[  Currently: Listening to Blonde on Blonde– Bob Dylan ]
Today, as I have every six months for the past ten years, I got my teeth cleaned. During that same period except when she is on vacation, the same technician has cleaned my teeth. The visit started normally enough. We discussed the weekend and what we’ve been up to.

"You are a writer? What do you write? Have you written a book?" I know I had mention previously that I’m a writer. Not exactly something you hide.

I had just finished telling her about me and Brandy’s upcoming New York vacation and how my last trip was work related. A research trip for something I was writing.

"I’m a critic. Primarily write about pop culture. I have two pieces in the current [Austin] Chronicle."

"Yeah, but have you written a book?" Why does that always come up? Am I not a "real" writer with some 300,000 published words over the best decade but no book? Sadly for most, the book, regardless of its quality or who published it, legitimatizes a writer. Thankfully for these occasions, I have produced a book. I tell her about Geek Confidential.

"So what’s next? What were you researching in New York?"

"Have you heard of Irving Klaw? He’s my grandfather." I wasn’t expect much of a response. The technician, as evident by her family photos and her manners of speech, is clearly a suburbanite and not the type usually knowledgeable about Bettie Page and Irving Klaw.

"As in Bettie Page? No way! I saw that movie [The Notorious Bettie Page] about her on HBO. That was your grandfather and grandmother taking the pics?"

I then explained about how the woman, Paula, was actually my grandfather’s sister and filled her in on a some family history. She enjoyed the movie and was astonished about some of the things I told her about Irving. About how he practically invented the pin up industry in 1940s and his works helped to change the public perceptions about pornography.

It continually amazes me who knows about my grandfather and who wants to learn more. With HBO showing Notorious six times in April, I imagine more interested folks are going to be asking about my grandfather. I’m prepared to be pleasantly surprised.