Reactions - mine and others

**Streetcar** · 29th May 05, 10:34 AM

I've seen other threads on how people deal with negative reactions here before. I've got my own selection of comebacks, but I wanted to share this particular one.

First, a personal observation - I put on my kilt Friday, and had a bit of an epiphany. For the first time, it didn't feel like I was wearing some "special clothing." It felt as natural as putting on shorts, pants, a shirt, or any other item of clothing. To paraphrase from another thread, for the first time I didn't feel like I was wearing some sort of "costume." I'm sure you've all had the same feeling at some point in your kilt experience. It was just very...freeing...for me.

At any rate, I was standing in line at a liquor store, when a heavy set guy in his late 40's came in. He had old, faded and blurred tattoos on his chest and arms, and was wearing worn out jeans. His white, ribbed tank-top strained to cover the paunch falling over the top of his belt buckle. He was with another guy who looked like an extra from Deliverance.
He got a bottle of something and got in line behind me. That's when I heard, "Well will you look at that."
I didn't react, didn't turn.
So, a little louder and a little closer he says, "Look, it's a dude in a skirt."
I turned around and met his gaze. I thought about telling him, "Big words from a man wearing a camisole." But instead I stared at him for a minute and in my best "cop voice" said, "I'll assume you're joking, and spare you the smart *** remarks."
I don't know what he was expecting, but he laughed nervously, lightly hit me on the side of the shoulder and said, "Yeah, that's all."
After making my purchase, I handed him a Utilikilt business card and said, "You might enjoy one of these."

When I left, he was still standing there speechless.