Meier, Greg.
blbeast@bucky.win.bright.net
If you read Loreena's introduction to "The Mask and Mirror" and
the notes she shares about each song, you realize she is searching
for deeper meanings, she is not content to just entertain, but has
a need to inspire her listeners. Inspired by *her* example, I search
my own life for meanings beyond the obvious. I would like to share
a personal experience that at face value might look frivolous, but
seems to me quite enlightening.
A few years ago I wore a "mask", (literally), that caused subtle
but substantial effects on my emotional/spiritual development.
It happened when, for a few... brief... shining moments
(years, actually), I became "The Blue Hills Beast".
Let me explain briefly.
My best friend bought a ski hill, in the nearby Blue Hills. I had
been skiing there for years and told him he should do something
different, something fun, that he should have a "gimmick". I'm
not sure what happened next, but I found myself dressed up in a
bright blue, fuzzy costume,
(or full body "MASK" if you prefer ). }:-}
As the "Blue Hills Beast" I mingled with the crowds, I greeted
them at the door or at the chair lift, growling,lurking around
the unsuspecting, passing out Blue Hills Beast buttons, helping
fallen skiers (I *think* they were glad to see me ;-) entertaining
with a few tricks (doing 360's, and 720's, and 3600's. Skiing
backwards,sideways and my favorite; flying my colorful delta
kite with wind sock tail as I skied ).
One year with late snow and an early Easter, the BEAST was for
one day transformed into "THE BEASTERBUNNY" with long floppy
ears and a basket of plastic eggs filled with goodies to hide on
the slopes for the skiers to find .It was a great advertising
gimmick and gave people a unique experience to remember.
My point is this; wearing my "mask", I created a new image of
myself that people reacted totally different to than my normal,
shy, quiet and introverted personality. The Beast drew attention
just by appearing.
He got a lot of hugs.
Some little ones were scared, but I know they will remember,
*The Blue Hills Beast*.
Lots of kids followed me around, and they got to ride the chair
lift with (Wow!),THE BEAST!
"THE BEAST" frequently got to ride the chair with cute
"Snow bunnies", who were very talkative, and interested.
(Except for the embarrassed ones ;-)
This, of course, was all totally different from my normal life.
The "Mask" of the BHB allowed me to act differently.
The "Mask"of the BHB created something not there before.
The "Mask" of the BHB was what everyone saw.
When I looked out of MY mask (literally, a ski mask),
what I saw *MIRRORED* in faces, was the reflection of
what I had created, THE BLUE HILLS BEAST.
In the "MIRROR" of their eyes and faces, were reflected back to me
the emotions released by their reaction to the one know as,
"The Blue Hills Beast."
When I skied as The Beast I received much attention.
When I skied as myself, I was ignored.
I created a monster that might overpower my own fragile,
mundane ego. I became somewhat jealous of what I had created.
As I looked into the "mirror" of peoples faces, the differences in
their attitude was shocking and sobering.
Without my "Mask" I was a nobody, almost invisible, just another skier.
I now wonder how our own self-images are created or affected by
the reactions we perceive as we watch others react to our
appearances and actions.
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