Paying it forward----tell us your tale (no bragging)

[ForresterModern]

Over the past few years that I have been a member here I have witnessed not only the verbal and emotional support of friends and strangers who gather on this forum, but also the frequent considerate material generosity of members toward one another. Here's is your chance, not to crow, but to tell us your story, either as a giver or recipient, of a gift of something highland or kilt related. Let us chronicle the good things we do for one another, gather them together, and rejoice in our community spirit and generosity.

A few months ago I recieved a PM from Riverkilt (Ron) as part of a different topic stream we had been exchanging infrequently (Ron and I have never met in person or talked on the phone despite my having lived in Arizona and frequented his part of the world several times). Ron simply said he had been cleaning out his "man-cave" recently and found something he thought I might like in relation to a long running and popular series of threads from last summer, so he asked for my address to send them to me. Out of the blue a week or two later I find a package containing 4 lovely soapstone coasters with printings of "men of substance" playing golf kilted in various poses and situations (I will post pictures when I can), a clear reference to his support of my "Kilt Denied at Royal Troon..." threads. About the same time I attended a local arts festival and came across a couple small pins I though would be perfect for Ron, possibly for use as kilt pins, so I bought them. Ron has a large tattoo covering his whole back of what I believe is a giant sea turtle, and the pins were both of similar styled turtles in different motifs and art media. So I bought them and sent them off to him, at least in part in thanks for his generosity of the coasters, which now reside in our spare guest bedroom known as the kilt room, as it also houses all my kilt gear, golf memorabilia, and all things scottish in the house.

Then a month or two ago Mark's Mom joined our enclave in preparation for sending Mark her teenage (mildly autisitic if I remember) son to his senior prom kilted, his wish, with her plans on sewing the kilt and PC set from scratch, quite ambitious. As she was obviously on a budget (otherwise why not just order a kilt and PC) she inquired as to whether someone here might have a lightly used pair of ghillie brogues they were willing to sell for a reaonable price. I happened to have purchased just such a pair from Rocky that his brother used in his wedding (worn just once) that were a marginal fit for me and not likely to see the light of day if they remained in my stable. Rather than sell them (probably only worth about $50 at best in reality anyway) I decided to donate them to Mark's Mom and Mark's cause, knowing just how much else they were going to have to buy or otherwise put together for him to be fully decked out for the prom this spring. I enjoyed the quiet warmth of knowing I had done something good, which was only stoked again by the very considerate thank you note I recieved by mail from Mark himself, and Mark's Mom.

Unlike the movie "Pay It Forward" there are no love affairs, no need for three selfless deeds, and no one is going to die as a result of this thread. But we have all at varous times in our lives had that guardian angel appear on our shoulder unexpectedly to aid us along, often at times when we thought we might not be able to take the next step, and were able to forge onward with that kindnes and support. So think about it----what have you done to "Pay it forward"? Let's here some stories, from the givers and the recievers. I like to read happy stories. Bring them on.

jeff

[auld argonian]

Very simple thing...a while back, I was weeding out my library and found a book that I thought would be of interest to one of our members in the UK. I PM'ed him to see if he wanted it and he said that he did so I sent it over...sort of hate to cast a good book out without being sure that it has a good home with someone who's interested in the subject.

Actually, one of the interesting things about it was that despite all of the horror stories about things getting lost in the mail and held up in customs and whatnot that we hear here, the postage was inexpensive and it got there in, like, five days. Actually, I should contact him because I have another book here that he'd probably enjoy and I've been meaning to ask him if he wants it.

Anyway, a relatively small thing by comparison but just doing something that I thought might appropriate.

Best

AA

[Jock Scot]

For those new here and those that remember my little tussle with a tree where Old Jock very nearly didn't make it. At the outset I was out for the count for nine days, but news of my predicament crept out and the support and encouragement that my family, friends, medical teams and a whole host of others gained from the people of Xmarks, in some dire times, was almost unbelievable. It continued for several months, without wavering for one second as my rather uncomfortable recovery took place. It happened and it will never ever be forgotten by me and my family.

One of the members here even made this and it was plastered on nearly every wall in the hospital, plus I am told 500 tea mugs!Whether you like it or not ALL members of Xmarks, old and new, are members of:-



Thank you.

[beloitpiper]

When I was in Scotland, Arlen hosted me in Glasgow. In fact, on the train from the airport, he presented me with a Sgian Brew he made himself. Unfortunately, the lacquer wasn't quite working, so he was going to take it home and fix it. Sadly, not enough time before I left Scotland. Fast forward to 2010. Arlen is now living in Idaho and sends me a gorgeous shillelagh that he made himself.

I was thinking, how can I pay him back for all his hospitality? I noticed he was spending a lot of time photographing his new environment in Idaho, so I sent him an old (but good) camera I had. Hopefully it is more suitable than a digital point-and-shoot. That's the physical gift done. Now I'm hoping he'll come to Wisconsin so I can show him my home just like he took me around his back in Glasgow.

[Brian K]

Well, I am a proud member of Team Jock but, since I came aboard after his tussle with said tree, I joined the team as a result of his generosity.

There was a very active thread last year where Jock detailed the "jocking" of a new Balmoral bonnet to replace one Mrs. Jock thought had outlived its usefulness. In that thread I indicated that I figured I'd never be the owner of such a nice bonnet because one of such quality because of the cost. The very next day I had a PM from the redoubtable chap himself, who wouldn't know me if he ran into me on the High Street, asking if I'd like to provide a new home for his old bonnet. After a few more PMs it we figured it was close enough in size to make it worth a try and Jock dropped it in the Post.

About 10 days later it arrived and it fit as though it was made for me. Thanks to Jock I had my first (and so far only) pirce of Highland kit! I was thrilled and I get compliments on it nearly every day I wear it. TheScot and Mael Coluim also donated a Masonic cap badge and a dandelion, respectively and I am ready to meet the world!

In addition to that, the kindness and camaraderie of members of this forum supports me each end every day.

Thank you, all,

Brian

[denmcdough]

Back in the spring, 2010, Rocky, of USA Kilts, put a thread on that he was giving away a PC jacket and vest. It was to go to an Xmember who could not afford a new one. The jacket he was giving away, first come first serve, was that of Scruff Wallace of the Dropkick Murphys. Scruffy wanted a deserving person to have it, so he went through Rocky. Well, my son was in grad school, super low on funds, and was going to wear one of my kilts to his cousin's wedding. I thought this would be a great opportunity for my son to wear a PC, and fit in with the rest of the kilted gents.

The jacket was, like, 15 years old and I thought that it might be junk. To my surprise, it was almost in new condition. Rocky even had it dry-cleaned. What a fantastic surprise!

I contacted Rocky immediately and he responded in kind. I explained my son's situation, and Rocky said he'd send it out. I just had to pay the post. Two days later and it was here. And, my son DID wear it to the wedding; received many positive compliments; looked exceedingly handsome.

So, thanks to Rocky for handling the transaction. But a HUGE thank you to Scruffy Wallace for being soooooo generous.

What goes around comes around!!!

[Dall_Piobaire]

A year or so ago, I made the aquiantance of a fellow who was in a very siimilar situation with his vision and disability as myself. He wanted to learn the pipes, but really couldn't swing the cost of a chanter and tutor at the time. Disability payments, contrary to popular belief, don't leave one in the lap of luxury.

Anyway, I felt very strongly about giving him the oppurtunity to get a start at it. So, without giving up the details of my little plan, I don't know that he would have accepted the gift otherwise, I got his address, under false pretenses, and sent him a chanter and tutor book. Hoping only that it gives him the pleasure it gave me, and that the spirit of pipers past smile upon me.

It only takes one little thing to make a big difference in one person's life. If I can make that difference than I do get someting back...the pleasure of knowing I made that difference.

[xman]

As I mentioned last year I am a member of a wet shaving forum. Unlike here, no subject or opinion is off limits and we have argued politics and religion to a painful degree at times. It hasn't stopped us from all being friends ... mostly.

Anyhow, three years ago when my son was born a conglomerate of just such disparate individuals who only have wet shaving in common conspired to provide me with a special gift. Someone bought the blade, another refurbished it, another supplied the wood and another still embedded my son's initials and birth date into the scales. It is a great treasure to me. I shave with it annually on his birthday and will provide it to him when he is old enough to shave. I have donated razors to the forum myself for new shavers and sent out free gifts as well, but this is something quite special. It's an antique George Wolstenholm & Sons Canuck razor from Sheffield.

Here it is:

X

[itor66]

Someone did me a good turn. I got my first kilt last year and couldn't really afford any accessories.

I was talking to a lady here at work and she made me a sporan, she sewed a stiffener on the back and even put strengthened belt holes and a button and velcro tab on the front for me. What a nice lady. She gets free computer work.

Small story but it made my kilt a real comfortable wearing experience.

[Failed God]

I joined the forum not very long ago and in my introduction post i mentioned i needed to buy some sporran hangers because the chain i got with mine was to short. Woodsheal saw that post and told me that he had a set he didn't need.
I went to the next local kilt night. As soon as we introduced ourselves Woodsheal gave me a set of sporran hangers. Its something really nice of him to do that for someone he met in person 30 seconds earlier.