The other day I had the sad job of attending a friends funneral. "Noga" was only 24 years old when his life was taken from him by a passing cement truck.
I found taking the time to put on my nicest Kilt outfit really gave me the time to clear my head and prepare for what lay ahead of me. This must have been the slowest I have ever got dressed in my life. I made sure that every step in getting dressed in my Kilt was perfect. I found the longer it took the more respect I was showing my lost friend.
After dressing for the occation, standing there in the mirror making sure that everything was just right, I broke down into a waterfall of tears. A friend is gone and all I can do is dress in my Finest Kilt to try show how much I respect him.
Once I pulled myself together it was off to the service. His family is of Mexican back ground, so having a kilted man at their Son's funneral was very differant for them. But Noga's father came up to me right away and gave me a big hug and a hand shack. He looked me up and down, stopping to take it all in. After he got himself togethr he spoke to me in a very, very humbled voice. He told me just how much it ment to him, and how much respect I must have for his fallen Son, for me to dress up in my tradional dress too Honour Noga. He was very moved by the whole thing and it put a smile on a Sad Father's face.
The service started and Noga's Father gave the eulogy. That must be the hardest thing for any father to do. It just isn't right, but we don't get to chose what happens sometimes in life.
We all said our good byes and see you later's to Noga. I walked around the hundered or so people that were there after the service and talked with as many as I could. All the time wearing my Kilt with pride, knowing that something as simple as wearing my nicest Kilt could help put a smile on a Sad Father's face.
So Kilts are great and so is friendship. To all you Lads here, I think of most of you as Brothers, wear them with pride and enjoy life, because you never know when your time is up.
Cheers and Thank you.