Transforming Today's World Magazine - JAN 2014 Special Edition Vol 5 Issue 3 | Page 67

The

San Antonio
Art and Jazz Festival

Anthony Tobias: The Treasure of San Antonio!
By Freya Pruitt

A

t some time in our lives, we find ourselves
faced with a defining moment that could
easily affect the course of our life’s destiny
forever. This reality made no mistake in
skipping over Anthony Tobias! One cool rainy night in
San Antonio Texas, Anthony found himself careening
around a corner on his motorcycle in a blinding rush
of rain. As he felt the two wheels begin to slip towards
an oncoming car, his life flashed in front of his eyes:
Surely THIS was not his defining moment! After all the
pain and suffering of grieving monumental losses in his
personal life, could this be the event that would end his
life? By the Grace of Almighty God- it did not. Coming
within one small inch of his mortality, Anthony was
shaken and still heavy-laden with the tragic loss of his
brother from Brain Cancer. He was still reeling from an
ugly custody battle that continued to infect his happiness
as he continuously fought for the custody of his beloved
children. Anthony had raised his children from babies
and they were the very foundation of his entire life- the
idea of losing them was just too much to bear. After
six attorneys and ten years of custody battles (winning
twice) the third time Anthony entered the court-room
he had a sinking feeling in his gut; unfortunately, he
was right. After raising his children from birth, the
unthinkable had happened: He lost custody to his exwife and his entire world began to implode.

Lost and dazed, he got on his motorcycle and began to
ride aimlessly into the night- trying to search for some
answers and a way to heal his aching heart. As he passed
a familiar park, he parked his bike and was struck by a
strange sensation: He began to feel like Jimmy Stuart in
Frank Capra’s movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Like Jimmy
Stewart on the bridge, Anthony clasped his hands and
cried “NO- God! Why? God please help me- please help
me!” As Anthony tried to shake the dismay from his
shoulders, he walked a couple of blocks to a Jazz club
and decided to go in for a glass of wine to ponder the
tragic turns his life had just taken. As he entered the
club, the sound of the music seemed to call his name.
Little did he know a new world was about to materialize
that would change his life forever. As he sat at the bar, he
noticed people laughing, dancing and humming along
with the music. Anthony had been listening for years to
jazz greats such as Kenny G, Miles Davis, The Rippintons
and Dave Kog, but on this particular night, Anthony
was deeply affected in a very different way. He observed
a room full of people being wooed by an infusion of
positive vibes and spirit that somehow seemed to even
relax his own spirit. In spite of what he had just gone
through, he found himself participating and feeling
encouraged and uplifted by the sound of the music and
the happiness around him.

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