The Blood Link

Some people make jokes about having chosen their parents well, as if lineage were something one could be proud of, something that could be listed along with one's accomplishments. This embrace of the absurd almost always descends from wealth (real or imagined) or proximity to fame. Some people will boast about "knowing" somebody who's SOMEONE--as if such acqaintanceship armored one against low self-esteem or dweebdom.

Humans are strange.

Having said that, let me announce that I chose, as my Grandfather, one Leslie Charteris. Pretty cool, eh?

Yes, he, whose name is invariably followed by the parenthetical: Creator of "The Saint"--was my Grandfather.

Damn creative choice, I like to think.

And, yeah, I have to admit it's kind of neat when people find that out. And kind of funny when they say, "Really? Wow." Like, hey, how clever of you to choose such a cool ancestor...

Well, I always have enjoyed his stories.

To be honest, though, most of what I know of Grandpa Leslie comes through others--mostly my mom. Discounting the years of my life when I was too young to remember, I spent time with Leslie only twice. The rest of my impressions are really those of my mother's, who always remarked how alike we were.

Our lives followed several similar twists, and I've always felt an irrational kinship with the man--or, more accurately, my impression of the man--in fact I have only one story worth relating that has anything to do with Leslie. I do, however, have a helluva Saint library; Leslie's custom ruby encrusted "Saint" belt-buckle; a gold-inlaid "Saint" putter (golf club); and a genuine English Longbow that Leslie picked up somewhere along his travels and gave to me when I was a boy. I'll make pictures/links to some of these as I get more time and develop this site.

Yeah, I guess I am proud to have chosen such a remarkable ancestor. That may make me a dweeb, but what the hell. We are what we are.

Copyright © 1995, Kevin Higgins