When I was about 13, and still very impressionable, my parents took me to the Fair Hill MD Scottish games. Watching really big guys toss Cabers and asundry heavy things left a positive impression. I've always been a bit odd, and decided along the line (probably after Brave Heart or Rob Roy) that I wanted to be married in kilt. Sadly, I married a Dublin girl in Ireland, who threatened that I would be laughed out of the church. So I stayed away from kilts for the duration of the marriage. Since I closed that chapter, about 2 years ago, I decided it was time to move onward and upward. I bought a primarily stone house, named it Lionshold, and adopted the rampant lion as a symbol (which led me back to all things Scottish).

The cost of a kilt had always prohibited me from buying one, but then I found Sportkilt. I have a respect for history, so I did some research into tartans, and chose the universal blackwatch. I also got kilts for my 3 and 5 year old sons, the pride of Lionshold as it were. (we're on the sportskilt wall of fame, the surname is Hendrix).

I've had it since the fall and have ocassionally worn it around West Philly, where a friend lives. She's amused by the reactions I draw form U. Penn students. I wore the it for christmas with a tux shirt and jacket, and was accused of wearing a skirt by friends and family. Again, they know I don't fit any mold. I was so encouraged by the reactions that I bought a second, a Royal Stewart.

Last weekend I was in San Francisco, to hang out with an old friend. I wore my kilts all the time Thursday to Sunday. He chuckled, but completely changed his tune when he saw all the lasses come over and chat me up. I may have converted one or two of his friends, after they witnessed the kilt's excellent rapport with the birds (boids). I ended up flying back across the country in the Royal Stewart, and had nothing but positive experiences, with the TSA, ground crew, and air crew.

I picked up my sons, still in my kilt, and my first wife (I'm still taking applications for a second wife) said, "Yer dad's here, and he's wearing his skirt again." She hates it, the rest of the world loves it. With that kind of positive impact, I'm going to buy more kilts and wear them more often.

And that, gentlemen, is my abridged road to kilted freedom. slainte.