Invisible Barriers

 I once saw the best example of an invisible barrier. 

I was working for a Nashville audio company and we were setting up for the band Cake at the Vanderbilt University Rites of Spring event.

The field the audience would be on that night had vendors in tents on either side of it. Some of the vendors had brought their children. Since the touring crew was from Nashville some of their families were in attendance also. 

The kids were all playing in the field and it was like watching a flock of birds. Running here and there. All laughing and having fun as children will do when they are given the chance.

In front of the stage was a bike rack crowd barrier. One of the 6-foot pieces had been removed so we could run cables and the Front of House crew could go backstage,

The kids, I would say about 40 started to run to the stage. When they hit the barrier the 6 - 10 roadie kids ran through to the backstage area. The other kids stopped. Like dead in their tracks. It was like they had hit a wall. Except there was literally nothing there. They were looking back at, I guess, at their parents wondering if it was alright. Like I said the roadie kids never stopped but soon they came back to again play with their new friends.

An invisible wall.

A wall the roadie kids never saw. 

I have always wondered about that wall. Do I have them? Do others? Are we stopping at absolutely nothing? How would I know if a barrier was there or not? 

I volunteer occasionally for a group called Musically Fed. We pick up catering and deliver it to charities. I was allowed on Saturday to go backstage and drive underground at Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles for the Metallica Concert. It occurred to me that there are 10.5 million people in LA and I was the only one driving around that huge venue. I don't think I see many barriers. Have you ever seen them?

My dad's side.

 My Dad's Mom, my Grandmother, was a accountant for 20th Century Fox. His Father, my Grandpa was a scenic painter on Black and White movies. My Grandmothers sister, My Aunt Mary was the first female Editor for the LA Times Entertainment Section. 

I guess my Grandparent didn't want my Father to grow up in LA so they moved to St Louis, Mo. I remember going to her office when I was 5 or 6. We were going to watch a Thanksgiving Parade from her office window. We where on the 5 or 6th floor. Way above the Parade.

I remember her telling me she wanted to show me something. She reached into her basket on her desk and pulled out a check written to John Wayne. Of course I knew who he was. It was for a million dollars. $1,000,000.00. I really got to hold a check for a million dollars. I remember her saying that it wasn't for work. In fact, it was to hold him from doing any other work. 

Right then and there I knew that when I got as old as that John Wayne dude, I was going to be an Actor.

And since I am as old as that John Wayne dude. Guess what I am?

Yep. 

Can't wait t get my check for $1,000,000.00.