Once Again, the Power of the Kilt

[Blupiper]

This Saturday past, I attended the memorial of a friend very involved in the local piping scene. He taught my teacher, so I picked up a lot of piping from him. Bill Thomas (his name) also started the Shadle Park High School Pipe Band and was very active in the Angus Scott Pipe Band from the late 1950's to the end of his life last spring. His service was filled with pipers, friends and family (5 children, 16 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren.) Lots of tears, laughter and piping.

On the way home, I stopped in Trader Joe's to pick up some garlic bread for dinner. I was very comfortable in my Gunn heavyweight kilt, matching tartan hose, grey tweed waistcoat and jacket and striped tie. Nothing does an older gentleman (that would be me) more good than a 20-something lass stopping, smiling and giving me a loud 'looking good!' Three of 'em before I got to the front door. I always have some swagger when I am out kilted, but it wasn't difficult there. Little kids always seem to get big eyes when they see someone dressed like me in public. Tucking the loaf of bread under my arm like a swagger stick, I left with a smile.

Ah, the power of the kilt. Still holds. No pictures--did it happen?


JMB