August 21st, 2004
Today I spoke with a young man who felt a little down. He was down because people had made up stories about him and spread lies about him. They also attacked his family and said really awful things. Things which I could never repeat in this blog…and if I did you would not think humans could be so cruel. Worst of all…The people that had hurt him included people that he TRUSTED and really cared for and had been really hissing like serpents behind his back all this time. The kid was just devastated and felt alone. I just listened in amazement. Cause this kid had already been through so much in his life and he really did not deserve any of this. After listening to him he asked how he should strike back. We laughed at all the different Wile E Coyote revenge plans he could draw up…We laughed at all the ways we could point out their hypocrisy and how if he wanted to he could say so much worse about them. We laughed and then we realized it would do no good. To return the negative evil energy back to them would only make things worse. Those people’s punishment is that they have to live with themselves and look in the mirror every day. They have to live with their own hatred. Nothing could change them..We could only change ourselves and our own circumstances and our own REACTION to others attacks. AND There was no drug or liquoir in the land that could make it better. It was just one of those things. It was quite a moment. I share this story because I know there are many people who might feel the same way …or maybe they have acted in ways that have hurt people and never realized how alone and worthless our words and actions can make other people feel. There were no easy answers I could give the kid and I told him he might even feel worse before he feels better…But someday he would feel better. In parting I quoted a Bob Dylan song (surprise) and told him to remember these words and move on with this beautiful but sometimes sad life.
Oh a false clock tries to tick out my time
To disgrace, distract, and bother me.
And the dirt of gossip blows into my face,
And the dust of rumors covers me.
But if the arrow is straight
And the point is slick,
It can pierce through dust no matter how thick.
So I’ll make my stand
And remain as I am
And bid farewell and not give a damn
“Resless Farewell”
“The Times They Are A Changin’”
Bob Dylan
August 4th, 2004
“Somewheres in this universe there’s a place that you can call home.” -B.Dylan
Hey,
Today I’m taking a break from all the work stuff and driving out to Poughkeepsie to see Bob Dylan. As some of you know, his music has meant a lot to me over the years and I tend to annoyingly quote him like christians quote scripture. This is a tiny show in a small club that sold out real fast so I feel lucky to attend. I’m hoping he does this song called “we better talk this over” from his Street Legal album. Anyway, I’m a Dylan geek what can I say. Saw two movies yesterday. “The Manchurian Candidate” and “The Villiage”. I loved “Manchurian” and it was creepy how appropriate the message was in the age of Haliburton and Enron. The village was quirky and dark and had some cool moments. Most will either love it or hate it…I thought it was interesting and different than most summertime “revenge of the space monkeys 3″ type movies. I would go to a matinee..so if you hate it you’re only out $6.25.
Regarding the show “Dirt” and recent performances…I got a letter from a girl that was at a show I did last week. It was one of those shows where people seemed to really like it but something inside me gnawed at me saying “I should have done this or that differently”. I felt like maybe ’cause there was 5th graders attending that got mixed in with High School Juniors that maybe I was trying to “become all things to everyone…And sometimes when you do that you reach no one…HOWEVER that was apparently not the case. I read this email and it made my week.
Dear John,
I was in the audience during the show you did at XXXXX Junior High school last week. I asked you if the characters in your show were based on real people that you knew. Well, I wanted to let you know that you helped me out a lot. I am fourteen and up until yesterday I didn’t know how to deal with my drinking problem. Seeing your show inspired me to seek the help I needed to stop drinking and come clean to my family. Also, my best friend was with me in that audience. She came with me to the rehab center to confront her marijuana problem. I know you do a lot of shows and you probably help a lot of kids to change their lives for the better; but I am eternally grateful for what you have done for me and my best friend. Please, don’t stop what you’re doing. Who knows how many other lives you could save.
My thanks,
Grateful Stranger
