Small world

[Mike1]

I was in Scotland, a couple of weeks ago. My accommodations were in Bridge of Allan and my significant other's home was about 7 miles east. So, I would tramp from Bridge of Allan across to Stirling University each morning to catch a bus across.

On Sunday, the 11th, we were planning to head to Lanark for The Wallace Homecoming, so I was kilted up as I headed for the Uni. As I was walking along Stirling Street, some ladies came out the front door of a hotel and one of them cries out, "Look, finally!! Sir, please stop."

I waited for them to come to the street and they explained they were part of a travel group and I was the first kilted "Scot" they had seen landing in Scotland, 24 hours earlier. They wanted to know if I would allow them to take a few pictures.

LOL!

I explained that since they were taking stills, nobody would ever hear my voice and realize that I was not a native Scot. I then asked the first lady if she was from Chicago, which she was. About 130 miles NW of where I reside.

Later, in Lanark, we had run into a Tesco's to grab a quick snack and as we came out of the store, a lady came up to me and asked if I knew "John" (name changed to protect the not-so-innocent ). The true name is a rather unusual one and my thoughts were that I did know a "John", but since I was from the States, how could she have known?

She apparently saw my confusion and again asked if I knew "John", "John Smith" (last name also changed).

And then it was her turn to be confused as I informed her (in my Hoosier accent) that I did know the fellow she was speaking of and that I was going to see him in another 5-10 minutes. LOL! Suddenly it was her with the slack jaw.

"John Smith" was one of the pall bearers of the Spirit of Wallace coffin, that day. She owned a B&B and he had left the charger for his mobile phone in his room when he checked out.

You can imagine his surprise when I informed him of his error. He couldn't determine how I could have possibly known about it.

See, it really is a small world. ;)

[Graham]

Amazing story Mike, thanks for sharing it.

I too on about 5 occasions during our trip had tourists wanting to photograph me.
Think what it would do for tourism if more Scots in Scotland wore kilts!

[flyv65]

Last St Padraig's day as I was on my way to Nallen's in Downtown Denver, I was accosted by about 6 late teen/early twenties young ladies from Texas who insisted on having their pictures taken with me in kilt and sweater. The fellow who was walking with me later said that "if Eric ( a friend of Scottish descent on the fence about a kilt purchase) had seen that, he'd be calling to order from the bar".

Bryan...ain't life grand from time to time...