Slainte from California

**MacIsaac** · 19th May 11, 10:04 AM

Hello,

I just wanted to introduce myself. I live in Southern California and stumbled into the kilt by way of my mother's family. She was a MacIsaac with roots in the Western Highlands, we believe near Glenuig.

I spent a year at the University of Edinburgh and studied Gaelic and plenty of Scottish history. That is also where I picked up my (so far) one and only kilt. An 8yd, handsewn tank from Geoffrey Tailor in MacDanold of Clanranald.

Not to wax too nostalgic, but one of the most thrilling, and chilling, moments of my life came about because of studying Gaelic. The professor was Allan MacDoanald, a renowned piper from Glenuig. Part of the course was a week in Glenuig. It turned out that the week we were in Glenuig, Allan's mother was very ill and was not expected to recover. One of our course outings was to Loch Shiel where we went out on a small boat.

As to be expected of Western Scotland in March, there was a cold mist on the loch as we approached St. Finnian's Isle, where many MacDoanlds are buried, including our professor's relatives.

As we passed the isalnd, he picked up his great pipes and played the most chilling, tear-jerking lament that echoed around the loch in a way that I will never forget. It was all at once awe-inspiring and humbling, and something I will never forget.

Anyway, back to the kilt. While I got plenty of use out of it in Scotland, incuding Hogmany and various ceilighs, it has sat sadly idle in my closet for many years.

I am heading to a wedding in a couple of weeks where its presence has been requested!

Looking forward to enjoying this great group.

Alex