We napped for a few hours before the heat of the sun. What a great feeling to be ready to expore the playa early Monday. After completing camp set up and proper rest (well, mostly) we had our usual first-day 3-bean salad for dinner and left on our bikes to watch the newbie's eyes' bulge at the grandeur of all that is in, on and around them. We followed Momo for a while, then Becka, who kept us pedalling from structural giant to structural giant, not able to find any words to describe our own amazement. The topper of the night -- perhaps of the whole week -- was what was to be known in Black Rock City as the 'Belgian Waffle', a giant structure made entirely of 2 x 4's splashed up the sides into two tunnels. Green lights sprayed on the outside and multi-colored lights danced on the inside among shadows of playans swaying to the DJ beats.
The rest of the week is pretty much a blur, best to be told linked by experience rather than linked by days. I spent much of my time at BRC Zu (located at 3:00 & Brave), a very tight-knit Seattle Theme Camp with a reputation for monkey business. I DJ'ed there on Wednesday and ate dinner there on Thursday evening. The dinner was a true playa gift. It was a 5-coarse meal. The Zu animals were out playing and serving, keeping our wine glasses full and our bellies laughing. It was a full dinner show and fun as well. Tuesday night for me was another playa gift. Jeremy Ball was filling some slots for friends at Camp Lemuria (2:00 & Fate). The camp was beautifully lit with El Wire Art and a DJ booth that looked like a spaceship. The sound system was fantastic. On that Tuesday night, unfortunately, there wasn't much foot traffic. But the Rockstar Orphans & the BRC Zu kidz, as always, were there to dance and cheer me on.
The most special gift in playing at Lemuria was that in the distance, I could see the Seattle Memorial Temple, the Temple of Light. This project was important to me, not only because I related to the kids in my communities who were killed, but also because many chances I'd had to help with the Temple were lost by something else going on in my life. Either I was working or DJ'ing or involved in family events. I've had one of the busiest summers of my entire life and I didn't find time to help on this amazing project. Yet by the luck of the playa, I was able to sing to those whose lives are celebrated within it's Light. I'd dedicated a mix to their struggle and was able to play it to them. I was gifted the opportunity to show them that even though I hadn't known them personally and wasn't able to help with their Memorial that I was still in debted to their sacrifice and am dedicated to bringing those in our community (and those who do not feel they have a community) together. I'd seen the Temple the night before, wrote on it and spoke to them. Their true sacrifice of life will not be lost. Their memories, burnt on Sunday night, were scattered into the air and breathed in by friends, neighbors & strangers -- family. They live on through our breath and through our lives. I sang to them. And they smiled.
part III, coming soon!
