I'm having lower back surgery Dec. 19, and had to go to a pre-op appointment today with wife. Wore my 2006 Standard Nightstalker, black sweatshirt, white short sleeve shirt with collar out, black hose, black flashes, black Country sporran with silver chain, and black kilt belt with silver buckle. If Darth Vader wore a kilt, I would have been him (sans helmet). I was half expecting someone to say "may the kilted force be with you."

First, off to Columbia, MO to pick up some MRI films at Boone Hospital. Not a single comment, but losts of smiles from the ladies. Men would look, then hang their head down - dressed as I was, and at 6' 0" and 255 pounds, I must have looked intimidating.

Then, off to Bob Evans and a big breakfast. No comments, but the waitress was all smiles - never had my coffee cup refilled so frequently.

Finally back to Jefferson City, MO and St. Mary's Hospital for my pre-op appointment. No comments until a nurse other than the one doing the screening says "excuse me sir, but I just have to ask what clan you are. We've been talking about your kilt and thought it might be the Black Watch." I told her that I was Kennedy clan on the Irish side, and MacLaren clan on the Scottish side. I also explained the difference between the tartan I was wearing and the Black Watch. She said I looked great, and said "you must wear kilts all the time," to which I replied "yes I do."

I sure have come a long way since that first, timid trip to a convenience store in August of this year.

Darrell