In 1993, I ran a book signing at the University Co-op that turned into an unexpectedly pivotal moment. We'd partnered with Shiner Beer to provide free drinks during the event - a detail that didn't exactly thrill management but definitely improved the atmosphere. Douglas Coupland, the voice of Generation X, was our guest of honor.

My boss that day was being particularly difficult, micromanaging every detail of the event. Coupland noticed the tension but also saw how I kept things running smoothly despite the constant interference. When he finally signed my personal copy at the end of the night, he wrote two words that would prove prophetic: "Quit your job." I did, not long after, launching my career in the early days of the tech revolution.

The signing itself drew an interesting crowd. Richard Linklater and Wiley Wiggins showed up - Linklater was riding high on "Slacker" and prepping for "Dazed and Confused" at the time. A journalist from Der Spiegel was there too, working on a piece about Coupland.

In the photo below, you can see me, Mr. Linklater and Mr. Wiggins sitting around during the signing. If the signing happened today there would be hundreds of photos and social short videos, but this photo below is about the only proof I can find online that it happened - let alone that I was there. For your additional info, yep, that's me with the tie and exceptional posture. Fast forward 20 years, I wound up on Mr. Linklater's set for "A Scanner Darkly". I didn't dare bring up that I knew him all those years before. Maybe someday we'll have a beer again.

After the signing, our group - including my coworker Sean - headed to Les Amis. We claimed some outdoor tables, where conversations and cigarette smoke drifted into the evening air. The night continued at the Carousel Lounge, where Stella was working. Linklater and Coupland joined Sean and me for darts and Shiner Bocks, while the Der Spiegel writer took notes on what must have seemed like a perfectly Austin evening.