| What's the worse that can happen in any given | | | | was the wrong color. |
| situation? Death. What's the worst thing that | | | | Before I retired, I returned to university, killing the |
| anyone do to you? Kill you. Let's be realistic. One | | | | entrance exam (100%) of the number two liberal |
| day, sooner or later, we all must die. There is a | | | | arts school in Florida - the first time ever for that |
| date and an exact time appointed to every living | | | | university. I always want to hit the heights. Took |
| creature on earth when we will die. Some live | | | | a totally new and opposite direction. In 1997, |
| recklessly as if death will somehow pass over | | | | became Computer Graphic Artist. I graduated |
| them and they will continue to live forever in their | | | | with a 3.67 GPA - honors, baby. I retired from |
| present state. They hang on to the illusion that | | | | corrections for good. I stood at the gates the last |
| they have plenty of time to do what they need | | | | day said my last goodbye on my terms. Let us |
| to do. Sadly, when they come about to do the | | | | just say the inmates and old cons applauded. To |
| things that they know the should do, it's too late. | | | | the Charlotte boys, this color is still kicking tail. |
| No rewinds. No tag backs. No redo. Time is up. | | | | In 1998, I graduated from a Microsoft school as a |
| This article is not intended to be a depressing call | | | | Network Engineer. Since then what have I done? |
| of doom and despair. My intention is to relay a | | | | I've worked for mostly Fortune 500 companies, |
| message. Life is short. There's much work to be | | | | started and ran three of my own companies, |
| done and a set amount of time to do it in. That's | | | | been involved in hundreds of projects and created |
| reality. I recently wrote a 2009 year in review of | | | | at least one thousand pieces of art work, |
| the past twelve months of my life. It really | | | | websites, articles, blah, blah, blah. I've been on TV, |
| cemented the fact that from January 1st, 2009 | | | | on radio, and my work is known in places like |
| until the present time, I have accomplished x | | | | India, England, Russia, South Korea, and Germany. |
| amount of work, learning and improving. I also | | | | In 2004, I decided to create my own e-zine. I |
| learned how much I did not do over the past 12 | | | | didn't know where I was going with it, but I |
| months. 2009 is almost over and when it is, 2009 | | | | blazed a trail into the unknown - discovering my |
| is gone forever. | | | | pioneering spirit. I also discovered that I am a darn |
| Once we conquer the fear of death, we banish all | | | | good writer. Between just those two |
| other fear: the fear of being rejected, the fear of | | | | accomplishments, my work has reached |
| being talked about, the fear of being alone, the | | | | thousands globally. |
| fear of being betrayed - all fears vanish. That's | | | | I've grown mentally and emotionally to become |
| when you truly become free. | | | | the person that only lived in my dreams. Now I |
| Since I am going to die anyway, I'm going to die | | | | call the shots. I flow and hustle. I am free to be |
| on my terms. When I realized that I would be the | | | | flexible to the chaos around me. I am not part of |
| only person going into my grave, whether I was | | | | it but I use it to my benefit. The old guard - the |
| loved or unloved, married or single, rich or poor, | | | | old way of doing things - has been a dying entity |
| why would I live (and die) by someone's terms? | | | | for a few years now. The new guard, the |
| When I realized that I will have dogs nipping at | | | | creative oddities that once flourished in America |
| my ankles (critics) whether I do good or bad, I | | | | at the turn of the 20th century, is taking over |
| stood up and took my life back. Enough is enough. | | | | with a silent and lethal vengeance. I am part of |
| That day I rose up in power and I rebelled. I took | | | | that new guard. You can join us if you choose. |
| my freedom back and I became fearfully fearless. | | | | No more do you have to accept the rigid and |
| In 1990, I graduated from a Correctional Sciences | | | | stoic ways of thinking. Make living and creating out |
| Academy in my class. As soon as I hit the | | | | of the box the comfort zone. Left field is your |
| compound, I discovered sergeants that had been | | | | yard and you're the Alpha dog. Meet chaos with |
| in the system for twenty years or more. They | | | | excited energy and view it as new opportunities |
| were just biding time, waiting to collect their | | | | to flourish. Don't stick yourself in a rut of being a |
| pensions. They walked around the yard with no | | | | specialist of just one thing. Have four and five |
| life left in their souls. I couldn't do that. I wanted | | | | projects going on at the same time. Be more |
| more. I wanted to lead. I wanted MY Captain's | | | | than what traditional convention dictates. |
| bars. I threw myself into obtaining that goal. I | | | | Is this about bragging? Not at all. Some of my |
| took every class the DOC had to offer, worked | | | | critics will say it is. Who cares? Not me. I only |
| every position on every shift and observed shift | | | | mention them in passing to let my beloved |
| leaders like a ravenous hawk. I absorbed every | | | | readers know that no matter what you do in life, |
| piece of information I could get my hands on, | | | | you will have critics. Lincoln, Churchill, King, the |
| including Chapter 33, the Florida Code that | | | | Kennedy brothers, Mother Teresa and Gandhi had |
| governs the Department of Corrections. On my | | | | their critics. Even Jesus Christ, till this day, has His |
| spare time, I joined the JayCees, became a | | | | critics. |
| Emergency Medical Technician, taught AMA-CPR | | | | In fact, I want to take this time to |
| to ranking officers, became involved with the local | | | | wholeheartedly thank my critics. Thank you! |
| domestic violence women's shelter, created a city | | | | Every time you knuckleheads come after me, it |
| counsel sponsored program for victims of rape | | | | makes me work even harder. You've made me |
| and domestic violence, the first in Cape Coral, | | | | into a alchemist - turning pooty into sugar. I love |
| Florida, was a victim's advocate and became a | | | | you guys. Keep up the good work. The harder |
| volunteer EMT Firefighter. In 1993, I was handed | | | | you push me, the harder I dish it out. Thanks to |
| the answers to the Sergeant's Exam. I turned it | | | | everyone of you! Special thanks to the Klu Klux |
| down. I wanted MY Captain's bars. Nothing else | | | | Klan. |
| would do. I was told I would never have those | | | | To my beautiful, powerful and talented readers, |
| bars because I was the wrong color. They said | | | | hustle and flow. If one thing does work, do |
| that to the wrong person. To make a long story | | | | another and keep flexible. There's nothing wrong |
| short (I know, too late. Ha!) I legally had the a | | | | with wanting to do it all. Obviously, we can't. But |
| warden, a colonel, a captain, a lieutenant and two | | | | it's going to be fun trying, huh? |
| sergeants either suspended or fired. I LOATHE | | | | Now get up off your saddles and let's get to |
| racism. Did they ever give me those bars. No. I | | | | work! |
