Wow....thats amazing. Its funny how much we subconsciously spend trying to NOT be like our parents....great work

My biggest lesson was health related, general uprise in my own soul wanting to do better for my body. My mind wanted to kick ass so much more than my body would let me.

On the brighter side of learning, I did build tremendous self confidence out there this year!!! I just felt good about myself and BRC respnded with subtle and not so subtle symbols of why Super Me is pretty awesome. NOt that I was having a huge issue with it before, but I do teter from time to time, and it felt really good to be effective in our city and have people take note. I dont ask for it, so the gift came at me from a fun angle.

Neon, you blow me away.

It's the hardest thing to do, and also the easiest thing to do - once you've done it. Good work.

08 was my first burn. I moved from Colorado to California in August of 08, Burning Man marked the end of one period in my life and the beginning of a new one. I left my old worn out life and expectations behind along with my family and friends in exchange for the opportunity to experience something new and different. I was not disappointed; the costumes, interactive art, drugs, and people blew my mind. I spend the next year building on my experiences from Burning Man 08.

This year I felt like I was coming home. I knew what to expect, I was prepared and I was ready to participate and share everything I had been working so hard on. My new life came with its own set of responsibilities and challenges that had an enormous affect on my experience this year. I am in a fulfilling relationship with the man I went to Burning Man 08 with - Scott. Due to school (he has started working on his second bachelor’s degree) he did not arrive until Thursday. I scored an early arrival pass and the opportunity to help a large theme camp setup. I was really looking forward to participating in the community. This created an enormous amount of tension between us with everything from packing to energy levels. He has decided that were not going next year – in fact we are not going until he finishes school again (3+ years).

At the end of the week I was mentally and physically exhausted I had been on the playa for nine days and enjoyed every minute of it. When people asked how Burning Man was I bubble with excitement and try to choose one story to share with them. Scott did not have such a good time; he arrived with an uncertain class schedule and homework hanging over his head expecting to be disappointed. Sunday morning we threw everything in the trailer and made a hasty exit - right in the middle of exodus. I’m embarrassed that I wasn’t even able to say goodbye to my friends I had made in camp.

Now I am struggling to find a way to bring Burning Man home with me. I love to sew, create, and craft things. Last year I spent a great deal of time working on things to bring to Burning Man. Since my chances of attending next year are looking slim I am having a hard time finding a reason to work on any of the projects I so greatly enjoyed.

Help – what do I do? what am I suppose to learn from all this?

Great subject. I guess I'm saying I don't know what to say. I still haven't quite got over whatever illness hit me the night of the Burn and between that and life I feel cheated of any time to reflect. BMan was odd for me this my second time in that there were no great revelations-- oh wait, that is so false.

I joined the playa choir, and though it is non-religious it is very spiritual. I am very non-religious and what I learned (a lesson that may or may not stick) is that I have been neglecting my spiritual side way too long. I don't know what I worship but singing is how I worship it, and to get back into the swing of singing is a goal this year's Burn helped me to set. Now, as for actually meeting that goal ....

I've always tended to be somewhat circumspect in my behavior in the default world. Not one to rock the boat in dress or conduct, however much I wanted to. At each burn I've attended I've had this continuing lesson in self-expression that has to do with how much I suppress my creative instincts most of the year, then try to air them out and be authentically expressive in 5-7 days.

At first it feels strange, then somewhat liberating, then things start to kick in about the time the burn is ending. This burn I was somewhat more ready and let my freak flag fly, which translated means I let my expressive instincts as much room to breathe as they needed. And it was fun, and felt authentic, not forced.

Now that I'm back to my reality channel, I've let my burner fashion sense seep into my daily life. I still get the deer-in-headlights feeling at times feeling different but enjoying it nevertheless.