About Cary Dean, or What's In A Name

I am obviously not Cary Dean. I picked that handle because I wanted to pay tribute to two of the coolest guys of yesteryear, Cary Grant and Dean Martin. Although on second thought, I have trouble picturing Cary as a "guy's guy" type, at a barbecue with a beer in his hand, turning to the guy on his left, with that accent of his, and saying:

"Hey Phil! How's it hanging bud? Want another cold one?"

Just can't picture it. But I don't think he'll haunt me, because I love the air of refined sophistication he brought to all his movies that, except for George Clooney, just dosen't exist anymore.

I also want to take a moment to apologize to anyone actually named Cary Dean born in 1965 who has just realized that that particular address is not available for their blog or email. I've felt that pain, people. Years ago, I was known as Mike At The Movies on Edmonton radio station Power 92 (now JOE FM) and although I love Mikey The Movie Guy as a screen name, I desperately wanted to use my former handle for my blog. But it was gone, taken by another blogging movie critic in another town. It stings a little, kind of like a flu shot. But you move on. And if you're Cary Dean, I want to hear from you. We could probably have an interesting chat.

My full name is Michel Hebert. Michel is French for Michael, so for years I've gone by Mike. I've always felt like a Mike, but at first it was a defense against schoolyard taunts of "Michel's a GIRL'S NAME!!!" Special-needs schools, where diferentness should be embraced, are always the worst for that crap, for some reason. I've never understood it. And if my mom spoke French to me in public, I would instantly go twelve shades of red, due in part to the folks at the special-needs school, who told my parents that my brain could only handle one language. Total merde, by the way.

But as I've aged, I've learned to tell anyone who's still talking that trash, "I am who I am, a proud French-Canadian. And if there's a problem with that, it sure isn't mine." Because whoever you are, if you choose not to embrace your heritage. you are missing out, and will probably wind up feeling pretty miserable. And that's not a good place to be.

Have a great day!

Your Partner In Life