Randy, Jimmy and I head out on Thursday afternoon. Back then, the Man burned on Sunday, so we felt we had plenty of time. We were looking for a camp called “Percussion”, since Jim and Randy had built the “SUDS” Sport Utility Drum Set. We never found them and ended up Camping in Gigsville, as you all know.
My story is about my first ever morning at B-Man. I hadn’t slept much. Too excited, don’t sleep well anywhere but in my own bed anyway, etc. So, I was up early. I’d never seen a sky like that. So incredibly big and blue. No power lines in the way, no trees, nothing.
Just sky. It took my breath.
Art Project #1 – The McDonald’s drive thru
Note the complimentary "McMister" and sate McMuffin
As I set out in search of a porta potty, there were 2 guys in their own camp throwing a football back and forth. As I began to pass them, one of them mis-threw the ball and it landed at my feet. They chastised one another (jokingly) for having mis-thrown the ball and said something about me not being able to catch that even if I’d been Jerry Rice. Well, as a die-hard San Francisco 49er fan, I heartily agreed. (Jerry still played for the 9′ers then, BTW) With that, I was pronounced “awesome” by both guys and gifted with my 1998 Fimo Clay Burning Man pendant. It is, to this day, my most treasured B-Man object. But beyond that, the gifting of it – WOW! I’d never experienced that before. And that simple act was the beginning of a sense of community I’ve yet to experience anywhere else. Except at Burning Man.
- Moonsinger