Mozart muddles, Beethoven befuddles, and family... what?

On a particular trip on a particular Sunday, involving an entire particular family on one particular bus on its way to a particular place... (I'm done now, I'm swear)... I had a... *certain* conversation with a certain person. Prior to my decision to go to Indiana University as a music major, he'd had... doubts, we'll call them - about that route, that career. In all fairness, I think he had me pegged as going into the whole athletic shebang, and I didn't get really serious about the music performance idea until my senior year of high school.

... end of fairness.

I won't lie, the *last* time we discussed my career, I was less than fond of my him. Irritated, which I am rarely with family. That's all we'll say about that.

This conversation, however - complete 180. Unfortunately, not in the sense that it made me warm to him anymore, but in the manner that he was addressing me. Out of nowhere, (at least, to me) he became an afficianado of classical music. Had been listening for years and years, was a huge fan, everyday to and fro in the daily grind and wind would have it blasting out his car and home stereos. Mostly classical period - you know, the lighter stuff, the Bach and Mozart and Handel - he's a big fan of Handel.

... huh.

I don't want to pull the "shenanigans" card - it's family, after all, and who am I to say "baloney with extra ketchup" to my clan? Blood is supposedly thicker than water, stronger than old grudges or old wounds, and I'm sure that he loves me as one of his many relations for who I am and what I do. This feels like a Surgeon General's warning, or some sort of disclaimer, I know. Bear with me, I have a point.
And... here it is: Whether you are the local expert or the village idiot on a certain *anything*, please - for the love of GOD - do not pretend to be anything other than you are. In other words, there are enough pretentious people out there, possibly insecure and anxious to prove their worth and their knowledge. It's a bad spot to be in, worrying that someone will think less of you for perhaps not knowing everything about everything and anything. Help yourself out and portray yourself honestly, and I sincerely doubt that people will cast you down and ostracize you for not knowing, say, metronome markings to Beethoven scores.

... at least, I won't. Hell, I don't even know those.
(I probably should... but that's not up for discussion.)

Maybe I'm completely wrong on this, and our latest conversation, this person and I, was a valid, from the heart interest in the life that I've chosen. In that case, I apologize and I need to stop being so cynical on this front. However... please don't come to me with guidance and advice about what I should listen to, play, look for in my *life*... when you weren't so um... fond... of that choice a few short semesters ago. It reminds me far too much of an image of a confident, arrogant young rookie coming up to a seasoned veteran, saying with a smile and a wink:
"Try it this way - I've been doing this for years."