Although I did not wear a kilt to my own wedding, when my son was young I used to tell him that he and I will wear kilts to his wedding someday. He's getting married next summer. Hmm.
The first time I visited Scotland, I tried on a kilt. Absolute blunder. I had no idea how to wrap the fabric, where or how to buckle it, how high to wear it, how to adjust its length.... I soon realized I needed a. my ancestor's confidence and b. some sort of kilt whisperer. Since I have zero experience as an adult male requesting that someone help dress me, there was no kilt-whispering, ha. Maybe my son and I will don Stewart tartan bowties next summer instead?
Bagpipes always give me big feelings. I'm not sure why the tears...perhaps because they made my grandparents emotional? Bagpipes always invite in me a stillness: pay attention. That magical sound gets inside me. Some people say they find bagpipes alarming; I think they're positively arresting.
One more thing about my love for bagpipes. When she was 20, my daughter moved across Canada (to Montreal) to complete her first degree. Those were more turbulent years in our parent vs young adult relationship. One day, I received an unprompted text from her: "I heard bagpipes and thought of you." Whoa.
Dear friends...that's even better than bagpipes.
When I was in Edinburgh, I found a shop that had all of the clans tartans. I actually bought a tie with the pattern of my family's clan. And when I hear bagpipes, it hits me in the heart every time, and I don't know why. And yes, that text from your daughter is better than bagpipes.
ReplyDeleteI this regard, I know your heart.
DeleteBagpipes always bring out my emotions, no idea why because I'm from the totally opposite end of the UK. I think I saw the same piper on the Royal Mile a couple of years ago.... or perhaps there are more than one out there piping away????
ReplyDeleteIt's a curious response, isn't it?
DeleteBtw, I pasted this photo into google and yes, I believe you are correct; I'm not the first one to snap his photo.
I may be only about 1/16th Scottish, but bagpipes do it for me. Not tears but they evoke something.
ReplyDeleteThey will not be ignored, will they?
DeleteThat is very sweet. Bagpipes can really bring the emotions depending on what is being played on them.
ReplyDeleteYes indeed, certain songs...also bagpipes at funerals...whoa.
DeleteBagpipes give me the goose bumps especially when they are played during an emotional event. How very nice that your daughter thinks of you when she hears them.
ReplyDeleteMe too. And thank you...I love that too.
DeleteThe skirl of the pipes is wild and haunting. It affects us all in different ways.
ReplyDeleteGreat description.
DeleteI enjoy bagpipes, and they are very emotional for sure. Did you watch Downton Abbey? They went to Scotland once, and the castle they stayed in had bagpipe players at breakfast. I think that might be a bit much first thing in the morning.
ReplyDeleteHa, morning bagpipes does sound a bit unusual.
DeleteI love the pipes too. They have such a wild and primal sound that bypasses conscious analysis and reach right into our hearts.
ReplyDeleteWell said.
Delete...we have a number of pipe bands in this area and I love them.
ReplyDeleteWish I had more opportunities to hear bagpipes live.
DeleteI LOVE the bagpipes as I have a huge Scottish ancestry, incidentally I have Stewart ancestry too along with Dunlop and McIntosh too, my mum's mother was Scottish/Irish.
ReplyDeleteThe Stewarts are everywhere; I once read it's the most common Scottish surname. We're probably related. Insert fist bump here.
DeleteIt's funny but my husband has always loved the sound of bagpipes. ( I do not). Then one day he was talking about kilts. Who are you? Then he did his DNA. He is indeed 50% Scottish. So I guess he comes by it naturally. But when I asked him why they don't wear underwear under the kilt he did not know that answer! :-) That info was in the lost 50% I presume
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the family, Rick. Oh, he knows the answer, lol.
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