Tutu Tuesday was a miss for us. I had a multicolored ribbon tutu that I had planned to wear, but it flew high on my bike pole with LED lights and a Chinese lantern. Trust me, it looked better up there and not on my child-bearing hips:) Teri and her tutu were not to be seen:)
Since Teri and I were not present for camp set-up and striking camp, we were the designated ice retrievers and water fillers. Teri was due in on Wednesday on a Burner Bus, but we had no clue when she would arrive.
My temporary handicap sticker was validated at the DMV (Department of Mutant Vehicles) with a camp-mate who drove her car. What a great feeling to know I was going to be an asset to the camp with a pink Burner handicap flag! (I could not lift, carry, pull or push anything with left arm)
We headed down to fill up our 5 gallon collapsable water jugs and tried not to slip in the “slip” of playa dust and water resembling a pottery studio. We turned around to leave and spotted Teri across the way–groping her way around the bus depot as she waited for her luggage! Serendipity! We filled her four jugs and headed for camp.
Teri and I settled into our Shiftpod in the burning heat of mid-day. As any post-menopausal or thyroid inflicted female knows, heat, humidity and sun are not our best friends, but we are not whiners. We opened our tent flaps and tied wet scarves and neck fans around our necks to organize our mutual space and went to work.
We are OCD and anal housekeepers. What a joke. Playa dust. Tight space. Two crazy cleaning fools trying to organize costumes and suitcases filled with more than we needed and our she-pee area .(More on that later) And where do we put our dirty, dusty boots?
A ” Camp Nailed It” sign with our names graced our entrance. We had our own trash bag and were instructed NO MOOP (matter out of place). Federal lands prohibit any speck of sequin, feather, paper, crumb or particle be left behind! We were conscientious “moopers”.
The camp hugged and embraced my friend and we hung under the shade structure watching the parade of humanity pass by. Many stopped by for adult beverages as we tried to stay hydrated with good old water in this new harsh environs. Our camelbacks were our best friends, filled with water, snacks, dust masks, head lamps, goggles, chapstick, Kleenex/toilet paper and our ID.
Tuesday night was white night. How spectacular is it to see 80,000 people dressed all in white? Feathers, sequins, body paint, naked, glitter ponies and hippies dressed in white– all trooping to the Esplanade for the dance parties. We were so excited to be part of a happening of epic proportions for two beautiful friends of my daughter and her husband.
Friends of the future Mr. and Mrs. gathered at the Playground for the rave under a dark desert sky. It felt like the largest indoor dome laser light show imaginable. I felt like i was in the 60’s and 70’s on steroids. Beautiful bodies dressed in beautiful outfits. Music reverberated through our bodies and souls. I wanted to be 20, but i was so glad to be 70. The energy was magnificent. (Fun reading your blogs:)!
Correction: The White Night was at “The Playground” for “the White Party”. Distrikt (known for day parties) is the camp nearby to where Dawn camped and on the other side of the Playa.)
The circle of fifty friends encircled a tall, handsome, fabulously-dressed friend, waiting for his butterfly to stop flitting and return to the circle of friends she thought were gathered in camaraderie. When he knelt on bended knee and proposed, we all cried with her. What a special way to celebrate!
We floated home in our hearts, as we cycled back to our tents. It was a magical evening.