Post by Jim Slack on Jun 12, 2011 21:58:52 GMT -6
My name is Jim Slack but I wish to be known as Seamus Ferguson. I have been involved with the Scottish community for about 10 to 12 years. Currently I am taking a hiatus from most Scottish activity. I have many other activities to keep me busy. All my volunteer efforts and events I attend are kilted affairs. I am involved with the 12'th night Parade in Soulard, I volunteer for The Barkus of Krewe Mardi Gras Dog Parade In Soulard, the Main Mardi Gras Parade, The Fat Tuesday Parade, The Mardi Gras Wine Taste and the Mardi Gras Cajun Cook-off. I volunteer for the Downtown St Patrick's Day Parade. I am involved with the St Louis Art fair in Clayton as well as the Big Read also in Clayton. I am involved with The Immigrant Women's Refugee Program. I also work the Laumeier Sculpture Park Art Fair. I am also a volunteer at the Shakespeare festival tho my current work schedule hasn't allowed me to work that much this year. I have become quite a staple where I live in South St Louis and I've been painted in a life size mural on a wall in A Popular Mexican Restaurant on South Grand in my Kilt. I wear my Scottish Kilt with Pride and am in it as often as I possibly can. I am usually recognized from one of the many events I attend working or not or by the mural. On the rare occasion I don't wear it in public I am usually confronted as to why I don't have it on. I am proud of my Scottish Heritage and my wife and I try to have Authentic Celtic Celebrations a couple times a year at our home. I've been complimented on my Haggis, and our celebrations are usually a hit. Our Celtic Handfasting almost three years ago was attended by about 300 family members and friends from almost 40 different countries and was held in Druid Circle in Tower Grove Park as Kickoff of the Festival of Nations. I have a hard time talking about my heritage as I never know when to stop, I have to be careful so as not to turn people away. So with that in mind I'll stop here.