Taos Writer Gets Involved

by Sandy Penny, Taos Writer/WritingMuse
This is the Summer of Love in Taos, celebrating 40 years since Easy Rider was filmed here and launched into the world to illustrate the magnitude of prejudice and fear of the unknown in the human psyche. We also landed on the Moon that summer of 69, and found ourselves in a new world.
The ButterFly section of the Horse Fly continues its spiraling flight around Taos, and I’m writing and editing more for the Horse Fly now, including some of the web posts.
But, my biggest project so far has been the Hippie Homecoming event sponsored by the Horse Fly Institute, happening tomorrow, Sunday, June 21, 2009. I really like the whole Hippie Homecoming idea, even though I was not a Hippie, I recognize the contributions the Hippies made to our modern culture.
Women hardly ever wore jeans before the Hippies made them popular. Unless you lived on a farm or rode horses, jeans just weren’t in your wardrobe. Now, they’re high-fashion and everyday fare. Most women have at least three or four pairs in their current size at all times. Add a tie-dyed t-shirt (which we didn’t wear except underneath our clothes), and you were right in fashion. To this day, tie-dye makes the rounds in fashion with different forms.
And, the music, oh the music. “Let the Sun Shine.” The musical Hair showed us all what was going on in the world, peace, war, protests, hair-growing, hair cutting for the soldiers. What a year it was for music, what a decade it was for music. We still listen to so many of those great oldies – always fresh for those of us who were there. Elvis gave way to the Beatles etc. Rock N Roll became hard rock. I had a hard time with that one, being an avid Elvis fan.
But, back from the flashback, to 2009, I got involved in all this with my Horse Fly association. I went out and got sponsorships for painted bodies from local businesses. I recruited popular local painters who usually use canvas to paint the human form. I even recruited people to be painted and brokered the relationships with the painters. I got into it. It was more fun than selling advertising, and so much easier.
Then I jumped into the publicity. I talked it up all over town. I tweeted on Twitter and blabbed on Facebook. I set up a website for the Hippie Homecoming. I blogged.  I sent out PR to all the media. I searched the web for anyone publishing events info for Taos and submitted our events (including the Bluestreak Boogie coming up on Wednesday, June 24).
I got so involved that today, one day before the event, I’m exhausted. I’m trying to recuperate a little so I’ll be ready for tomorrow. I know all the other people participating are exhausted too, even though we’re very excited. Deb Villalobos, who headed this up, has been tirelessly working, arranging, managing, coordinating, cajoling, bribing and generally wearing me out just watching her.
It’s great, though being involved in a community event. One feels very much a part of the town. I highly recommend volunteering for one of the great Summer of Love events. Peace out or rev it up. Embrace the music. Follow your bliss. Get involved.