reflect that, and so they WILL be rude. So prepare for the worst, but expect the best.

Derek, just do it! Every "first" is difficult, but once yo get through it you only have to worry about second and third times, and those are a whole lot easier.

Thanks, Dave. Sorry I was unclear. The unmentioned "given" here is that we are always going to try to be polite and courteous. Generally, we have a "script" for known situations, this is an exercise to develop a "script" for unknown situations. We want to walk away from them knowing that, as much as possible, we have maintained our integrity. So, my hope is that I am not lead into rudeness by somebody else's behavior....from here I usually digress into esoteric Samurai philosophies so I better stop.

[Derek]

Well I did it!! As I was heading to the bus stop to go a neighbour pulled up in a car and offered me a lift into town. She dropped me at the far end of one of the main shopping streets which meant I had to walk all the way back to the pub and station. No one paid any attention to me that I could see nor did I turn any heads when I got to the pub which was heaving as it was 1pm. I simply made my mind up to forget I was wearing a kilt, just like I would if I had my jeans on. The rest of the journey there and back and the festival itself was great. Had a few enquiries about my kilt from one or two women who were running celtic craft stalls .. they thought my cilt was great! By the time we came back the train was overloaded with young people heading into the city to go Sat night clubbing. Again no looks or comments that I could see.
Derek

[Mike n NC]

Sounds like you got it in one Derek!! Good show and all that. :-D

I mean what was the very worst that could have happened? Dragged from the train and hauled through the streets before being pilloried and having 'stuff' thrown at you?

No sweat man, all in a day's work for a kilted gentleman. 8)

Mike