One of the ten principles of Burningman is “gifting”, which is a tough call when you are flying in from a distance and have already packed two suitcases and shipped most of your supplies to San Francisco. What will be meaningful or fun without leaving a paper trail, MOOP (matter out of place on the desert floor) or fit back in someone’s belongings to return home? The gifting is unconditional and there are no strings attached, but it cannot be large under my circumstances.

I love the idea of everyone I meet being a piece to my puzzle and I would like to believe I might, albeit unknowingly, carry a piece to theirs. The idea that there are thousands of unknown souls wandering around at Burningman with stories and interesting lives I have not heard is exciting. My favorite poem in the world by Harold Kushner said it best.

“Some seem to be born with a nearly completed puzzle.

And so it goes.

Souls going this way and that

Trying to assemble the myriad parts.

But know this. No one has within themselves

All the pieces to their puzzle.

Like before the days when they used to seal

jigsaw puzzles in cellophane. Insuring that

all the pieces were there.

Everyone carries with them at least one and probably

Many pieces to someone else’s puzzle.

Sometimes they know it.

Sometimes they don’t.

And when you present your piece

Which is worthless to you.

To another, whether you know it or not,

Whether they know it or not,

You are a messenger from the Most High”.

Gerald Kushner “Honey From The Rock”

One year I read about someone doing a project with journals mailed all over the world, hoping they would return. With that thought in mind, I am bringing four moleskin journals with the title on the cover, “What Brings You To Burningman? I plan to distribute them every day and ask for them to go into the Playa and return to me with insights. Hopefully, I will be able to sit with some of the people I meet and hear their stories in person. I have my card taped inside with the request for them to be filled and returned and will remain optimistic that some will return. It is a gift, but to myself. It remains to be seen whether I will be a gift to them!

Along the same lines of gifting, despite the fact these are gifts to me, I have some treasures from friends and family tucked in my belongings. The charm necklace includes a jingle bell my Dad used to wear as Santa when i was a child; one of his dog tags from the Army; my Mom’s silver cross; an Irish charm given to me from a Ya-Ya symbolizing friendship and  my husband’s engraved key chain I purchased for his college graduation.

One of my Ya-Ya’s, Molly, who was the best friend of my life and like a sister, passed away close to ten years ago. I took beads, charms, ribbons, and made a set of prayer beads to  hold during her worst times. Her children returned them to me and they will be around my neck, with additions from friends and family included. My mother-in-law gave me a piece of her wedding headress to weave in. I feel like I am bringing my friends and family with me.

My twin gave me a fur vest; my sister Meg knit a fun hat and my friend Lydia crocheted a necklace. A Colorado mother/daughter team created beautiful jewelry for my night-time outfits. (Sascha was a Maqua camper!) This trip is more than me disappearing into the dusty desert, it is a spiritual journey. Other friends gave me wild jewelry, items they thought I would need that are practical, and although I resist having any expectations, I believe this trip will change me in some way. Stay tuned!