Have you ever felt you were missing something in your life? I had always felt this. Seemed I was the one always looking outside the box and exploring a bit deeper with a different view. Even just a blade of grass in a lawn was more complex than most ever new and I would stare at the complexity of it as a child.
Growing up I always felt I missed the sixties. Loved going to friends and relatives who had kids older living the so called hippie life. Loved the beads, psychedelic posters, the melted bottles, all that was not your typical 70's conservative family home. Then one day acting like a child my aunt asked my cousin to put me in his room and get me to calm down and he sat me down, threw some head phones on me and played a record. (that is a 12" vinyl disc for those who are to young to remember). Life was changed at about 6 or 7 years of age. It was not Bing Crosby, Mozart, or Benny Goodman. It was a wild screeching guitar music like Jeff Beck but I really couldn't tell you who it was but just knew I was in the wrong age.
Through the years I fell into watching people like the Rainbow People and always wanted to go to one of their events. Stayed away from the Grateful Dead as I knew I wouldn't come home. Even my dear friends told me that. I was always wanting to find something of that sort but never got there.
Fast forward to 2009. My son and his Girlfriend had been going to Burning Man for several years and I new several other people who had as well. Some of the older folks told me of how it had changed and would not be going back but my son was insistent my wife and I go and gifted us tickets. I had no idea how this would change my life profoundly.
In preparing for the event I talked a lot with my son and learned tons about the event and wanted to contribute to his little tribe who were taking us in. I was able to use a few pieces of art and some old lumber and put together a bar for the camp. It was amazing to have others in my community who never have been to the burn, donate time, ideas and supplies to see the bar complete, but also a 20' flagpole with a beacon light on top. The spirit was alive and I had not even left my home.
We finally packed the car and left the few things we couldn't fit like my tripod. Big mistake. Hit the road and planned on meeting up with all in Reno. My dad, who surprisingly supported this non affordable adventure, kept telling me that it was gonna be an adventure and he was so right. A bit before hitting Sacramento, my son called and we were gonna meet up and caravan the rest of the way to Reno. A bit later after getting into Sacramento we get a call and he is broken down just west of Sac town on the 80 and we whipped a u-turn and headed west and found them at about 6:30 Sunday Night. There trailer had almost lost a rim and we needed a new rim. Bad timing, Sunday night at 7:00 p.m.. We scrambled into Sacramento and searched for hours. No Luck. Called hundreds of repair people with no luck. Finally got a friend in Reno to get needed supplies and waited for him to drive over. All said and done I think we were back on the road by about 2:30 a.m..
Made it to Reno and started the last minute process of cigarettes, baby wipes, gas, and any other things we needed. This was my first encounter with true burners. Nothing but smiles and friendliness. Oh, some outrageous clothing to boot. Excitement was truly building even being completely exhausted. It had already been over 24 hours with no sleep. Finally got gassed up and off we went. We took Pyramid Lake Highway out of Reno and I must say, I was for the 1st time in my life, awed by the beauty and landscape of the desert. Saw a few busses and vehicles along the road but not the lines of people coming from the North when we hit Pyramid Lake. I really had no idea the contrast I would see when we finally saw the playa.
In getting to Gerlach, I was amazed, a party outside the party so to speak. Great people, every one smiling and happy, a group of people giving away free water. Was truly a site for me and we still were not on the Playa. After a cold soda and an ice cream, we all loaded up and headed to the playa. IT was an amazing site to see the dust storm from the cars heading in and still no concept of the size of the place but we were heading thru the dust to the gates. We stopped at will call and I was amazed. People running around happy, sharing gifts, everyone saying hello, and I just was amazed at the gear I saw on trailers. What was all this stuff?
After a bit we headed for the gates and everyone said to expect at least an hour. Could not have been happier, it was maybe a half hour and the car was inspected and flagged to the greeter. My son in front of us informed the greeter we were virgins so she ran excitedly to our car and asked us to get out and do the ritual while our son was there. Walking towards the bell she was the 1st to question that we had never been to the Burn before. I guess all those years of needing the other things than a 9-5 job, 3 bedroom house, 2 kids and a dog was now apparent to others and I felt like I was home. I know this is so cliche, but really, I was home. We rang that bell, Well I tried to break it, and talked a bit with the greeter. I must say that who ever you are, thank you for the greatest greeting I ever received in my life. I was just in awe and really was sad we had to continue on but 1000's more were waiting behind us.
Driving in we headed for our camp. We had other friends who got there earlier and we found them and finally parked. I had a cold 6 pack that somehow stayed cold for 30 hour drive and we all shared them. We then proceeded to start the process of setting up camp. My son had a large military tent and we were struggling to figure it out and a group of people showed up and had the same tent in prior years and jumped in and helped with it. More people showed up to help and it was up in no time. During this process others saw us and were bringing cold drinks and beers to us. I was amazed. Just because they wanted too. The feeling of the Burn was hitting me hard but I was just in awe. Could this life really sustain itself for 7 or 8 days?
After all camp was up, personal tents, and all, we raised the flag pole. We were home for the week and the 1st dust storm arrived. Unprepared and never being in such, my wife and I hunkered down in our tent for several hours wondering if we made a mistake coming out to this environment. That was the last time we, or at least I, had that thought. Truth of the matter, We were just totally caught off guard and realized the power of Mother Earth and it was o.k. to allow her to do what she does. The dust storms actually just become part of the experience and for me, makes it better. After the storm I walked to the bathroom and on the way back a group of younger guys came by and called me dad. I suppose the name I will keep.
The 1st day stayed mostly at camp as it got more crowded and I was watching for friends to flag them down on their arrival. They showed up just at night fall and I proceeded to help them with lights and hammers and what not to get their camp up. It was a blessing to meet them in a closer setting then just at a party in Topanga. and they brought one of their friends from England that is just the greatest man. Wow, what a trip. He was in England just the day before.
So the first day I explored a bit. Wife who is disabled was still getting used to all and I walked to center camp with my son and registered the camera and we did our thing on the computer. Wow, this place was huge. Everyone was amazing, helpfull and happy. That theme stayed on the playa just about the entire time. We had an incident the last night but we all got thru it and the staff and police were much more than I could ever imagine and if any of you ever read this, Thank You and everyone is safe and o.k.. 9:30 and A. You all know who you are.
The nights were great, I found myself walking or riding the playa unaware of time and space. Finding things that touched my heart, freaked me out, amazed me with the creativity, and all in all, bewildered me that so many people can get to together to share their experiences both making it and enjoying it. I often found myself miles out just standing in one place or laying down listening to the sounds and staring into the city. It is truly something that must be different for all and really undescribable. It was fascinating. the lights, music, art cars, and most importantly, the people all coming together to form a city of dreams, hopes, and togetherness.
There was truly one event that touched me deep in my heart and soul. Growing up, my father was dear friends with a man we knew as Windy a.k.a. WD. A gruff outdoors man tough as nails. We used to go hunting and fishing with him as kids in the Sierras. Later in life he became a very close and dear friend to me and I feel as though he was my 2nd father. He passed and I know he would have loved Burning Man. It was just him and the mechanical equipment people had there would have made him drool. I brought a vest he made and wore it nearly everyday. My trip to the temple was in his memory and anticipated the Temple Burn in his memory. I never got to see him in his dying days and have yet to visit his grave so this was my memorial to let him go. The magic of Burning Man was so strong that I really needed to let him go and circumstances were such that I was forced to even more than I could imagine. The night of the Temple Burn I went to grab the vest and wear it in his memory and amazingly it was gone. He had already prepared me to let go. After the Temple Burn, lot's of tears not only for WD but everyone else who was being remembered, All in my camp let me know he had told me to let go before the burn by letting the material thing go that meant so much to me. It's hard to accept but at the same time, If someone else has it, WD's wisdom and spirit will be passed on to them.
Upon waking on Monday morning, was amazed to see how empty it was and many packing up to leave. Got almost completely packed and we were asked if we could take a friend back to Oakland, She had had a really rough time the last 2 days so we made sure others could handle the moop (matter out of place or trash) and re packed the car as best we could and headed out. The drive out was long. It was a true happy party all the way to the highway. I must say it was sad to be on the road. The girls needed to pee so we stopped at a little gas station and as they were doing what girls do, I met an older, long haired, long bearded man northern California. Told me about being at the burn years earlier and after went to the desert and stayed for like a month with nothing but nature. No sounds except the wind and animals. It hit me hard as that is exactly what WD would have done and this man, other than being a bit smaller, could have been his brother and carried on and talked just like him. Truly amazing as this really was the last person I talked with that I did not know.
This is truly the magic of the Playa and the event if you accept it as it is. This is a place I must return to and carry the lessons learned, outside of the city known as Black Rock City.
Dad
My 1st Visit to Black Rock City
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Deb Prothero
- Posts: 1998
- Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2005 9:53 pm
- Location: St. Thomas, ON, Canada
- Contact:
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Captain Goddammit
- Posts: 8589
- Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2003 9:34 am
- Burning Since: 2000
- Camp Name: First Camp
- Location: Seattle, WA
I must add the fact of how the music affected me artistically. Wasn't much for the electronic stuff but opened my ears and listened and found great inspiration from the sights and sounds. Since returning I have done 20 new songs using the electronic theme almost totally and all these songs take me to some place, some thought, or lack of on the playa. The inspiration has just been amazing. Dying to get behind the paint again but that will wait until the proper time. For those interested, the 1st 20 songs are the ones done since returning from BRC. They are from the newest 1st. Enjoy
http://www.reverbnation.com/patguerre
Dad
________________
I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.
http://www.reverbnation.com/patguerre
Dad
________________
I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.
-
Deb Prothero
- Posts: 1998
- Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2005 9:53 pm
- Location: St. Thomas, ON, Canada
- Contact:
