Sad But True...

you... you're my mask
you're my cover, my shelter
you... you're my mask
you're the one who's blamed
do... do my work
do my dirty work, scapegoat
do... do my deeds
for you're the one who's shamed

I'm your truth, telling lies
I'm your reasoned alibis
I'm inside open your eyes
I'm you...
(Sad But True - Metallica)


There's a real reason for those lyrics being posted. This isn't a planned post (as with most of mine) but while running errands and feeling a bit panicky today, I turned on the radio and heard this song, which has always been a favorite. I was in the midst of thinking about Halloween and listening to people on the radio talk about costumes and such and just got on the idea of masks. How important they are as children and how they become increasingly less important as time goes on. As adults, we tend to favor costumes that actually exclude masks and focus on creativity in place of molded plastic. Right after that thought, this song came on. Sometimes I hate when things make me think too much. What I thought was something along these lines:

We all have masks, don't we? Different ones, that hide, accentuate, redirect... all of it. I don't think I do, though. My masks, although they are numerous in count, all look the same. Then why so many? They all attach and connect differently. Never wanting to let vulnerabilities show, I've fashioned all my masks to look the same, yet I always know which one to wear. There is the one that attaches most firmly to my mouth, this will illicit a smile. You can look at my eyes to see that it's not genuine, but most people don't bother to look. One sits firmly around my eyes; it places a gossamer film over them so that I can see you for what you appear to be, not what I want you to be. There is also a prized mask that attaches to my temples like a vise. This mask hides the exchange. One pain to get rid of another; polar opposites yet both flow freely - one pain flows black, one flows red. This is the rarest of all my masks. We all have them, these masks. They can be used to present different sides of our one self, to hide what we are afraid to show, or perhaps more often than we might like to admit, they all look the same. Sometimes they protect, sometimes they harm without us even realizing it. Gone are the days of stepping into a costume to be someone else. As adults, I think most of us would much prefer to show who we are and be accepted for that on a daily basis, not just for a day. That's one reason all of my masks are the same. I suppose I'm not sure who I'm fooling more.

So regarding those lyrics... it's all a part of us, no matter what we call it. It's a little sad, a little true. I think it just depends on how deep we are willing to look. Being a child and having a mask is much sought after, being an adult in the same situation somehow loses it's magic.

On a side note here... I'll give you three guesses as to who stopped by today. I heard a knock and by the time I got to the door, I saw "B" getting back into his truck. I was not about to run after him and I actually wished that I had made it to the door in time. It's about time I make it clear that he stay away instead of just waiting around for his next 'visit' because now, now I'm getting pissed off.

This post isn't anything other than an observation, I'm not going to beat up little trick-or-treaters tonight (that I'm planning on, anyway) or anything like that. It just amazes me what the human mind can and will do, or what it is capable of in certain situations. There are days when I just wish I didn't think so much, believe it or not! =)

Happy All Hallows Eve!