1 Remarkable Visit in Skagit Valley—Hot Kilts, Hot Pipes, Hot Day
Not a cauld bum in the Skagit Valley on July 13
Despite the heat, there were more kilts than you could shake a haggis at in the Skagit Valley. That’s correct—not a chilly posterior in sight! It stands to reason, with a temperature on the high side of warm.
Of course, you’d expect many kilts around pipe bands and highland events in Scotland… yet there I was in Mount Vernon, WA, USA, surrounded by kilted people at the Skagit Valley Highland Games. (That’s 5,600 flying miles from Edinburgh via Washington DC.)
I’d brought my kilt with me, and just as well. My friends Bob and Maryann arranged a meet-and-greet role for me as a real-life Scot. On a sunny 30+ degree day, I met folk, young and old as I doled out programmes and kids’ information. It wasn’t just the pipe bands wearing kilts, either. Many visitors to the games, young and old, were also wearing the kilt.
The arriving throng included mostly calm parents and generally excited children. A stand-out experience from the day, which will linger long in my memory, is a positive people thing.
C Word in the Skagit Valley
Courtesy—that’s the word. Courtesy and mutual respect—are pleasant and powerful takeaways from my day at the Skagit Valley Highland Games.
Of course, I loved the pipes and drums, the heavy athletics, engaging activities and side shows, cold drinks, and the transported delight of a Scottish gathering (with excellent Irish connections, too). Amidst the anticipation and excitement, politeness provided an ever-present ease of meeting and communication that added to the whole experience.
Be Proud, USA, Very Proud of your Skagit Citizens
Locals and visitors arrived in droves. As a welcomer I met many, old, young and toddling. I must have had a personal interaction with several hundred people. Never once did I have anything less than an agreeable exchange. Courtesy and respect go hand in hand.
Where were the stereotypes for ridicule? When Americans visit Scotland and Great Britain, some are considered loud and rude. From my personal experience, such boorishness isn’t typical… but rudeness earns its own reputation and repetition. Taking that on board, then surely courtesy and respect deserve equal, if not more, emphasis.
Thanks, Skagit Valley; I’m glad I came. I’m proud to know you.