"Woman at the Window" - Angelo Petralia, 2002

I’m often asked why I don’t rest on my laurels.  I respond with the old chestnut, “My laurels are prickly.” 

Then I get serious.  I reveal the things that motivate me.  Near the top of the list is the fact that I have an uncommon surname.  Any infamy on my part would hurt the small Petralia tribe.  As steward of the Petralia.com domain, I feel extra inspiration to "represent."

Think about Tonya Harding’s ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly.  When he was nabbed helping to break Nancy Kerrigan’s leg, he introduced most of the world to the “Gillooly” name.  God forbid if you were one of the few Gilloolys in America.  Everybody would be asking you if you were related to Jeff.  Gillooly himself was so embarrassed that he changed his name to Jeff Stone. 

Or suppose you were a fine, upstanding citizen who happened to be named “Manson.”  If your kids want to host a sleepover, forget it.  Imagine their friends asking for permission to spend the night with the Manson Family.

Other uncommon names that carry some ugly baggage:  Arbuckle, Capone, Ceaucescu, Delay, Dillinger, Dhamer, Dracula, Falwell, Farrakhan, Frist, Guckert, Hilfiger, Hitler, Hoffa, Kevorkian, Limbaugh, Oswald, Sharpton, Stalin, Winfrey and Vanilli.

It's different with common names.  If you meet a Ramirez, you don't automatically think of "Night Stalker" Richard Ramirez.  The name is too widespread.  Other names common enough to endure the shame of individual members include Jackson (little boys), Robertson (asked God to kill Supreme Court justices) and Brown (Hurricane Katrina).  If the FEMA head who bumbled around in his new Nordstrom suit while a city perished was named Mike Petralia, Petralias everywhere would be screwed.

So we are achievers.  I compiled a list of other notable Petralias.   Their only relation to me, as far as I know, is their desire to be the best at what they do, and to make the world a more enjoyable place for all:

Fanny Palli - Petralia  Greek Minister of Tourism - Organized the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics.
Eliano Mattiozzi Petralia - Conductor - Musical Director of the South Pacific Symphony in New Zealand.  A grandson of the renowned Italian conductor Tito Petralia.
Joseph F. Petralia - Wrote the definitive book on how to prospect for gold.
Mickey Petralia - Noted record producer and engineer.
Jason Petralia - Talented photographer.
Angelo Petralia - Based in Milan, he is an Italian painter who describes his work as somewhere "between metaphysics and surrealism."  Which, coincidentally, is how I describe my love life.
Peter S. Petralia - "Peter S Petralia is a producer, director, writer, curator and designer who works in performance, theater, circus and installation arts. Peter is Artistic Director and founder of Proto-type Theater in New York for which he has written and directed numerous acclaimed works. In 2004 he was named a nytheater.com person of the year."
Marco Petralia - The top D.J. in Germany.  Check out his sound.
Jim Petralia - PGA Golf instructor.  Won the California State Open in 1979.  Points out on his website, "You have to change behavior to achieve growth."   Word.
Ray and Michele Petralia - Philadelphia's top Real Estate team.  Which reminds me, I just saw the trailer for Rocky Balboa.  "I think there's still some stuff in the basement."  Goosebumps. 

Epiphany - I just realized that I also represent the "Rocky" name.  It's a smaller club, but no less noble than the Petralia moniker.  Maybe I'll put together a list of notable Rocky's.  But not now.  My basement is telling me it's time for a sandwich.