I arrived in Black Rock City at sunset. Traffic clogged the entrance, and many of us had to pick up tickets at will-call.
I parked the red minivan and stepped out into my first dust storm. Dust swirled into my Wal-Mart carpenter's goggles and mask - next year I'm wearing a bandanna. You look more like a bandito that way.
After picking up my tickets, after inching through the traffic, I arrived at the head of the line. Two greeters banged on my windows and threw a "What Where When" guide into my car. They said, "Welcome home!" -- I told them it was my first time. Apparently, there's a tradition of "devirginizing" the newcomers with a bell-ringing and spanking ceremony, but they didn't make much of a fuss over me.
Past the gate, there's a 5 m.p.h. speed limit. I crept along, clouds of dust blowing over the car -- I couldn't see anything. My entrance into Burning Man was a secret; I thought of movies where people are blindfolded and then driven to a hidden encampment.
There were signs on the right . . a series of things to make you think, or entertain you, or get you in the spirit of Burning Man. My favorite said,
I lived one day like it was the last day of my life.
. . . . . .
Some people still won't talk to me.
I have a terrible sense of direction. My roommates in San Francisco used to keep quiet when I'd miss our street, just to see how lost I'd get. When I arrived at Burning Man, the map made no sense at all. So I parked, pulled my bike from the van and rode off in search of "Center Camp".
The computers at Center Camp can direct you to your friends -- otherwise, there's no real way to meet up. People often pick their campground when they first arrive. The streets are dark (and on this night, filled with dust). And there are no cellular signals in the desert.
The computer placed my friends at 8:30 and Chance. I rode through the dust, reading each intersection with my dim flashlight. After many u-turns I found my car. After some more u-turns in the car, I spotted Joshua Suzanne and Mike riding out of our dark camp.
I was sooooo thankful!!! After missing my flight, sleeping on airport floors, waiting in turbulence for Dick Cheney and braving a dust storm, all by myself, I told them I officially deserved to be there.