The Stand

Episode1
The Stand

I don’t believe I’ve ever struggled so hard over a piece of writing. For days I’ve pondered the approach. Should I be light hearted, or should I come straight down the chute? I started, and then stopped again. One attempt began something like:
“34 years and some months ago I came into this world Kicking and screaming.”
Really? I thought as I read that disaster over. You cannot begin that way. And by the time I read:
“I didn’t see the humor in it then, wide open mouth granting entry between the thighs of the laughing fat lady.” I’d decided I had to begin again.

I knew I wanted to say something that would catch and hold your attention. I knew that I wanted to thrust you into, and leave you deep in thought. I knew I wanted to surprise and stun you and leave you wanting more. I was aware that my delivery had to be eloquent and articulate and that my voice had to be deep and strong and it had to resonate out over the airwaves and touch your ears like a gentle whisper, and be pleasing.

I considered writing this in the rhythmic staccato of the spoken word poem. A delivery method I am familiar with and good at. I could say something like:

Words are like air to me
Everywhere and possessing all things with meaning
Giving the day a name and making death a pain
Words are like air to me.

But, I’m not a huge believer in poetry to begin with and it all sounded so forced. I decided at one point to take the easiest road and give you an hour of my music art and stories. I thought to regale and entertain you with my greatness, talent and skill. Live raps, and stories and poems, all wrapped up in the silky sheet of my voice. Internet radio as a shameless vehicle of self promotion. And don’t doubt that selfish self promotion will play a part here, over time, never fear. All good things in small doses I told myself as I crawled back into my humble pie.

I struggled with how to tell you who I am and with how to make this a moment you remember and long to return to week after week. I want you to love me, I want you to tell your friends about me and why they should love me too. Stories about my childhood I decided were trite, boring and only relevant from the perspective of who I am today. And who I am today is your humble host D.K. Renaissance man, friend, lover, and father. What I am today is a man with a radio show. What I was yesterday was a man with a radio show to write. What I will be tomorrow we can only wait to see. That is truly in your hands.

This show is not just about me; this show is also about you. This show is about dialogue and discovery. This show is about exploring the boundaries of reality and truth as we know it and should we find them lacking, tearing them down and casting them aside. This show is about bringing the things that affect our lives out into the harsh light of day. And in this world, vampires don’t sparkle. The minutes following this dialogue are where you, get a chance to find your voice, to state your viewpoint, to shout out at those things that frustrate you. Everyday we are surrounded by so many lies, half truths and misleading leaders there is a feeling that no one can be believed. Our Jobs are lies, our coworkers are lies, our television is a lie, or politicians, teachers, police, judges and ministers are lies. This is the time when your moral compass must be your guide and this is the place to stage your war. I ask of you only this in the end:

Stand together with me! Raise your voice so that they might hear our cries and understand. WE WILL NOT GO EASILY INTO THE DARKNESS!