Greetings from the Canyonlands of Arizona

**Riverkilt** · 30th November 13, 11:46 PM

Yeah, I'm olde here...but it was pointed out to me today that many of the rabble don't know me. That makes sense since my newcomer's post was back in October of 2004. I was new to kilts and the only forum I'd found was an English kilt forum on Yahoo. Steve was a member there too and suggested I take a look at XMarks which he'd discovered.

I'm an olde guy. Just turned 69 (my little sister delights in pointing out I'm in my 70th year). I've survived a bout with cancer (Hairy Cell Leukemia) a few years ago. 24 years ago I met Bill Wilson and was able to quit drinking before it killed me. That led me from my chosen field of sales and marketing (three piece suit, tie, - a bifurcated fool) to nine years of night school to get a master's degree and change careers. 20 years ago I became a Licensed Professional Counselor working with addictions and mental health. I moved from working with top executives in board rooms to homeless drunks on the street, state and federal prisons, psychiatric wards, residential treatment, crisis wagons, and even rapists on probation. Today I work for the Navajo Nation's Department of Behavioral Health as a residential treatment and outpatient counselor.

Despite having my Scottish heritage drilled into me (Clan Donald, Trotternish Peninsula, Isle of Skye) by my grandfather Murdoch, I never had an interest in kilts. Until early 2004 I was living in Phoenix, AZ and was out at the Arizona Ren Faire. I saw a guy wearing a caramel Utilikilt Workman's. I had to have one too and soon I was off to the races. Since then I've owned 4 AmeriKilts, 1 Celtic Croft kilt, 3 Freedom Kilts, 14 Kathy's Kilts, 3 Pittsburgh Kilts (no longer in business), 4 leather RKilts, 3 Sportkilts, 29 USA Kilts (14 casual, 13 semi-trad, and 2 five yard wool), and 18 Utilikilts. I think the math on that is about 79 kilts. I've "churned" them though. Have sold a bunch to other X Markers in my size range and invested that money in new kilts. Think I have about 39 on hand now.

I live in a small town of 7,000 - Page, Arizona - and am now well known around town for being kilted. My current employer often tells me to wear a kilt for some function or another. Living so remote long drives are often the order of the day and there's no more comfy way to travel than kilted. And living amid such scenic beauty I hike a lot - and of course kilts are perfect for hiking.

As I've aged I've given service to the community - mostly serving on various board of directors. The local hospital board - even stood for election and won...a first. Also serve on four city advisory boards and our local domestic violence shelter board. I've been volunteering since I was a kid and still do.

I'm most grateful to this forum. While our diversity sometimes causes "situations" to address I've learned so much about kilts and accessories. Mostly I've been warned about less than customer oriented businesses and probably saved a lot of anger and money over that. I've also been told who the good folks were and enjoyed quality and value from that. The irony of my owning 29 USA Kilts is I waited a couple years after joining this forum to order my first kilt from Rocky. The praise was so high I figured it had to be a shill. But the praise kept coming so I tried one and was hooked.

What Hamish advised made sense to me and soon I had a kilt pin for every kilt...and an assortment of sporrans and a few dozen of the Lewis hose from Matt in a rainbow of colors, then garter ties to match. I'm guessing folks are nodding. If someone asked me if I'd spent more on kilts or accessories I'd say accessories...I go to highland games when I can to visit my clan tents and to SHOP! I do so love a games with a lot of vendors.

My little town is also a tourist town and I get to meet a lot of visitors from around the world. Its fun because the World travelers often approach me when I'm kilted and fun ensues. And a few of the rabble have come through town and we've hung out and broken bread and had fun.

I enjoy reading. My living room is all bookcases and they're crammed full and yes, I've read them all. A friend once called it the Royal Macdonald Library. What amazes me is back when I had the cancer I realized I didn't need many books I'd already read so I gave about half of them away - gave my clinical books to my agency, a bunch to the high school library, and a lot to the DV shelter's bargain store. In the two years since being cured those empty shelves have filled up again.

And I like roses and kitty cats. There's almost always been at least one cat in my life. When my last kitty passed at age 20 something last year I decided not to replace her. I figured the next cat would probably outlive me.

That's probably more than anyone wanted to know and no one even asked me....

A short summary of what I've learned about kilts and accessories from this forum is "avoid middlemen if you can" and "you can have any two of price, quality, or service."

And I guess a special thanks to all of you who've PM'd me for suggestions over the years...you've honored me...

Now, back to our regularly scheduled program of REAL newcomers....