Thought, maybe, I should say hello

[woodard]

Greetings from Oklahoma,
I've been reading this forum, off and on, for about three years now. I find the conversation friendly(most of the time) and finally decided to join a few weeks ago.
My surname is Woodard(English) and my paternal Grandmother was a Tracy(Irish). Also on my fathers side is McGee(Scot), though I don't know if McGee is blood or in-law. All this in addition to a bit of Creek and Cherokee.
My mothers side is mostly German, Gump and Six, with a bit of Iroquois.
My interest in the kilt began in the early 70's when I was but a wee laddie. I was given a hand-me-down kilt. I don't recall the tartan. I wore it on special occasions until I outgrew it. Which, for my taste, was way too soon.
It was 28 years old when I received it and it is now being worn by a very distant relative. Assuming a year of wear for each, it has been worn by ~60 laddies. The odd thing is that this is the only kilt I recall being worn by any member of the family.
My appreciation for the kilt was rekindled one evening while watching The Screen Savers on ZDTV. Or, was it TechTV by this time? Anyway, Patrick Norton appeared, wearing a Utilikilt, and I knew that I would one day I would have to start buying kilts.
Until recently, however, it just hasn't been realistic. I am an over-the-road truck driver and I spend about 330 days on the road each year. Working as a company driver, either wearing a uniform or adhering to a dress code, it didn't make sense, to me at least, to spend a great deal of money on clothes I would only be able to wear about 30 days a year.
Now, things have changed. I'm now an owner/operator and I'm working regional. Not only has my dress code changed, so has my time at home. Not only will I have more time at home, the owner of the company to which my equipment and services are leased has a somewhat different approach to the dress code. Basically, be clean and look professional.
So, as soon as my bank account gets over the initial shock of going into debt on the truck and the new house(first time in 41 years I've gone into debt for anything and now I'm in debt to the tune of 150K), I'll be able to start spending on a few kilts. If my budget is any indication, I should be able to squeeze about 10 SWK Standards, a few SWK heavies, 4 or 5 USAK semi-trads and a few Freedom Kilts over the next 4 or 5 months. Eventually, I hope to also have some customs made and I also want to learn to build my own.
I'm not likely to make a great many posts. Work keeps me away from the internet most of the day. However, trust that I'll be here, reading almost daily.

[Dirk Skene]

Hello and from Memphis, Tennessee. Home of the blues & Elvis.

You will find several American Indian / Scots here. You should feel right at home

[cessna152towser]

from the Scottish Borders.

[B Hall]

welcome from Ohio

[McMurdo]

From Toronto, Ontario, Canada

[Ruanaidh]

Welcome to the rabble from West Texas.

[turpin]

Welcome from Roswell Georgia. We have a member, the Kilted Kid, who is a kilt-wearing long-haul trucker. When last spotted he was in Ohio on his way to California.

You're going to love the change in driving comfort. I like Utilikilts for driving, myself. No worries about wrinkled pleats.

[sjrapid]

Welcome from London, England.

Best regards

[McClef]

from South Wales UK!

[James MacMillan]

from Sunny Southern California