Hello from Tampa, FL

**Shriner** · 6th May 07, 04:32 PM

I am new to this board and fairly new to Kilts.

In February, I as a Shriners went to the Gasparilla Night Parade to march with the Egypt Shriners of Tampa. The Gasparilla is our big event every years, they have three parades a childrens parade, day parade and the night parade. Here in Tampa we have what we call are Krewes, they are forumed to march in parades. There are over 50 Krewes and they party before, during and after the parades. The pre-parade party is something else. At that street party is when I decided that I needed to join a krewe. After all I just came out of a 12 year marriage, about a year and half ago. I felt I was ready to start dating again and I was not meeting a single young ladies at the Shrine.

So there are two groups that are both kilted, The Krewe of Shamrocks and The Krewe of Brigadoon. I decided I was going to join one of these krewes. That next week I ordered $350 worth of stuff from Sports Kilts, everything I needed. They did not have my family tartan (MacKay or MacFarlane) so I ordered the USMC was the only one that had meaning to me, Since I had done my time on Paris Island.

By March I was in The Krewe of Shamrocks, in time for thier annaul St Patty Party. My first night out was a krewe social at O'Brein's Irish Pub on Thursday the night before our party. I was the only one here in a kilt, others of my krewe were here but I was the only one wearing his kilt. That night I got my first kilt check, unforturely I was wearing underwear. I told myself that night I would ever be wear them with my Kilt. But I told her if she came to the party the next night, I would be commando.

Well, second night out came Friday big party for St. Patty over 500 people. It was great, I lost count of how many times I got kilt checked and not quick ones they were slow and very nice. I was hooked. A week later on a Friday night I was out in Kilt again. Followed by Saturday my first parade kilted at St. Patty Parade.

Since then I have be in 5 Parades and multi socials. Now I plan Kilted Socials in the Area. I have also joined the Highlanders Pipe Band at Egypt Shrine. And now I own 6 kilts in less than 3 month and all the extras (Prince Charlie, Gillies, 4 sporrans, 2 tartan ties, 2 Sgian Dubh, Dirk etc...) I looking for more...

**BEEDEE** · 6th May 07, 04:38 PM

and to the addiction, from coastal North Carolina.

Brian

**Shriner** · 6th May 07, 04:40 PM

Brian,

It is an ADDICTION ....

John

**McMurdo** · 6th May 07, 05:03 PM

Welcome Shriner, it sounds like you are having fun with your new found freedom.

**Shriner** · 6th May 07, 05:54 PM

McMurdo,

Yes, I am having lots of fun with my new found freedom. It started with the female krewe members, now it's females I don't even know. After a Night Parade downtown St. Pete we went to a martini bar. It was a little hot inside, so I walked outside to smoke a cigar. At the outside bar a bueatiful young ladies said "a man smoking a cigar and wearing a kilt my my" Well that was my in, with intro's aside she was with her mother how was visiting from out of town. She asked the question, but was afraid to check in front of her mother. Mom said go ahead, she was wondering to. with that she slide her hand up the back side and said "That soft". I said "try the front and you wont be able to say that" we laught and I got her phone number.

John

**brandycr** · 6th May 07, 09:28 PM

Welcome to xmarks and the kilted addiction.Much respect and love for Shriners uncle was a Shriner ,member of the clown unit,member of the hillbilly unit,geez he was in just about everything.Have a plae in my heart for handicapped children especially since my daughter was born emotionally and mentally handicapped.