So I left my beloved Oregon for a trip to Boise, Idaho for the weekend to meet a lady friend who happened to be an old flame. We planned to go have dinner and drinks and catch up as she was there for a visit and I decided to go out kilted. Wore my Ramsay blue with navy hose and tartan flashes, dress shoes, sliver-gray dress shirt and black vest (waistcoat) and my Ramsay blue tie.

She was impressed. In fact upon seeing me as I opened the door to the hotel room, her words were: "Damn! How handsome! I had no idea!"

Well, we took a cab to dinner and then walked a short ways to a pub called Bad Irish. Really, if you ever get to Boise, go there. Wonderful Celtic atmosphere and pretty waitresses in short plaid skirts that come up to the....But, I digress....

As we walked I kept my head held high because as we all know, you should be proud in your kilt and the confidence you exude makes naysayers shrivel up like a raisin in the sun. I got a few thumbs up and nods according to her as I wasn't paying attention much. When we got to the bar though, a few guys stared as we entered. Then one, who I later found out was a member of the band, ran up to me and stuck out his hand and asked, "What clan?"

"Ramsay." I answered.

"Clan Douglas!" he said and then he congratulated me on wearing my kilt out as he appreciates people getting out to be proud of the heritage and promoting wearing of the kilt. We chatted for a moment and then myself and the lady got to the business of catching up, drinking Guinness, and dancing. MY friend was a bit red-faced when as the only couple on the floor dancing at the time...the song ended and we were met with applause and cheers for "kiltman"...lol.

The waitresses even hovered around our table a bit more and gave extra service and asked questions about my kilt and the tartan, family history, etc. I told them though that I was certainly grateful that my plaid wasn't as short as theirs and their's wasn't as long as mine..lol. Better on the eyes for everyone...lol.

We left there after a long while to explore and went to a place across the way that had a nice selection of scotch. I ordered us both a dram of Edradour. The bartender told me "no charge". I was taken aback and asked why, she just pointed at my kilt and smiled. Then it was more questions. My lady friend was amused at how much attention I was getting and really, it was making me a bit uncomfortable because I don't wear the kilt to make a fuss or draw attention..I wear it because it is part of me and I am proud to do so.

But the nicest compliment I received was from an older lady...at least in her late 60's or early 70's...who was also at the bar with her husband and who mentioned she has Scottish blood in her (MacLean). She said it was really "gutsy" and "special" for a man to wear a kilt. I just said "Well, any guy can wear a kilt." And she said, "True but it takes a real man to wear it so well."

Now I ask you...can you get any better a compliment than that?

It was a great evening and funnily enough, the next day as I was going to the theater (Sorry, had khaki shorts on)..I saw another kilted man with his girl walking across the way! I wasn't able to go talk to him but it was fun to see another of the kilted out and about.