Harp Column Blogs: Laura Byrne

As I welcome the new year 2010, I breathe deeply in gratitude that the roller-coaster ride of 2009 is over.
Even though the world was overflowing with optimism in January 2009, shock waves hit the economy as financial institutions crumbled, the stock market hit perilous lows, and businesses collapsed. The 2009 economy dealt a crushing blow to arts organizations and universities as endowments shriveled to a pittance of their former value, and corporate and charitable giving all but disappeared. It was a lean, mean year and everyone I know suffered financially. People were terrified of losing their jobs and their homes and being swallowed by debt. College funds and 401k's disappeared overnight and the media made depression-era comparisons. I watched in horror as much of my annual freelance work that I relied on just disappeared into thin air.

Despite my lighter performance schedule, I found a way to survive with less this year. At my house we ate a lot more "mac and cheese", and "mystery casseroles" (leftover delights) and my children got resourceful in the kitchen with "make your own dinner nights". The phrases "stick to the budget" and "because there is no money" became the auto-response to every "whiney" request. We cut back, cut out and eliminated luxuries like going out to eat at restaurants and mini-vacations to the beach. My son got a job at the nearby grocery store and we took advantage of the "buy one, get one free deals", and managers' specials.
Although I will never be as organized as the coupon queens with their handy plastic dividers and coupons for every product known to man, I must say I was impressed with their savings at the cash register. If only I took the time to cut out all those coupons and watch the papers more carefully I would have extra money every month. Oh how I missed shopping for a new outfit or new shoes.
I had to laugh when a sales clerk at my favorite "Chicos" store called to make sure I wasn't sick because she hadn't seen me in 6 months! I am sure I wasn't the only customer she cold-called that day.

As I considered the empty pages on my calendar, I found I had more time than money. I realized I was being given "the gift of time", and I decided to make the most of it. I taught more students, practiced more, and enjoyed long conversations with friends on the phone or over coffee instead of the usual lunch or dinner out. My family and I used our "stay-cations" to paint and fix things up around the house and we redecorated my teenage daughters' rooms with things we recycled from the attic.
My kids decided to try a vegetable garden and we made a small but earnest attempt. We grew delicious home grown tomatoes, romaine lettuce, collards and fresh herbs. I bought 4 rose plants and managed to grow some beautiful red roses (my favorite) despite voracious deer and a dreadful Japanese beetle invasion.

When I did work, I worked really hard and I enjoyed every minute of it. I performed the Mozart Flute & Harp Concerto, the Debussy Trio, several professional orchestra concerts, accompanied opera stars, ballerinas, outstanding choirs, and 3 fabulous Irish Tenors. Even though the money was tight this year, the music making was inspiring and meaningful and I loved it. As a teacher, I was pleased that my students worked hard and performed so well and I was extremely proud of each of them.

As I count my blessings this year I am grateful for good health and thankful for my opportunities to work and play beautiful music with my talented friends and colleagues.
As I happily say goodbye to 2009, I welcome the new year with hope and optimism for the future.
I celebrate my friendships and send love to my dear friends near and far, and I wish everyone good health and happiness and a prosperous 2010.
CHEERS!

On January 9, 2009, I performed at the Inaugural Ball of North Carolina's first woman Governor Bev Perdue. She was sworn into office the next day by Sarah Parker, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina. She shared the stage with Senator Kay Hagan, and 5 female members of the Council of State and several other high profile female leaders. This was a big deal in North Carolina, and it was played up in the media to underline the increasing power of women in leadership positions in our state.

It was a tremendous honor to be asked to perform at such an historic event and my flutist duo partner Mary Boone and I were both thrilled and delighted. We dressed in our finest attire and played for the opening reception. There were several other fine musicians from around the state who performed later in the evening including the famous jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis.

In her opening remarks at the reception the Governor thanked her many supporters, friends, and especially her family. She spoke of "change" and the importance of "women in leadership". I couldn't help but think of my mother and my own daughters. I also thought about the special women friends who have inspired and supported me in my life. These special friends taught me that successful women could be strong and beautiful, tough and compassionate, wise and fun, confident and grateful.

I looked at Mary, my flutist friend of 25 years, and smiled remembering our college days and our first gig together. We had so much fun playing together, we became great friends. We were so poor, but we were so inspired and filled with dreams of a life in music. If we only knew then, what we know now...oh the wisdom of experience!

After our performance we toasted each other over a glass of champagne, savoring the moment of this special evening. We were invited to attend the festivities after our performance, so we joined the party and mixed and mingled with an extraordinary group of people. The media said there were 5000 people in attendance and we marvelled at the beautifully dressed crowd. I saw many of the highest profile political and business leaders in the state, as well as several people I knew personally who were leaders in the Arts and Academic communities.

For all the performances in my career, I have to say this was one of the most extraordinary. What a spectacular event and a proud time in history, especially for women in North Carolina. I must admit, we had a ball at the "Inaugural Ball". Afterwards, I went home and was greeted by my gleeful daughters who were thrilled to have seen me on the television evening news. "Mommy, did you meet the Lady Governor", "did you play well", and most importantly, "did you get to eat and was the food good?" I laughed and shared the entire experience with them from the enormous security and the bomb-sniffing dog, to our private dressing room with guards, to the music, the food, the clothes, and the people. When I "tucked them in" that night, I looked into their shining adolescent faces and said: "Girls, don't ever let anything or anyone keep you from reaching for your dreams."
As Martina McBride sings so beautifully, "This One's For The Girls"!

Normally, I spend New Year's Eve reflecting on the previous year, setting new goals and looking ahead to a bright new year. However, this year has been anything but normal and I find myself affected on many levels as I consider my goals for the new year. As a professional harpist and teacher, I achieved many of my goals for the year, but had to make room for life's interruptions. Like everyone else, I was really affected by the sagging economy and felt the financial sting of the cost of everything! I had to make some sacrifices to keep things going and my family worked harder than ever before to keep things afloat. And so at the end of the year I found it ironic that I should have a bit of an interruption just when I thought I'd be getting a break.
As the late John Lennon said, "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans."

This New Year's Eve I spent resting and recovering from a really nasty upper respiratory infection that got serious. Yuck, I hate being sick, especially this sick. In addition to being sick, I also had an unexpected and expensive home repair. Christmas week we had a plumbing issue that required my kitchen ceiling and wall to be ripped out completely. Right before New Year's Eve, all the kitchen, bathroom and entry way floors came out as well. What a Merry Christmas MESS and a Happy New Year HEADACHE! My dreams of home improvement included new kitchen cabinets with gleaming granite counter-tops with an attached screened-in porch etc........ instead, I get a new ceiling, a new wall, and eventually someday, new floors.
I saw my dreams of a beautiful kitchen drifting farther and farther into the abyss of rainy day dreams in the fog of the far away future.

Quarantined to my room to avoid spreading germs and inhaling construction dust, I decided to rest and watch TV. Wrapped in warm blankets and hugging my box of Kleenex, a bottle of water and my two dogs Sugar and Spike, I channel surfed and landed on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Great! Oprah is one of my "FAVES", surely she'll have something interesting to talk about today. Feeling totally miserable and financially depressed, I waited to hear the topic of her New Year's Eve show. Within minutes I found myself riveted to the compelling stories of her guests. Each of them shared their personal stories of overcoming real adversity, heartbreak, and tragedy. The theme of the show was "Resilience". Their true stories were gripping, heart wrenching, and a powerful reminder to anyone who has ever had to endure a great personal hardship or overcome a tragic loss. As these individuals shared their personal stories I was moved by their courage in facing real pain and crushing loss. I was especially moved by a woman who survived a plane crash while her husband and only child did not. She had to find the "will to live" after losing everyone she loved. She had to grieve her loss, and find the courage to believe in her own future. After accepting her loss, she slowly began rebuilding her life in hopes that there may be a day when she could find joy again.

What a powerful show and what an important reminder of our human potential for RESILIENCE. How especially poignant on New Year's Eve when people around the world are looking ahead and hoping for a brighter year. There is no doubt that 2009 will bring great change to our nation and to the world.
It will certainly take strength, courage, sacrifice, and perseverance to overcome the many difficulties that lay ahead in the future. But we will persevere and we will overcome and we will thrive again.

After watching the show I must say I put things into perspective rather quickly. I laughed at my pitiful kitchen knowing it is just a temporary inconvenience. "I hated those floors anyway" I thought .
I still hate being sick, but I will feel better in a week or two and in the meantime, I will rest and recover and regain my "RESILIENCE".

I hope 2009 brings you good health, joy in your harp playing, and resilience in your life.
CHEERS!