You know something Marvin; there should be a one day national holiday called “Stalk the Stalker”, where community groups get together en mass and stalk the stalker. Now wouldn’t that be fun!? Now that would be putting the proverbial shoe on the other foot…

Showing kindness and patience towards some people is sometimes misconstrued and misunderstood. Lending a sympathetic ear will sometimes backfire at some unexpected moment. Anything and everything that you say or do is examined under a microscope. We have to be very aware of words that may guide or criticize others. A harsh word might destroy someone’s dreams. A heartfelt compliment or encouragement may inspire someone to great heights. A warm gesture can be misread by some. The joy of creating is occasionally denigrated by an encounter with an unbalanced human being who’s profound unhappiness with their own lives is momentarily alleviated by their chance meeting with an artist.

They see in this artist a life or a path that they would never have dared to follow.They fantasize that the artist will rescue them from an otherwise mundane existence.The irony is that the artist is just like the fan,an ordinary human being. The only difference is that the artist followed his or her muse. I have encountered people who fit the above description. They suffer from profound sadness and frustration in their personal lives. I find it interesting that all of these people were involved in relationships. It seemed as if they were leading a double life. One living in frustration. The second living in denial and fantasy.

In their minds,they were already living (imagining) a relationship the artist that never existed. Once “jilted” by the artist,they will go to any extreme to reek havoc in a pathetic show of vindictiveness. They will fabricate scenarios,lies and any other means available to them in an attempt to avenge the artist who “wronged” them. This is the classic profile of a “stalker”not a fan. The best that we can do,is pity them,and hopefully learn and recognize the archetypal warning signs,so that the next time,we can just turn and walk away. Besides the rare encounter with one of these pathetic,sad,incomplete human beings,I would never trade my life as an artist. I will,as all artists,follow my muse……….. peace for ’09 and beyond.