Life is way too short and we often take and make life too serious.
2012 was the year that I decided to go all out for the Big Sur International Marathon. My 10th year as the official harpist for the Marathon and after losing 45 pounds since last year, I wanted to truly celebrate and support the runners at an entirely new level. (Thinking on it now, I should have worn a costume that would show off my figure, lol.)
Every year runners and musicians brave the elements to test themselves, their skills, their spirit, their bodies and their minds to complete an amazing feat. Every year I have a theme. One year it was the Victorian theme with candleabra and braided Victorian rug as well as the perfect Victorian backdrop. Another year it was Grandmas little house in the woods complete with wooden roosters and faux flowers all around. But this year...I wanted to be totally outrageous. This year it all started with the shoes.
Once I found those shoes it all started to fall in place. I spent a few hours online looking for costumes and costume parts. With shoes like that I had to wear a blue wig. the long haired Kate Perry wig was ordered but just wasn't it. Then a trip to Victorian Voque and Costume Shop in Santa Barbara and the right blue bob, the perfect crown, jewelry, socks, and the RED, YELLOW, and BLUE costume showed up hooray.
Everyone in the store got involved and everyone wanted my shoes and my gloves which I bought at Marshalls (they were decorative cleaning gloves). Yes, I played my harp with cleaning gloves on. The very tips were cut off for traction but enough left on to protect my fingers from blisters caused by playing for HOURS outside in the elements. I was hoping that I would have until 9am to be ready but the first runners from the half marathon started arriving at 8am so I quickly pulled it together so that EVERYONE would get the full experience.
I was positioned at mile 22.3 in the Marathon this year. This means that you need strong music to help keep the runners moving forward. Every year, I write a new song just for the marathon and this years piece did not disappoint as it included my large round African drum played by the beautiful Debbie from Baume and Blume of Carmel Valley. A few of the runners even asked for the drum to be played EVEN LOUDER. Forget about sleeping we told the neighbors. Any other day if we stood outside beating on that drum we'd probably be greeted by the friendly CHP asking us to tone it down. But not on the Marathon day!
We did skits, anyone standing close by had to don a one of our theme hats. We would run in front of the runners and sweep the road with a RED, YELLOW & Blue Broom to make them laugh. Even my dog Romeo took part as we died his fur the required colors. He loved the attention as this was his 3rd marathon and he knows the drill. Various runners would stop to get a photo or two including these guys who were the first to really get into it by donning hats and stuffed snakes from our stash.
After a while we'd recruit anyone to help with the harp. Anya who is 11 had her first harp lesson in glissandos wearing a Dr. Suess hat. IN this photo she is seated by my black Lyon and Healy, electric acoustic harp (every string has a pickup) and the black box in the front is my cordless speaker/amp. ( Anya did an awesome job helping with both the drum and the harp. Thankyou sweetheart!)
Some runners would call out as they passed: Thankyou! and a few said: Eat your heart out Lady Gaga as they took in the details of the costumes.
But my favorite was the runner from Iowa who stood there with his camera stammering: I've just run 22 miles for the first time in my life...pls tell me that I am not "seeing things" and that you really are wearing these outfits.
People often see the classical harpist dressed in a simple black dress but when can they ever see a sight like this?
Go out and express yourself somewhere, sometime, and you just may express the exhilaration of setting yourself free while you inspire others! I highly recommend it. Kudos to all of the runners who participate every year...we're all outside of our comfort zone which is where all of the magic in life shows up. My love and music to you all.
Susan
www.GotHarp.com
YouTUBE: HarpistSusanBradley
ps. I am available to play the harp for your event with your choice of attire from casual to elegant to themed costumes.
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