This is a photo journal of this year's first and only January
Appalachian Trail Burn. “WHY did you go to Pennsyltucky in
January?”, you shout. Ahem. I am not a fool, if that’s what you are
getting at. Well, okay, I am a fool in a lot of ways, many of them
very important ways. But I have a friend who deserves to be seen.
And she was.
It all started long before the photo, Yoohoo! Tooty Frooty!, and
you can read about that at the end. (Don’t worry, you are not
reading a flashback.) In that photo you can see that I’m on a train
waving in the bitter cold without gloves. That’s it. There’s no story
there, just Michele and I horsing around. She’s fun to horse around
with. You can probably horse around with her at Burning Man this
year.
We practiced Burning during my visit, see Transporting the Man.
We made it to the Trail intact and giddy; you know how that can be.
We unloaded the Man and began a search for the perfect location,
see Got the Man in the Bag. We found a choice site and set up.
We partied our asses off in 16 ways! Awesome events were
happening. Everyone was expressing themselves while no one
watched. Miracles! Healings! Profound is an understatement.
It’s amazing how you meet people at these things. We made all
kinds of new friends. People are different in Appalachia, see New
Friends.
At the end of it all we loaded the man with all kinds of non-toxic
combustible materials and let her rip! (See The Burn photo) We
were all gathered around the glow for I don’t know how long. Time
slips away. Who cares anyway?
Unfortunately, our inexperience showed itself in the remains, see
Leave No Trace. I tucked it all away in it’s matchbox home and off
we went - changed.
An hour or so later:
I’m in the toilet at the airport. Pondering the recent events, I startle.
I have to clear security with freshly burned bits in my pocket! What
are the chances the uniformed wand bearer is a Burner? A Burner
would understand. I took my chances and didn’t throw it away. It
all means too much to me. Other than the Highly Contagious Mr.
Nameless coughing next to me and the Hollaring WeeOne behind me
on the plane, the drama was over.
Thank you all for sharing in the hope of my lifetime for unbridled
creativity and for loving as hard as you can.
I love you too.
Importantly, the materials and inspiration for this adventure was gifted
by Mike Tarrant of Blinky Red Things Camp, Hushville, a
remarkable fella. Thanks a million, Mike!
Jan