“Have you any idea of what a man must endure who leads such a life? No, you cannot. No one can unless he lives it for himself." -- Frank James
When you think of a gunslinger, what comes to your mind first? Is it the lawman cleaning up “Random Gulch” from the sinister bad guys, a young inexperienced outlaw on the run, or perhaps the charlatan huckster with the ace up his sleeve? Any of these images might give you the impression that when I mean gunslinger, I mean the cliché western type of Deadwood/Wyatt Earp character. In a way, you are correct however, I want to convey a different image so hear me out.
Clear your preconceptions, blank your thoughts, and from the deepest recesses of your mind think…
Truth…Consequence…Justice…Mercy…Fortitude…Fury…Apprehension…
Anything different? Perhaps you get a flash of a lonely man walking down a street trying to figure out how his life ended up the way it did. You might hear the grinding cough of a wheel-man waiting for his signal before plowing through downtown traffic after picking up that next big score. What about the sigh of a single mom working at the all night greasy spoon to support her 3 month old son and a slight drinking habit?
My point here is that this classic persona can be more than just a cardboard cut-out character. Regardless of incarnation, The Gunslinger has one attribute that can never be denied or hidden; a purpose. Think about it. Driven by an urge to go on, not bound by the laws of men, or just upholding a pure idealism to its fullest extent.
Stick to your guns and keep your aim true…
(Stopping while I’m ahead because my thoughts are getting messy…)
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