My kilted week (almost)

[Splash_4]

As some of you may remember, I mentioned that my folks were coming into town for a visit. As I don't get to see them that often, I decided to take a little vacation to spend some time with them. I also decided that it would be a good week to take a vacation from trousers (for the most part.. more on that later)

I must say that after spending a week in kilts that putting trousers back on this morning was quite uncomfortable... But then we all knew that!

I did want to share some of the encounters that I experienced whilst travelling around middle Georiga.

Friday's agenda included the Georgia Aquarium. On the way we stopped for breakfast at a little place in Snellville that caters to the locals. On entering a young man ran over to ask my what clan I was and wanted to chat about where to find a kilt... I sent him here of course. Once inside we ran into a group of body builders from the local Golds Gym. One of the guys quipped "where's your bagpipes??" to which I responded "under my kilt" the other guys at the table gave him a hard time the rest of the time we were there. Once at the aquarium we ran into a young lady who wanted to know what was under the kilt, but she would not ask me.... So she heads over to my wife to ask the question. My wife (who has been reading these threads with me for a while) answered "I suspect shoes and socks" The lady turned about 16 shades of red and my father spit up his coffee.

Trying to get inside, we had to go through a security check. As I approached the guy doing the wanding I quipped "be prepared, I am going to set this thing off like a Christmas tree" (You know, the buckles on the kilt, the big brass buckle on my Cavscout belt and the brass clips on the sporran hanger, not to mention the keys, cell phone and other items in the sporran) He said he had never seen a kilt up close before and I wound up slowing the line down just chatting with him.

Inside the aquarium was a riot, it was school field trip day and there were a bunch of kids inside, including a bunch of high school kids. This got comments from "cool kilt" to the girlie giggles. While walking through one exhibit, I had one of the young lady staff members come over and strike up a conversation during which this overweight, balding, old fart got propositioned!! I told the young lass that she might want to ask my wife for permission first at which ended the conversation!

All in all, it was a great experience.

More to follow.

[Splash_4]

These days were doing projects around the house, attending church and driving to Savannah. Not a lot happened on this day other than the repsonses from folks at church who had not seen me kilted before. I will say for anyone who has not done it before.... Kilts were made for driving. After the 4 hours in the car after church to get to the hotel, I was fresh and ready to go while the rest of my party were flat wore out. I certainly did not expect that!

[Mumbles]

Loved the part about security! Glad to hear you had a blast and look foreward to the second part of this story

EDIT: I guess you answered my question while I was typing =P Awesome!

[Splash_4]

Today was the weathered Lamont on tybee Island. A nice visit to Fort Pulaski early in the morning was met by a very interesting conversation from an older couple from Wales. They both mentioned how interesting it was to them to come to the states and see a gentleman kilted. I shared how much I enjoyed our time there two years ago and how much I want to go back. Later in the trip I ran into canadian who said that he left his kilt at home because he did not think any one would wear one in the south. We had a great time chatting about things across the spectrum.

Later in the day we continued on to the Tybee lighthouse and battery to tour those facilities. I was a little concererned about climbing the 175 steps to the top of the light house while regimental, but no risk taken, nothing gained. Imagine a large kilted guy on the outdoor catwalk 170 feet over your head.... (never mind, somethings are better left unsaid!)

After the tour of the lighthouse, we stopped for lunch on the beach and then continued out so my mom could say that she had now seen both coasts. While on the beach I was approached by two winsome young lasses asking if they could have their photo taken with me. My wife took the camera and there I was with a young lady in a bikini on both arms. My wife asked me after she took the picture why I looked so surprised. I informed her that while she had the camera both young ladies took the opportunity to "find out for themselves" That was a first for me!

Later that evening was a stroll on river street to catch a bite to eat at a little sports bar on the river. A nice end to the evening (even got asked to dance once or twice..!)

[McMurdo]

I think that is just great, congrats on an almost week, I love the quip response from your wife, that must have been priceless, I bet they remember that one the next time they see a man in a kilt.

[cessna152towser]

Sounds like an excellent week with great kilting experiences.

[pipesndrumsnun]

Very cool! What a neat week! Last summer I was coming home from Rome and had a layover in Amsterdam. An amazing sight beheld us at the airport...an entire Boy Scout troop (teens) wearing kilts with their uniform shirts and accessories. It made my day...not something you see too often!

[Splash_4]

Today was spent in and around Savannah. We took one of the touring companies to get an overview of the city. Was a great day spent talking to various folks on the tour. I had a bit of fun with one lady when she asked where I was from.. I said I was from a small town in a state she had never heard of. When I told her it was in Georgia I thought she was going to pass out from lack of oxygen. It took her a full 10 minutes to get her breath back. Walking through the town in the various squares, I spent a lot of time talking to the varous college students here (the Savannah college of Arts and Design is located here) and had many questions about the kilt and where to find out more. Being a college town, folks were very open to this.

The only down side was one gentleman at the hotel asking if my wife dressed me this way. I looked him right in the eye and before I could get a word out my mother said "men look good in kilts!" the guy said sorry and quietly slinked away.

[Splash_4]

As I sit here typing this while trousered, I can think back on a great week spent meeting a lot of new people from all over the world. Although I am an outgoing person by nature, I am convinced that the wearing of the kilt opened a number of doors and coversations that would not of otherwise occurred. For example, the beach seen would not of happened had I been in shorts or pants. I was also able to get us into at least one pub that was crowded because of the kilt. The owner saw us at the door and said that he wanted a kilt in his pub because it would draw additional business. I am finding that while kilted, folks overcome their shyness or reticence of talking to folks because they just have to know.

I was rather surprised though that my dad, mom and wife all got the question repeatedly, but I only got it once. I was also pleasantly surprised that other than the one encounter with the gentleman at the hotel, folks were quite open to my wearing it and even wanted to know the history, clan or other things while wearing it.

So, for you newbies who are concerned about wearing it in public. Wear it with pride, but don't be surprised at the outcomes... You might be pleasantly surpirsed.


And finally, I will be posting a photolog ala P1M and C152T in the next day or so!

[cessna152towser]

The end of an excellent week - looking forward to seeing the photos.