Recently rejoined rabble of righteous kilt wearers!

[Aitionn]

Greetings fellow admirers of all things Scottish!
I purchased my first kilt (Murray of Atholl tartan 16 ounce) in 1978 from a Scottish goods import shop in La Jolla California. Unfortunately I cannot remember the name of the shop. That kilt served me well over the next 10 years at highland games, Burn's dinners etc. I had a burning desire to learn to play the pipes and set about trying to find a teacher in Southern California. At this time there weren't many teachers to be found, but luckily I did find one close to where I was living and got to work learning how to play this wonderfully enigmatic instrument. After learning the basics on the chanter, I graduated to the pipes. Anyone that plays the pipes can relate to the shock of trying to coordinate the blowing into the bag with the proper pressure and at the same time fingering the proper notes! It took a while but I was able to become an adequately proficient mediocre pipe player. I joined a local pipe band and ordered my second kilt (Gordon, military sett 16 ounce) from the same shop in La Jolla. Around the same time I joined the pipe band, I started my career in education, teaching theatre arts at a public high school. With all of the time at school and after school in rehearsal as well as participating in summer stock theater; it left very little time for my interest in my Scottish roots. I had to let something go and I chose making a living and taking care of my children. I attended Scottish functions over the years when I could and continued my interest in Celtic music by taking up the Irish whistle and the Irish flute. These instruments require little maintenance and can be taken with you just about everywhere you go. I continue my struggle to play an instrument above the level of mediocrity and annoy the hell out of my wife with the high shrill notes of an "E" whistle.

I retired from my secular teaching job in 2013. I currently am the Vicar of a small Traditional Anglican church in Highland, CA. When I am not preparing sermons or tending to my parishioners and other church business I work on my Clan business and activities. I currently am serving as the California Commissioner of the Murray Clan Society of North America and also as the Region 6 Representative. I continue to practice my instruments and wear my kilt whenever and wherever I can. I had to purchase a new Murray of Atholl kilt a couple of years ago because the old one either shrunk or I developed a highly sculpted body packed with muscle upon muscle so that I no longer fit in it! I like to think that is what happened, but the decades and gravity had taken its toll which made the acquisition of a new kilt necessary. I am happy to be a member of this forum and look forward to the interesting information and comments that are found here.

Yours aye,
Aitionn

[Hawk]

Welcome to the XMTS Community Aitionn........

Looking forward to seeing you here and your sharing on the forum....

Hawk

[StevieR]

Hello mate and welcome from Dorset in the UK. Great intro!

[Grizzly]

Lovely intro and welcome to the forum, I hope you have a great time here.

[Richrail]

from Reno, NV.

[kiltedtom]

Welcome from central Hoosier land. And I gotta ask? Do you ever hit those "shrill high notes" on purpose?

Tom

[WillowEstate]

Hi Aitionn and a warm welcome from (usually but not today) sunny Queensland!

Very nice introduction - interesting after we've retired, we wonder how we ever found time to go to work, now that we have so much else to do!

[ASinclair]

Hello Aitionn!

[Sample m]

Great to have a member such as yourself. Look forward to what you have bring.

[Tarheel]

Well met Aitionn. Tarheel here in Oxford, Mississippi welcomes you.