Written By: Anthony Douglas Gere
Music Provided By: SEMusic
Artistry Selected By: Main Ad Centre
All Material is protected by law under the
licensing of mcwhorter management marketing
manufacturing 2005
Any unauthorized usage and or its likeness
is prohibited by law.
Music Provided By: SEMusic
Artistry Selected By: Main Ad Centre
All Material is protected by law under the
licensing of mcwhorter management marketing
manufacturing 2005
Any unauthorized usage and or its likeness
is prohibited by law.
Feeling Safe With A Stranger
By Anthony Douglas Gere
Lets start with a visual. A visual assumption of the image I'm attempting to
illustrate in this moment of thought. Picture a freeway or highway, thousands of
cars beside you, driving the same speed, faster speeds, or similar speeds
beside you. Thousands of pounds of metal, rubber and other man made
materials controlled by someone you know nothing about that surround you. Now
somehow, you maneuver eloquently between the lines painted by someone else
you have never met, like a ballerina does to a classic classical piece composed
by someone they have never met, but heard about through time. It's a instinct, a
genetic guidance system instilled in all of us to correspond to a higher being
built on trust and comfort at some level. Now in the mist of all of this, you're
listening to the radio or some form of entertainment meant to relax you, excite
you and keep you occupied from what you are doing, driving a legal weapon
around people you have never met. You're also looking at the other drivers,
talking on their phones, doing their make-up, drinking coffee or some kind
of beverage while also taking on this un-appreciated task. Also at this time
you are the victim of an oxymoron, you need to concentrate while your
attention is being deterred with obstacles beyond your own control. But
lets not forget, you're at peace, driving your vehicle, the vehicle you have
saved your money for and worked really hard to buy, and yet, you feel
safe and responsible. Safe from the illegal drivers, the drunk drivers,
the unsafe and late to work drivers, not knowing your destination or
purpose for being exposed to their lack of need or care for your well
being. But yet, you feel safe.
I relate most or all of this experience to my hey day in sports. The
days when I would travel miles and miles to go into un-welcoming gyms
that had read all of the press clipping of the other victims that felt the
wrath of my God giving gifts of playing basketball. I never seen faces,
just strangers showing signs of defeat and discuss in trying to figure
out how in the hell am I doing this to them, and why can't they stop
it. I felt powerful. I felt strong. I felt safe around strangers,
feeling in danger and confused around me.
Now when I would play at home or in the confines of people who knew
me, something would change. I'm not sure what, but something would
be different. Maybe it was the pressure of pleasing those who knew me
or the comfort ability of them knowing me and that I am human or capable
of being as such. For me, thats when the pressure kicked in. Because I
knew those people knew my weaknesses, and I consistently tried to hide
them when they may have never been looking for them to surface.
By Anthony Douglas Gere
Lets start with a visual. A visual assumption of the image I'm attempting to
illustrate in this moment of thought. Picture a freeway or highway, thousands of
cars beside you, driving the same speed, faster speeds, or similar speeds
beside you. Thousands of pounds of metal, rubber and other man made
materials controlled by someone you know nothing about that surround you. Now
somehow, you maneuver eloquently between the lines painted by someone else
you have never met, like a ballerina does to a classic classical piece composed
by someone they have never met, but heard about through time. It's a instinct, a
genetic guidance system instilled in all of us to correspond to a higher being
built on trust and comfort at some level. Now in the mist of all of this, you're
listening to the radio or some form of entertainment meant to relax you, excite
you and keep you occupied from what you are doing, driving a legal weapon
around people you have never met. You're also looking at the other drivers,
talking on their phones, doing their make-up, drinking coffee or some kind
of beverage while also taking on this un-appreciated task. Also at this time
you are the victim of an oxymoron, you need to concentrate while your
attention is being deterred with obstacles beyond your own control. But
lets not forget, you're at peace, driving your vehicle, the vehicle you have
saved your money for and worked really hard to buy, and yet, you feel
safe and responsible. Safe from the illegal drivers, the drunk drivers,
the unsafe and late to work drivers, not knowing your destination or
purpose for being exposed to their lack of need or care for your well
being. But yet, you feel safe.
I relate most or all of this experience to my hey day in sports. The
days when I would travel miles and miles to go into un-welcoming gyms
that had read all of the press clipping of the other victims that felt the
wrath of my God giving gifts of playing basketball. I never seen faces,
just strangers showing signs of defeat and discuss in trying to figure
out how in the hell am I doing this to them, and why can't they stop
it. I felt powerful. I felt strong. I felt safe around strangers,
feeling in danger and confused around me.
Now when I would play at home or in the confines of people who knew
me, something would change. I'm not sure what, but something would
be different. Maybe it was the pressure of pleasing those who knew me
or the comfort ability of them knowing me and that I am human or capable
of being as such. For me, thats when the pressure kicked in. Because I
knew those people knew my weaknesses, and I consistently tried to hide
them when they may have never been looking for them to surface.