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Jack Norman stood there before a mirror in the restroom of a hotel, his head pounding and his eyes reeling. It had been a real mistake. Ten hours ago he'd taken some drugs at a party just to prove to some of his new friends that he was cool. Being someone who wasn't used to taking even beer, talk less of drugs, he was out cold for about four hours and now he was finally sober, he certainly felt different, probably like ten years younger. His body didn't feel like his anymore. Perhaps it was the drugs were really working. Feeling wasted, he headed into his car and drove out of Las Vegas back into L.A.
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Jack had moved into the city of New York fifteen years ago in a bid to start his music career. Luckily, he'd burst into limelight when his song "Nuisance" had topped the US charts seven years ago. His guitar playing and vocal skills as well as his touching lyrics were what made his songs so great. After releasing the song, he'd gotten a lot of record labels and had chosen to sign for Cornerstone studios. He quickly began living the life of the rich and famous. He moved into L.A and bought a sports car just to prove that he was a real big baller like everyone else. He had made more than a million dollars within months of his song release but in the end he'd spent all the money on girls and shoes. His life quickly started taking a nosedive because all his song since Nuisance hadn't been a hit. A hit song just seemed to elude him.
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Although he was still living like he was rich, he was actually very broke. His expenditure was way higher than his income. His debts kept rising on a daily basis and it was getting harder and harder for him to compose anything meaningful. He kept looking for a way to escape his demons and the pain he was going through. It had gotten to a point where he couldn't even keep a girlfriend for long. He always used his work as an excuse but in actual fact, he found it hard to open up. He couldn't bear to tell anyone what he was passing through. His ego wouldn't let him. Unable to share with anyone, he kept looking for other means of escapism from his reality. Perhaps that had been why he agreed to go to Vegas with his so called friends in the first place. He felt having fun in the city of sin would drive his worries again. But instead, it made him worse. He had lost 20 grand betting at a Casino and had come back to L.A more broke.
His rent was now over due and running out of options, he decided to take a plane to his hometown perhaps he would find inspiration to write a song there. He felt bad he had nothing to take back home except his stupid pride and of course, his guitar, Stardust. He'd left here for the city fifteen years ago and now he was back, everything felt different. His friends were all gone and there were so many manicured lawns. He was at least happy that the people still thought he was a star.
As he strolled down the road to KFC the other day, he was stopped by some aspiring fans who wanted his advice on how to make it because they were getting impatient and wanted to be like him.
He looked them in the eye and said "Be like me? I'm sure you don't want to be like me. I'm sure you dont ever want to step off the rollercoster of fame and find out you're all alone. I'm sure you don't want to go from riding Ferrari to taking the bus. Be yourself and do what you do best. If you ever make it, don't let it get to your head. Keep being who you are and keep doing what made you famous in the first place."
They got his autograph, took pictures with him and left. Jack Norman smiled to himself and turned around to head home. He didn't need fried chicken again. All he needed was his guitar. He finally had the hit song he was searching for. Right there and right then, he decided that if he ever became famous again he would keep living here in his hometown. To hell with the big cities! To hell with the life of the rich and famous!
Humm, what he was looking for in sokoto, is right inside his sokoto.
Awesome story
what i learnt
Cos the river that forgets it source, will eventually run dry.
Thank you
This is the nail on the hammer : "Be yourself and do what you do best. If you ever make it, don't let it get to your head. Keep being who you are and keep doing what made you famous in the first place."
Haha Tojukaka I've been following you since day one, but honestly i didn't that you're a great writer, i enjoyed reading the life of jack Norman,
To hell with fake lifes
life and its turn arounds..
RIP for jack norman
sometimes we move round the world looking for a particular thing. wether success or money or peace, only to find out that what we are actually looking for is right here at home.. nice writeup @tojukaka
Tojukaka my main steem pally, ur gist hits my hrt softly and full of lesson.
Lesson: do what you do best and be original for one day the wheel will face somewhere else...
Wish to chill out with you one day and get this inspiration undiluted.
#dazzy 👏➡ #tojukaka
Wow! The key to our success or for us finding ourselves is sometimes in being there for others. We find ourselves when we put ourselves out there for others.
Exactly!!! Well said!
😊
beautiful view of friends, your photography is very good @tojukaka
Nice post, good stories like these only come from a creative mind.
You will find help in your bid to help others, nice one, thanks jack.
i have learnt about being famous. thanks @tojukaka
Definitely Creativity at it's best!!! Looking forward to more interesting works like this from time to time. Thanks for sharing this bro Toju
nice piece there
Pride can derive someone off opportunity, Life of emulation is also not worth living either. Is good to believe in ones self esteem.