Broke the Ice

[Norm]

Well, finally broke the ice, put on my new olive utility kilt, grabbed some tools, swallowed hard and walked out to our front yard and spent a couple hours extracting weeds therefrom. I am kind of shy, and had to push myself to go out there in front where others drive and walk by and so on. The hard part was in the garage, just before "launching forth". But once I was out there working on the task at hand, it became pretty easy. I think a few people looked as they drove by. One car drove up, then turned around and went back. Don't know if it was a double-take or he forgot his toothbrush.

Our next door neighbor friend whom I have talked with many times got home and walked over. He knew right away it was a kilt, and said so. We talked for quite a while about it and other subjects. He had no problem with it; was even encouraging. So it was a good experience.

As to the kilt itself, it's really great! I can see how a person could get hooked on these things; they are really comfortable. I can imagine that when the temperatures get up to the 90s in the summer, it is really come into its own. Found a garment I really like; wish more people wore them. I think I am the only one in this little town that wears one.

Attached are two photos of the event. On the side, if you got lots of weeds, a hula hoe cannot be beat!

Norm

[Richrail]

Well done, that's the way I broke the ice by just doing things around the house. Now when I'm not at work I'm kilted.

[ratspike]

The first time is always the hardest. I think it's fair to say that Joe Public knows exactly what a kilt is. Tartan or solid color, pockets or no pockets, it's all the same to many people and they know it's a kilt. I'm really glad to hear it went well for you, and I think you'll become comfortable with it pretty quickly. As you get out and about in public more often, prepare yourself for the inevitable but almost always positive encounters with random strangers. Dudes will give you props for having more stones than them, because they've always wanted to wear a kilt but are too chicken. Women will tell you it's hot, and say they wish their husbands would wear one. Drunk bridesmaids will fall all over you at weddings and strangers will buy you drinks at the bar. The power of the kilt is great, my friend.

[Shuteye]

Hey Norm, it will progress from around the house, to trips to the hardware store or market, until you don't even think about it when wearing your kilt out and about. Eventually it's that easy feeling ... it's not what you wear but how you wear it... and then when somebody notices, it's positive

[GMan]

Glad to see that you are doing the natural living part while Kilted.

[Taskr]

Norm, welcome to knowing. And kudos to you, sir, for having the individual courage to step forth. No, I am not using that word loosely. Your mention of being "kind of shy" and I surmise that to be a bit of an understatement. Courage, then, is what it takes to step outside of your comfort zone especially when it is toward the uncommon (you also mention no one else that you know of).
The kilt, as historic, contemporary and comfortable as it is, remains in general a not usual garment. Though not unusual to wear it, it is as mentioned above an indicator of one who has the stones to respectfully express their uniqueness among the many. That doesn't make us special, but it does reflect a personal confidence.
Well done. Enjoy your new-found "Norm".

[Tarheel]

Good for you Norm. Stepping from behind the fence into the "curb appeal" of the front yard. People will view you as a "down to earth" kind of guy, whether you're Scottish or not.

[Tarheel]

Well done, that's the way I broke the ice by just doing things around the house. Now when I'm not at work I'm kilted.

Norm, just ask Richrail's wife about keeping him out of public (or anywhere but work) while kilted.

[S Mitchell]

Good on you!

It's not easy to venture outside one's comfort zone but it's rewarding.

For me, the first few times wearing my kilt outside the house in view of my neighbors, just getting in my car before going out, was harder than wearing it out and about in public around strangers, or wearing it around my family/friends the first time.

I know my neighbors and like them, but I'm kind of a private person.

It only gets easier.

[tulloch]

That's really good. Congratulations. Keep it up. It gets better and better.