Brillo, my bear
As I was saying yesterday, I over heard the conversation while sitting outside of my place of work, wearing a furry bear suit, waiting to start my next stint as an entertainer/ costumed character (bear) at a local theme park.
The job was to put on a large bear costume and walk around the site entertaining the crowds who were waiting to get on the rides, but normally degenerated into hugging the prettiest girls and scaring the children (a 6 foot high, 3 foot wide, dark grey bear, resembling a Brillo pad on legs, can look very scary if you are only 2 foot high and it takes you by surprise, like hiding at the bottom of the ball pool). The main point to the job was that you had to look happy and without your face on show it was not just a plastered on smile, your whole body had to be happy, happy, happy. As any ex theme park worker will tell you, its no fun.
After what I had just discovered I was a long way from happy and it was at this point a positive appeared, in the shape of one of the prettiest girls I have ever met. I was sat outside away from everyone, trying to get my head round the news and failing, the girl, we had worked together for a few months but not really talked, noticed that I was in a state and came out to see if she could help, and showed such kindness and concern, that it enabled me, after a while, put on the costume and head back out to work, It also forged a friendship that lasted the whole season. It is still one of the hardest things I have ever done, being happy while my heart was broken.
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Now playing: Ce Ce Peniston - Finally
via FoxyTunes
The job was to put on a large bear costume and walk around the site entertaining the crowds who were waiting to get on the rides, but normally degenerated into hugging the prettiest girls and scaring the children (a 6 foot high, 3 foot wide, dark grey bear, resembling a Brillo pad on legs, can look very scary if you are only 2 foot high and it takes you by surprise, like hiding at the bottom of the ball pool). The main point to the job was that you had to look happy and without your face on show it was not just a plastered on smile, your whole body had to be happy, happy, happy. As any ex theme park worker will tell you, its no fun.
After what I had just discovered I was a long way from happy and it was at this point a positive appeared, in the shape of one of the prettiest girls I have ever met. I was sat outside away from everyone, trying to get my head round the news and failing, the girl, we had worked together for a few months but not really talked, noticed that I was in a state and came out to see if she could help, and showed such kindness and concern, that it enabled me, after a while, put on the costume and head back out to work, It also forged a friendship that lasted the whole season. It is still one of the hardest things I have ever done, being happy while my heart was broken.
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Now playing: Ce Ce Peniston - Finally
via FoxyTunes
Comments
Please cheer up soon, I feel horrible when my mates are depressed!
Ciao
Scarlet xx
The image is very haunting and etheral. I'm more your manic depressive variety, hence the writing being at breakneck speed or flatline.
I feel for you as at least I have ecstatic highs to offset the black holes. Depression as a constant you can not snap out of, don't rush the process. I have just crawled back out the black hole and walking the highwire again. Crash!
Bless her for reaching out to you.
Great shot! That is so dark and mysterious. I love the eyes of the sculpture. They are so sad.
P.S.
Girls don't like to be randomly hugged by strange men in bear costumes. Just thought I'd let you know ;)
And some girls DO like to be hugged by random bear costumes.