Another uneventfull kilted day

**Freedomlover** · 23rd December 06, 12:54 PM

We recently had some friends from Florida up for a few days. On Monday last we drove up to Mt. Mitchell (highest peak East of the Mississippi River). I was wearing a Stillwater standard. Mistake. Mt. Mitchell is almost always windy, and on Monday the gusts were about 50 mph, and the temperature about 35. There were a few other folks up there, but only one asked if my knees were cold. I thought that a little strange since he was wearing shorts!

On the way home we stopped off at the Westen Carolina Nature Center to look at animals. There were lots of people there and the only comment I heard was from one of the girls that works there. We were in a large exhibit barn and she came in, stopped, and said "Wow, I just love the kilt mister". I answered, "thanks, so do I", with a big grin.

After that we went to a Greek restaurant with lots of customers (it is a locally famous place called Apollo Flame). Again, no reaction from anyone except some guy with his wife who kept stealing glances. I suspect that he was a little jealous.

Then we toured the Asheville Mall. Several positive comments were received from store help/customers. Two teenage girls, maybe 14 or 15, kept elbowing each other and giggling. I mean this in the nicest possible way: there is nothing sillier than two little girls on a giggle fest.
Wink

Our friends and my wife got a kick out of it.

On Tuesday we decided to climb Mt. Pisgah which is near our house. The trail is only 1 1/2 miles, but it is really steep in places. Since I knew it would be cold I opted for an 8 yard wool kilt with heavy sweater. On the way up we met one couple coming down, we passed brief pleasantries and continued to the summit which we had to ourselves for about an hour. On the way back down it was just one group after another going up. There were two high points. Two young men, mid twenties I'd guess, and they were both in kilts. We visited for a while and it turns out that they were visiting from Tennessee. As we approached the parking area we ran up on another couple with a couple kids. He turns to his wife and says, "See?, I keep telling you".

Any way, a couple perfectly normal days here in hillbilly heaven.

**McMurdo** · 23rd December 06, 01:10 PM

That sounds so cool,

funny how the guy with shorts on would ask if your knees were cold.

Glad you had a good time and that all the comments were positive. I have noticed lately that there are more positive comments than negative comments when I'm kilted, its good to see I'm not alone.

**Barclay** · 23rd December 06, 01:31 PM

mmmmmm...Apollo Flame. Home of the 30 pound salad.

If you went to the one at Biltmore, they should be pretty used to it by now - there are a couple of kilties that go there fairly frequently. A good Scot needs his Greek made Italian food, ya know.

Two young men, mid twenties I'd guess, and they were both in kilts.

I don't know what it is, but I'm seeing more and more guys kilted around here. Downtown, on the trails at Bent Creek, even at the gym, where a guy walked out past me the other day in a really nice tartan semi-trad.

**TimC** · 23rd December 06, 02:00 PM

I think a lot of they way people respond is based on how comfortable you are in the kilt. When you act as if it's the most natural thing to wear (which it is) then people seem more comfortable seeing someone wearing one. Not suprising that you got nothing but favorable comments....just my opinion.

-Tim

**Freedomlover** · 23rd December 06, 02:11 PM

Come to think of it, I do not recall the last time someone got really up-tight about my kilts. Perhaps part of it is that kilts don't define me---I define them by my general demeanor. I have some friends who look like they are straight out of Deliverance (and as the other members who live around here will testify, there is a lot of that hearabouts): as country as it gets. None of them has ever shown anything like indignation. It is pretty much a universal "so what?" But then again good neighbors don't meddle in their neighbors business. I like it like that.

P.S. Barclay, it was the one in Biltmore just off I-40, but I think the one across from Biltmore Square mall is even better. They sure do know how to throw the groceries on the table, don't they?