A Time to Burn

The Man burns in 2 days and I can't believe I'm not in Black Rock City in anticipation of the burn. A few short weeks after New Year's Day, tickets go on sale and a remembering nudge begins then fades into other winter interests. Summer triggers a stronger yearning and I find myself taking inventory of all my camping gear which is still entrenched with Playa. Ahh...nothing like it. Somewhere around mid-August I start reminiscing about the unlikely series of events that led me to a life-changing experience known as Burning Man. I left for the Playa on 08/08/08 and joined the Commissary Crew for a month's adventure. I was one of the first "on Playa" and one of the last to leave. Tractor trailers were dropped into a carefully surveyed plot and I watched the city spring from the desert over the course of a few short weeks. Our trailers provided storage and kitchen space which were powered by generators whose constant hum lulled me to sleep at night and greeted me every morning.

Although the city never sleeps, my day began at 5:45 when I brewed vats of coffee and made gallon upon gallon of lemonade - Lemonade is also my Playa name. Our crew fed anywhere from 90-600 people, 3 times a day throughout the event. When my shift ended around 4pm, I'd take a nap then explore the city while marveling that such an event existed on the Earth plane. I witnessed creativity and kindness the likes of which I'd never experienced before and the art and fire against the desert backdrop simply defy explanation. The following year I attended as a Lamplighter and lived in Lamplighter Village and while circumstances have kept me from attending these past few years, I am ever aware of its magical pull on my heart and am always present in spirit.

So firey wishes to the Man who reminds me every year that life really is an illusion...now you see it, now you don't. Burn well!