Burning Man 2008: After-Burn Reflections

This year was a very special, different, and novel Burn for me. This was the first year since 2000 that I have been able to drive to Burning Man. The last time I was able to get there by car was my first year. Since then, I have either lived in Michigan or New York and not had enough time on either side of the festival to arrive there by any means other than flying into Reno, renting a car, and then going to the Burn.

This year was also different because it was the first year I've done something really BIG to participate. I was tapped to be the kitchen manager for a camp of 150 burners, and to arrange for their meals for seven nights. It was a huge responsibility for someone who had no idea how to do the job. But I did it. It wasn't even hard; it was fun.

This was my seventh (yes, SEVENTH...wow) year at Burning Man and the eighth time I've seen the Man burn (if you were there Monday last year, you got an extra burn). I had the honor of working with one of the largest theme camps (the Red Nose District) with one of the most advanced infrastructures (full kitchen with running water, freezer, showers, private porta-potties). I made some amazing connections with some very experienced (10y+) Burners and with some very new Burners.

And I learned what makes a Burner. A Burner is someone who goes back and participates. Because I saw a friend of mine this year who was back for his second year. I hardly recognized him. He had been a newbie last year; this year he returned a fire-spinning, juggling, LED suit-wearing, hardworking, participating Burner.

And so, as every year, I return refreshed, spiritually recharged, and ready to unf*ck myself, and then go and unf*ck the world.

This year's cool sights:
*The view from the 60-foot tall "Hilton" tower
*The guy wearing EL wire only on his left leg at night so that at night it appeared that there was a disembodied left leg going for a walk around the playa. (Not sure if that was the effect he was going for, but it was funny as hell).
*The colored flames from the Flaming Lotus Girls' fire sculpture.
*The EL-wire animated breeching Humpback Whale out in the playa
*The huge dust devils on Monday after the Burn

This year's positives:
*The GORGEOUS load-out day we had on Monday that was calm and so cool that I was a bit chilly at high noon. Usually high noon on the playa is a torrid oven.
*We only had two windy days.
*The spectacular weather we had after the Man burn.
*The fact that it seemed smaller, even though it was bigger.
*The amount of "Ice Cream" that I got. grin

*Last but certainly not least, being able to share it with a certain Pineapple Pete.

This year's negatives:
*My tent blew down and was irreparably damaged. While I slept inside it (I'll tell the story later).
*The whole process of getting there on Sunday that had to start with me waking up at 6AM.
*The windstorm we had after the Temple Burn (although that was also a positive because it forced me to hang out with my campmates in the small house-sized tent that remained of our main structure for a few hours).
*The condition of the playa; all loose dust! Made cycling (first year I brought a bike) damned near impossible.

All in all, possibly the best year I've ever had in so many ways I never thought it would be. I hope that they only get better. ubblove

And on a completely unrelated note: Malcolm, I love the ninja! ninja

And this guy: eek

-Mike

Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella

A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura

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