Of Volkswagens & Men in Kilts

And if they are men in kilts driving a “Paprika Red” EOS, even better!

Last Saturday I went from feeling out of place to feeling right at home.

Sanford Volkswagen Car Show

Now that we own a million different Volkswagen EOS cars (well, just two… for now) we decided to go to the Volkswagen car show in downtown Sanford last Saturday. Since we were going to the Scottish Highland Games festival afterward we were already wearing our kilts.

At the Volkswagen event, we got some looks! Side-eye, glinting glares, man-bun dude filmed us on the sly (I winked at him :)) and one dude made sure to scoff and let us know his ugly whatever car wasn’t a Scottish car.

We smiled mindfully and let him know our intentions for the Scottish festival. I wanted to do a big twirl to give the man a show he would remember well past the event (true kilt wearing doesn’t include underwear). But, I didn’t… it was COLD! LOL.

I was also mindful that just because people act a particular way doesn’t mean I have to let them get to me. We were having fun looking at all the cars and that’s what mattered.

Lot’s of Herby the Love Bug type of cars IYKYK. Plus, hippy vans and this that and the other were everywhere. We only saw one other EOS and it was showing its age. Fun fact, the EOS is kind of rare.

Then we headed to…

Highland Games Scottish Festival 2026

Man, it felt like I walked a lot longer than a mile! I think it was all the walking in and around and up and down the same places.

We all gathered like we usually do, but especially this year without Silas. This was one of his favorite things to do, so it was only right we show up to honor him.

With that in mind, the strangest thing happened. Upon arriving, I found everyone near the place where you could order a trio of Scottish food (BBQ, Shepherd’s Pie, Haggis… I did not eat the haggis!).

We said our hellos and gave hugs, and then I got us a pitcher of beer, and while we were standing there eating and drinking. This blond tyke of maybe three or four came running down the hill, and he ran into the group crying because he didn’t want his mother to stop him. She said, “Silas, you come with me.”

We all froze.

Simon said, “That is my brother’s name too.” The mom said, “Well, you tell him he has an AWESOME NAME!” Simon replied, “Oh, he knows.” And we all smiled and parted ways with her and baby Silas with tears in our eyes.

Is that the Universe’s way of saying that our Silas was right there with us? I definitely believe so. It was good to be with you, Silas.

Another really great thing is that this was the first year I attended where I knew I was just as Scottish as everyone else. I was raised to believe that we were Irish and being Scottish wasn’t a good thing. Then I did Ancestry.com and it turned out that I am more Scottish than anything else! I can’t describe the feeling of knowing my lore better, of not feeling so out of place, and there is probably a genetic reason I like twirling around in a kilt.

With all that said…

All in all, the day turned out exactly as it should have—filled with unexpected moments, a little mischief, a few tight hugs, and a sweet reminder that the ones we miss are never really gone. Between the cars, the kilts, and that cosmic wink from the Universe, I left feeling lighter, prouder, and deeply connected—to my roots, my people, and the road that got me here. Here’s to more EOS adventures, more gatherings that matter, and more proof that love—and maybe a good kilt—transcends everything.

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More about Randy…

WHY: A Memoir