Its finally cool to be a Nerd!

For quite a few years now, I've put up with my immediate family calling me a "nerd" regarding my passion for genetic genealogy. And while I don't think I look like the nerd stereotype as portrayed in movies like "Revenge of the Nerds", I have come to accept that a DNA-based hobby may very well make me a giant nerd.

So imagine my surprise last night, while at a Rotary dinner, a couple asked me what I do and I replied that I joined Rotary because I serve on our local town council. This was met with a blank look and no facial expression at all. So then I said that what I really am is a genetic genealogist. This exacted raised eyebrows and an "Oh, how interesting!"

And this exact same scenario happened again with another couple I met about 10 minutes later. But it went even better because we had a long conversation about genetic genealogy which resulted in both the husband and wife wanting to DNA test. Turns out the wife's maiden name line is for a DNA project administered by a good friend of mine so I was able to tell her a lot about her maiden name's origins and progenitors. Her line is brick-walled in Kentucky and she's hoping that by Y-DNA testing her brother, this may connect her line to one of the early immigrant families.

Lesson learned from last night:

Politician - 0

Genetic Genealogist - 2