I am terrible disappointed at all the hate comments I received here.
My husband and I have come out and built and given and received from our home away from home. I went along to make sure that these folks did understand what the experience is all about.
You see most of these folks only knew about Burning Man from what they read in the papers. All they knew was that Burning Man was about drinking, drugs and the naked people running around like savages. They’d experience the art only as pictures. They’d see the cars driving back through Reno after the Burn. They’d see is the craziness, the trash dumped in town and by the side of the roads, the dirty cars and dirty people. They had a very one-sided view point.
These people are not artists and most of them have never had a chance to be involved in a concept like BRC. They are muggles, going about their daily lives not knowing about another world.
I was pleasantly surprised by the openness of these folks, these “tourists”, willing to go out and experience something different, to put aside misconceptions. They did give as much as they received. They asked question and participated. They were so excited to be there. We didn’t stay with the buses once we got there. We dispersed like leaves in the wind. Some went out on bikes, some on foot.
My Mom and I went to Center Camp. She was enthralled by a drum circle and the acrobats and the art on the walls and just the overwhelming sea of people. We laughed and sang and danced a bit. She loved it.
After dinner we walked out to the man. Hand in hand like children in a dream. Stopping now and then just to turn around and take it all in. It was a very special time for me, to be able to share with wonderful place that mean so very much to me with her. For me it was a chance to come home and dance barefoot on the playa, even for just one day.
The “tourists” were bowled over by the reality of BRC. What I heard then as I still do is the amazement in their voices, that such a place can exist with all of its energy, and vitally. The amount of creative talent blew their socks off. The beauty, generosity and kindness and just plan awesomeness of the whole city was astonishing. They have a greater appreciation and understanding of why many of us are called back year after year, despite and the conditions, the weather and the costs.
Many of them would like to come again, either as “tourists” or as residents, and many will never come again not because they were ill treated of anything like that but it is just not their thing. Which is ok.
But one thing it very true, they were all very glad to have been able to come.
Some time we need “tourists” to come and become treasured friends.
Sincerely yours,
The Fiber Floozie
I love this whole fiber festival thing. One gets to see friends from far and wide. The first friend I got to see was Linda.It was sure a surprise to see her. She's living up in Kelso Wash. and came down for the day. It great to see her so happy.
Of course my friend Morgaine of Carolina Homespun was there. I always get a kick to see her. She was a great mentor when I learned to spin and is always a wonderful resource.
