Why do Americans like the Scots so much???

[Dee63]

In typical American fashion, I will answer "I dunno". It has puzzled me for some time. Do I have Scot ancestry? Yes, but I actually have more French and Native American than Scot. Is it the books? The romance novels that have idealized Scotsmen? I think so. Every Scot I have met, they've been rather nice, but short and usually fishermen. (Of course I live in Alaska - so it's either fish or trees) Are there tall handsome Scotsmen? Again, a rather American "I dunno" will interject here. I personally have never met any.... so.... "I dunno" LOL

This isn't very personal is it? I'm not really looking. I am married, but the hubby as usual is seated in front of the telly. He's older than me, but it seems like he died a long time ago. Rough being a youthful 45 and married to a corpse.

Damn, margaritas and keyboards should be banned when mixed....

Going now. No more margaritas for me tonight....

[The Jacobite]

He he - this post made me smile. I am Scottish - born and bred and still live in this great country. Am I tall and handsome? - I wish. I'm not a fisherman but I am only 5ft 6ins. (great things come in small bundles )

I am 60 years of age but feel twenty years younger. Most weekends in the summer I am up in the Highlands, walking or talking photographs but in the winter most weekends you will find me in various hostalries having a few drams watching and listening to my son's heavy metal band.

Why do the Americans like Scotland so much? Our history has a lot of romance attached to it, although much of that is exaggerated. We have given a lot to the world with many great inventions coming from Scots. We have writers such as R L Stevenson and Sir Walter Scott who gives romantic images of the country.

Then we had so many famous people in our history - William Wallace, Robert the Bruce, Bonnie Prince Charlie (although he was a bit of a let down) and Mel Gibson did his Braveheart bit that was about as factual as Santa Claus.

Why do you love Scotland? Because we are a happy bunch, don't mind making fools of ourselves and like to laugh - a lot. Of course we make the amber nectar and that helps!

[The Jacobite]

I should have added - a friend of mine used to work for Anchorage Aces Ice Hockey team.

[Polwarth]

I cannot answer that. BUT, I suspect the 'highlander striding through the heather' type of bodice-ripper novels has a lot to answer for!

[Dee63]

Upon sober reflection... I do wonder if it is the history. Perhaps not just THE history, but the longevity as well. America doesn't have 700 year old ruins which would allow our imaginations to run wild. Also we tend to be drawn to the wildness of the world too. Hence the mystique of the Alaskan man. (Trust me, HIGHLY overrated!)There is a ratio of two men for every one woman here, but there is a saying that all women in Alaska know. "The odds are good, but the goods are odd."

Who ever came up with the original idea of hitting a ball with a slim stick into a gopher hole in a field of weeds? Another question that boggles my mind. It seems boredom is the root of inspiration...

[Dee63]

Jacobite, walking the Highlands is probably a lot like our hikes in the woods here. I go every weekend also. I had to get a dog for company because hubby wouldn't go. I don't get to take a lot of pictures as I have to keep a watch out for bears. The last time I ran into a rather large sow with two cubs about 100 yards away. I started walking backwards when she stood up and checking me out. I called my mother in Washington on my cell as I was making a strategic retreat and all she asked was if I got a picture.

Today I went to the lower areas where there is a lake and watched the geese and swans. No bears today. We are having to be a bit more careful this year as there are reports of grizzlies moving our way and two reports of a mountain lion on the island. One friend was telling me that she had a grizzly on a different island not too far from here swim out to their boat which was about a mile offshore. Black bears I can handle, grizzlies are another story and I hope they stay off the island. Black bears see you as a threat whereas grizzlies see you as dinner. One of the coolest hikes I went on was on a really foggy day and all the wolves in the area were howling. It was one of the last hikes I had last year before the winter set in and you can't hike in mountain snow and ice too well.

You can smell the bogs getting ready to bloom too. I hope we have a long summer this year as winter was nearly six months long this time. Usually it's only a couple of really cold months, but this year it snowed up until the first week of April.

[maggieblue]

Originally Posted by The Jacobite

"... Bonnie Prince Charlie (although he was a bit of a let down) ..."

I've certainly never thought of Prince Charles as a let down.
He's so charming, handsome, and elegant.
Maggie