I have contended that Thomas Pynchon is playing into my strong suit. This article in Elle, proves my point. I was a beat-hippie who became a writer, and Thomas is a writer who became a hippie/beat – in fiction only!

http://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/news/a26566/mark-bridges-inherent-vice-costumes/

We hippies set fashion trends, and, Pynchon’s book ‘Inherent Vice’ made into a movie, is rehashing those trends. Futher more, my high school sweetheart, Marilyn Reed, let my wife-to-be wear one of her Train Dresses to our wedding. Mary Ann Tharaldsen was married to Thomas Pynchon, thus, Thomas is in my family tree.

Above is a photograph of Marilyn taken at Malibu by her friend, Steven Silverstein, before he became a famous fashion photographer who shot several covers for Elle. Marilyn designed and made the dress she is wearing, and the dress she wore at our wedding. Marilyn is partially seen in the photo of us singing along with Bryan Maclean who played with the…