I rarely go kilted, but when I have, I have seldom encountered the negative comments some of the other members have been forced to endure. One place I am almost always kilted is at the South Side Irish St. Patrick's day parade here in Chicago, which was yesterday and the weather couldn't have been better for kilting. The crowds are huge and can get rowdy, so I'm always surprised at the overwhelmingly positive reactions I get: high-fives, sincere 'nice kilt!'comments, hugs and gropes from women almost half my age, the usual.
The closest to a negative comment I got was as I was lugging my brother-in-law's cooler back to the car. A young and highly kreusened young man stumbled up and said "Hey, Ill give you two dollars for one of your beers" and I had to tell him that it wasn't my cooler and in any event contained nothing but ice and pepsi at this point...
So he yells at me "YOU'RE JUST A (article of male anatomy) IN A SKIRT!" for the benefit of the onlookers. To which I replied "True, but I'm not some jackass going thirsty because he's out of beer..."
I'm telling you, that line killed the spectators.
But it did make me reflect on the fact that this was close to the worst reaction I've EVER gotten because of my kilt. I wish for all of my tartan-swathed brothers out there some of the same good luck I have had while swinging the pleats. HOLD YOUR HEADS HIGH, LADS!
Eireann agus Alba go bragh!
Muldoon