Hello from Eugene, OR

[Nigel]

Oh, that's cool. I'm sure you've been asked this a lot, but have you ever been to Graceland?

TKW - thanks for the pictures. I showed them to my dad and he said it can look okay on some people. He might be warming up to the idea!

[muirkirkca]

A good start is always around celtic events such as highland games, Burns nights, celtic activities etc. Many of the contestants and participants are of different ethnic backgrounds but enjoy the events and competition. A basic kilt is a good way to feel part of the atmosphere. Take your father along if he will go.

[macwilkin]

Nigel,

You might mention to your father that there is an Oregon State Tartan:

http://www.caledoniansociety.com/origindex.htm

http://www.oregonscottish.org/tartans.htm

http://www.district-tartans.org/oregon.htm

And, for good measure, the Oregon State Defence Force has its own pipe band:

http://www.smt-net.com/~thepiper/

Regards,

Todd

[SteveB]

Nigel,
The thrifty would be a great starter kilt. I am enjoying mine more each time I wear it. I believe what your father is really saying is more along the lines of ARE YOU REALLY READY TO STAND OUT IN THE CROWD? That being said, way back when the Earth was flat, and I was a teenager, I was real tall and very thin. A friend was the Bass Drum player in a pipe and drum band. He convinced me to join not for my musical ability (I have none), but to be the carrier of that rather large drum. The band marched kilted. My first day kilted to school for the dress rehearsal of a performance raised some comments that I had prepared for. The first in the peer group was "why the plaid skirt?" It took many explanations of the kilt. I still had to deal with a few bullies that referred to it as girls wear, and that those who wear it are somehow inferior. After several competitions our recreation center band had beat out many high school bands in competition. (including my own school) I was the only band member at the school. The final competition was hosted by my school, with demonstrations during the football team's halftime break. The bullies were sure shocked to see the State Champions on the field all in kilts.
For your father, there is a growing trend in the upper Western states for men to be kilted in offices and in leading businesses. I visited Portland with thousands of other Unitarian Universalists for the Church's General Assembly. Over half of the local representatives (Oregon, Washington State, Northern California) were kilted! There were only a handful of us from the East that were kilted, but the numbers are growing.
My Avatar is how I generally dress for Church each Sunday, and is close to how my grandson dresses for Church as well.
--- Steve

[TheKiltedWonder]

I showed them to my dad and he said it can look okay on some people. He might be warming up to the idea!

Here's hoping he does! At least you're trying to make a well-reasoned argument to him as to why you should be able to wear the kilt, rather than just pouting about it being unfair. What's that they say about honey and vinegar?