Open Sesame

“Thank you, thank you, thank you, please hold your applause,

‘fore I just apply logic, keys, keys, open doors…” – S. Carter

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Premature as it may be, feedback on this blog has been, overall, very positive and I thank those that have sent kind words. 

Being the genuinely gracious guy I am, I’m humbled by the high praise my posts have elicited.  However (yes, here I go!!!), due to the duality of my personality, and since some seem to subscribe to the notion that I’m this arrogant a—hole, I’ll play the role and ask “What in the H-E-double hockey sticks do you folks really think about me?” (Do people still say H-E-double hockey sticks?  Who cares…I just did!)

The comments I’ve received all have a central element of sheer surprise suggesting some are blown away by what is said to be my eloquence or ability to articulate a point.  So my “Thank you, thank you, thank you…you’re far too kind…” is followed quickly by, “Wait…what did you expect?”

I may very well be analyzing the comments too deeply, but I equate the common compliments with (dark skinned ladies, you’ll understand this analogy; AKA’s, just try to follow the logic):

§  “You’s attractive for a dark skin-ded girl.”

Yes, I know the grammar in that sentence was terrible and I left it uncorrected to prove a point: an educated person with any common sense wouldn’t:

1.       combine you + is,  

2.       pronounce skinned as if it had two syllables and an added ‘d’ in the damn word, or

3.       give such a backhanded compliment.

I’ve heard this compliment given countless times by mainly moronic males that think this pickup line will actually work.  And what makes it worse is these fools compound the crime by giving the pseudo-compliment to a woman who was born in the late 70’s or early 80’s.  Not only will said lady cuss (not curse) a Brutha-man out because she already has a complex, seeing as she grew up during a time when light skin-ded folks were the flavor of the decade and Sista-girl couldn’t get any love, but dude added insult to injury by even approaching Sista-girl using that ignorant and idiotic game thinking she would fall for the line. 

“Dude, is you dumb?!?”

In essence, I take certain compliments as backhanded insults because it begs the question, “Did you think I was a babbling bloke?” (Yes, I speak a li’il Bri’ish too…excuse me while I have a spo’ o’ tea.)

I digress…I guess it is what it is…whatever the heck “it is”, is.

There have been, however, a few comments that rendered me speechless, only momentarily of course.  I’ve included them below, word for word, with a touch of emphasis added:

§  “Jeremy...I’m loving the blog…loving it!  I just pray I don’t see a story that sounds too familiar up there.” – Person X

§  “I haven’t read all of them yet and I see you're not using names but still, it's like, a privacy thing…” – Person Y

§  “Shiiiiitt I don't need my lil’ feelings hurt…” – Person Z

Within each of these statements is a fear, almost, that I’m using (or might potentially use) this blog as a forum to put someone’s personal business out in the open for all eyes to read, which gives me pause.  This blog, above all else, is my attempt to open up and share a piece of myself with anyone interested in understanding my view on various subjects or bored enough to be entertained by my expressions.  It is in no way a blog meant to bash anyone.

A friend has made the statement that I have a skill, or rather the ability to answer a question without ever actually addressing the question.   To the untrained, I’ve given all the information asked, when in actuality I’ve given absolutely nothing at all.  I agree, to a degree (I’m sure I’ll regret this admission at some point in the future), with this assessment.  I utilize this skill to write about something, or rather someone, without really saying much about the person at all.  How do I do this?  I focus on the subject (i.e. I miss her) instead of the subject (i.e. I miss her) and make an artful attempt to protect the privacy of any person mentioned, even while it appears I’ve disregarded the individual’s privacy by mentioning them in the first place. 

**Was that confusing?  Good.  It made perfect sense in my mind! **

Of course, there are instances where a perceptive party may possibly trace the subject of a story to a specific somebody (i.e. a young lady I dated for 3 years), but never will anything malicious be said or written to outright embarrass. 

Speaking directly to Persons X, Y, Z and all other unnamed persons, oft times the only individuals that will know your identity, if/when I do speak about you, are you and I, unless of course you decide to expose yourself.

With that disclaimer out there, understand that this is my blog (/my introspection forum) where I shed all inhibitions or reservations regarding what I should or can say.  Doing so in a way that is scholarly (dare I push you to think or learn something new), suggestive (as in evocative), sarcastic (you don’t say?), or silly (what’s wrong with poking fun at life?), I depict for others, or myself if no one else reads, intimate illustrations of my life’s journey. 

Now if you’re looking for discussions on inanimate objects or for me to paint life as might be viewed through rose colored glasses, I apologize, not for anything I’ve said, but because that’s not life through my lenses.

Cheers.

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