Another post from the desert. Today is Friday (I think)..I’m sitting in Camp (Duane’s World) in mid afternoon, waiting for the midday heat to pass. The wind is starting topick up.. I think we may be getting a sandstorm !
This Burning Man festival has been one of the most amazingexperiences of my life.. Like any experience.. it’s not going to be easy todescribe. . I think most of the storiesare going to have to leak out over time. I can say that it’s wonderful being here as a dad with Max..it’s wonderful being here as a geek to see all the cool science/art. It’s coolbeing here as a human with all of these really wonderful folks.. And it’swonderful being here for Sam’s memory. I’ve handed out nearly a 100 pounds ofSamStones.. and met so many people over his story.
I’ll add a bunch of pictures here if bandwidth allows…
Diane and Gabel.. I love you guys. I think you’d like it here too…
Sam.. you’re all over this place..
More tomorrow
-me
Here’s my seat mate on the plane to Reno..Menachim .. a rabbi for the def.. goign to the Burn for the 8th year.
The continental divide !
First thing you see off the plane.. Here’s Ben spending our first dollar
And our winnings !
The drive up was amazing.. it’s such an alien landscape
Solid burnign man traffic the whole 2 hour drive…
We hit a sandstorm when we got to burning man !
Here’s our crew ready to enter
Pierre hitting the ‘burning man virgin’ bell.. .
Here;s the wonderfu camp that Duane, John and mark had set up for us
The clan getting ready to go out on the ‘town’
The view from the desert.. and keep in mind.. there’s no electricity here.. everything comes from peoples generators.
There is ton of high tech fire sports.. I’ve got some GREAT ideas of stuff to build.
This is my favorite.. a metal dragon made out of bakery tins that shot fire.
Lots of amazing art cars..
And light up clothing.
and EVERYTHING caked with alkali dust.
Max came in soemtime.. and slept through the morning.. as did most of us.
Our neighbors brught a Tramp.. gabe..
Here’s our road
And our camp from the top of the RV
Ben and sara taping on our mylar with me on the roof of the RV.. we wanted somethign to reflect the freaks walkign by
Peter cookng breakfast from above
Breakfast was yummy.
And here’s our mirror
Building the bikes
This guy wondered through our camp.. nice guy. but probably tripping. he grabbed a bag of samstoens and ran off throughg them into the desert. We caught him and collected them back.. Then got him soem water… It was wierd..
Our neighbor Two bear and his phots (this was a time exposure taken with moonlight !)
Two bear has the characters for Reiki tattoed on his arm.
The margarida girls down the street.
I ran into my buddy jeff J. in the internet bar.. he has a bus here.. We wnet buy and saw him and Micheelle on their party bus last night..
People searching for friends leave notes like this.
Weird stuff abounds
Snowcone anyone ?
I made the goggles out sf some plastic max had.
Irony abounds too
Duane in a loin cloth..
Dinner last night
There was a huge machine lanching smoke rings
I put soem lights on the bus.. snazzed it up massivly.. We also named it ‘Duanes’ world’
Then we cruzed the playa taking in the sites
I just LOVE the fire.. such cool sceince.. such great public art.
Breakfast this morning.. one of the best conversations I’v eever had on ‘kids today’ These guys are all amazing in that they’ve all been very suvccesssful in business.. and now devote all of their time and energy to helping others.. It’s really inspiring
Some of our clan came back with tem tattoos.
These two brother are about to send their dads ashes up in a huge rocket.. I told them about Sam ‘s ashes going up in 2 rockets and many fireworks.> The world is a strang and funny place.. no ?
Then I went to the ‘Temple’ a huge bulding covered with peoles memories of loved ones.. It was really moving. I spent a long time there.. I put out a bunch of sam stones.. and sat there talkign to Sam.. and cried.. I wasn’t alone. the spirit of the place was indescribable.. It was one of the most moving things I ever remember doing.> . I know that my purpose for comign here had been going to this place.. I can’t capture it in writing
Then I walked across the playa and saw the ‘man’ he burns tomorrow..
and he’ll burn with a samstone
I walked around all day.. there were lots of folks out walking, riding, singing.. it was amazing.
people run behind the water trucks washing off.
I came across Bobby bacons fish in the playa.. I knew it from the picture his mom had sent my mom..
And then I went and found Bbby, Annie and Tom.. It was so cool meeting them in person. Bob went to the same high shool I did.. 4 years earlier. Annie had a stroke a while back and has been gettng better since. I have been reading her blog. I feel a great kinship in healing through blogging. It was great meeting her in person..
Bob’s brother Tom showed up just as i was leaving.. (I got this picture with them for you Mary B !)
I then walked compleyly across the playa to get back to camp.. a mile or so of open dessert.. I came across this classroom somewhere in the middle
THat’s it for now.. Hope I can post this.. More tomorrow
Love you family.. U2 Sam
-me