A Tale That Didn’t Wag
By Anthony Douglas Gere
Coming out of Amoeba Records the other day, I was confronted with a situation
that touched on many levels and areas. Within a few seconds and shorter brief
moments, The Los Angeles Police Department in the Rampart District, Malcolm X,
A Local grocery Store receipt and damaged vision woman of color, basically
summed up hundreds of turbulent and enlightening years in America history.
This event had me wondering how far we have come as a people, and how much
further we need to go in becoming a true productive society. It also had me
wondering if this event was going to be my last moment on earth, a platform for
something larger or just a moment in time that will fill the newspaper by some
staff writer that doesn’t know me from Adam, and could care less if I’ve slept with
Eve. Now before I forget or get too deep into this theory, one must completely
understand that as easily as the stars can line up to shine in your favor, they can
also align to give you the darkest light. Reality and good fortune cannot be
possible if the opposite doesn’t exist. So as you skip along with me in this, know
that I have walked with you in many ways, even if you didn’t see me in front or
behind you. Now if many of you don’t know it, an Amoeba record to us here in the
Bay Area, is the place to shop for movies and music. A friend of mine name Marc,
opened this store many years ago to utilize the care free cooperative of Berkeley
California, and offered the students going to nearby University Of California, an
option. He offered a way to pick up some music you might like at a discounted
price, and also give you the option to sell your un-used or not listen to music any
more, for a price. Instead of buying a brand new compact disc for say $15.99,
you can wait a week or two, and see if someone traded it in for money, and
they will sell it to you for $9.99. It doesn’t seem like much, but think about
those times when you are a little short on money, and a few extra bucks would
help out a lot! This was before downloading from your computer, and he has
done very well for himself. Anyway, I have this thing about me that keeps me
coming back to this store. Yes, there are hundreds of stores between my
house in Marin County that’s across the bridge and through traffic, but one
thing about me is my loyalty to those I respect and admire. I think if I were to
die today, one of the common denominators many will say about me in my
ceremony, is that my loyalty is something I live and die by. Many may also
call me some other things I don’t care to be remembered by, but one thing
that will be universal is that one quality. Its not like I try to be that way, its
just part of my make-up. Even if the price may be higher or the wait a little bit
longer, the way people treat me, is worth the drive, time and money. That’s
why I think the department store Nordstrom’s does so well. Their customer
base is so spoiled, that its not that Nordstrom’s is better in what everyone
else sells, but it is on how you feel when you buy something from there. I
mean really, I’m not promoting them or anything, but I swear they must slip a
dose of happy pills in the water there, because you are simply given the
highest level of respect and information on things you wish to purchase. It
remind one of the small boutiques back in the day, where the shopkeeper
remembered your name, and could cater to you like you were their only
customer. So in the future, if you’re ever in a bad mood and need a little ego
boost, just walk in a Nordstrom’s, and I promise you, you will come out of there
feeling better. Even if might cost you a little.
By Anthony Douglas Gere
Coming out of Amoeba Records the other day, I was confronted with a situation
that touched on many levels and areas. Within a few seconds and shorter brief
moments, The Los Angeles Police Department in the Rampart District, Malcolm X,
A Local grocery Store receipt and damaged vision woman of color, basically
summed up hundreds of turbulent and enlightening years in America history.
This event had me wondering how far we have come as a people, and how much
further we need to go in becoming a true productive society. It also had me
wondering if this event was going to be my last moment on earth, a platform for
something larger or just a moment in time that will fill the newspaper by some
staff writer that doesn’t know me from Adam, and could care less if I’ve slept with
Eve. Now before I forget or get too deep into this theory, one must completely
understand that as easily as the stars can line up to shine in your favor, they can
also align to give you the darkest light. Reality and good fortune cannot be
possible if the opposite doesn’t exist. So as you skip along with me in this, know
that I have walked with you in many ways, even if you didn’t see me in front or
behind you. Now if many of you don’t know it, an Amoeba record to us here in the
Bay Area, is the place to shop for movies and music. A friend of mine name Marc,
opened this store many years ago to utilize the care free cooperative of Berkeley
California, and offered the students going to nearby University Of California, an
option. He offered a way to pick up some music you might like at a discounted
price, and also give you the option to sell your un-used or not listen to music any
more, for a price. Instead of buying a brand new compact disc for say $15.99,
you can wait a week or two, and see if someone traded it in for money, and
they will sell it to you for $9.99. It doesn’t seem like much, but think about
those times when you are a little short on money, and a few extra bucks would
help out a lot! This was before downloading from your computer, and he has
done very well for himself. Anyway, I have this thing about me that keeps me
coming back to this store. Yes, there are hundreds of stores between my
house in Marin County that’s across the bridge and through traffic, but one
thing about me is my loyalty to those I respect and admire. I think if I were to
die today, one of the common denominators many will say about me in my
ceremony, is that my loyalty is something I live and die by. Many may also
call me some other things I don’t care to be remembered by, but one thing
that will be universal is that one quality. Its not like I try to be that way, its
just part of my make-up. Even if the price may be higher or the wait a little bit
longer, the way people treat me, is worth the drive, time and money. That’s
why I think the department store Nordstrom’s does so well. Their customer
base is so spoiled, that its not that Nordstrom’s is better in what everyone
else sells, but it is on how you feel when you buy something from there. I
mean really, I’m not promoting them or anything, but I swear they must slip a
dose of happy pills in the water there, because you are simply given the
highest level of respect and information on things you wish to purchase. It
remind one of the small boutiques back in the day, where the shopkeeper
remembered your name, and could cater to you like you were their only
customer. So in the future, if you’re ever in a bad mood and need a little ego
boost, just walk in a Nordstrom’s, and I promise you, you will come out of there
feeling better. Even if might cost you a little.