Meerkat Manor

 

Decompression 2010

The last time we went to Burning Man Decompression was remarkably uneventful.  I was thinking that such events may have lost their magic for me.  Until…

Julian and Jackie at Decompression 2010
The line to get in was many blocks long. This was bizarre. Jackie had me follow her to the front of the line. She spent five minutes chatting with the guard, she made a phone call or two, and we were magically escorted inside. I said that for karma sake we had an obligation to go back to the end of the line, but it was not to be.

We chatted with some very fun folks we had mingled with at a party the day before. I bonded with a sweet lady and sweet lad about how we all tended to smile endlessly.  Fingers poked dimples.
Jackie was telling a story of forgetting people, but remembering bad one's.  Then she told an opposing story of the horrible woman who she shortly after sat next to on an airplane followed by too much alcohol.  Laughter commenced.

A fellow was wearing a Jacket with many containers attached to it which could be opened and closed.  There were messages on the outside and inside of each little “door”.  After a while I realized that the doors were each painted Altoids containers.

But I got antsy. I started zipping through the crowd, and people watching.  Soon it was more about zipping than about watching. Rather than going for the empty places in the street with few people, I was more enjoying a high paced form of worming and zipping and flying my way through the crowds and masses. I thought of it as akin to what Salmon experience. Safety was key! I would often touch a person’s shoulder, show my intended direction with my hands, using lots of fast eye contact, and quickly parting through and darting past endless Burners. It was also surprisingly aerobic. Every few minutes I would come back to Jackie and check-in.  The first time I explained how fun it was to be a salmon.

The next adventure involved provided chalk.  First I went to somebody who was walking very slowly and started circling her feet.  She stopped and smiled. I drew more concentric circles around her feet. I drew arrows pointing to the concentric circles. I ran away and started drawing at the feet of a fellow.  Then a small girl who was catching bubbles.  Then there was the boy sitting on the sidelines who seemed completely bored. I drew a giant arrow pointing at him and wrote that people should love him.  Jackie drew a heard around a woman who was very pleased.  I made many hearts around a man dressed as a bunny, and wrote "Kiss Bunny".  He was delighted.

After the chalk ran out, we walked on and I started experimenting with a “sheep dog” game. People were walking up and down the street, but sometimes there would be a space 10, 15, or 20 feet in diameter that was clear. I would sprint in a circle as fast as possible aiming to keep that area clear. Sometimes people would just go around, other times they would go through. Sometimes folks would end up trapped in the center. People’s reactions ranged greatly. Early on they were two seemingly meek Asian girls who were delayed by my antics.  A few minutes later, as I was sprinting in a circle, one of them chased me down and grabbed me, laughing hysterically. It was awesome! We kept moving to new locations farther down the street.  Within the next 10 minutes, some other woman had mock tackled me.  Shortly after that another guy chased me as I ran in the circle. He always stayed within a few feet of me, and eventually lifted me up and kept running in a circle while carrying me.  Burners are not your average folks.

Things like this can be very dangerous, but my energy and the crowd's energy felt right.
I saw my stunning ex-housemate Megan with her boyfriend, and another gal.  I ran in between them under their legs through to the other side and then back in between their legs and again went through at a different spot.  After several times, I poked my head up and was recognized, followed by many hugs.

Maid Marion was strolling by with her entourage.  I sprinted a circle around them five or six times as they quickly sped on their mission.  Marian slapped my butt the last time and I zipped off.

In the corner of the lawn was an area meant only for people putting on the event. Unless you're special, you could not enter. I stared inside like a wounded puppy. I felt the invisible wall like a mildly retarded mime.  Fairly quickly a nice man came over and asked if I needed something. I commented on how lucky he was to be one of the special people. I also dreamed of being special one-day. He asked “would you like some water or food?” I was grateful, but declined, and was ready to zip off to the next adventure.  Jackie came up behind me and gave me a hug.

I found a giant weather balloon that had a woman with big lips projected onto it.  I dragged over a chair, and stood on my tip toes to get my silhouette to kiss her lips, and was applauded.
I got a hug from Crimson Rose.  I said a quick "hi" to Raspa who was remarkably busy trying to get the sprinklers, which had turned themselves on, turned off.  Burners tread across the increasingly wet lawn.

Then came the glowing frisbee game.  At first it was just normal frisbee.  The lawn was a bit crowded, but the energy seemed to help things to work out.  Bystanders did get hit by the frisbee occasionally, but none seem to mind terribly.  Eventually I started handing the frisbee to bystanders and passerby to get them to join in on the game.  After a while I started playing "Silver Terminator".  I would steadily walk towards the person with the frisbee, giving a time limit to how long one person could hold onto it.  The frisbee game was a blast.

Jackie gave me a large foamcore sign that said "free hugs", which she had found.  With the somewhat Brooklyn hotdog or hot pretzel salesman delivery, I pitched my wares.  I loudly announced to all that they could get their free hugs here.  Half-price.  Two for the price of one.  Act now while supplies last.  Many crazy adventures and hugs resulted.  There were many participants.  At one point a spicy hot black girl and white girl were almost erotically hugging a cute lad in a wheelchair.  They called me over to join their three-way. 

Some folks were asked to pass on a random hug.  The banter continued evolving and the interactions kept getting a bit more cumulatively edgy.  I offered free hugs which would theoretically be given by random folks who happen to be standing nearby.  In the adventures, "with release" was occasionally referred to. 

There was one fun woman who was more hug enthusiastic than all others, insisting on a hug and then another hug to top off the previous hug.  I referred to Charlie and the chocolate factory and said it was time to pass on the legacy.  I handed her the "Free hugs" sign and Jackie and I continued on our journey.

When Jackie and I were finally walking away, we spotted a couple going at it hot and heavy on the side of the lawn.  I announced to the world to come and see the “hottest and best show on the playa” right here.  The woman had an odd smile on as she flipped me off.

A fellow was staring at a large sculpture of a blue human face. I commented that it looked calm, but had eaten three people.

I held Jackie's hand and we salmon surfed through the crowd, hand-in-hand.  We admired some Jackson Pollock style paintings which often had fairly explicit nudes on top of the abstract.  After a while the light went out.  I tracked down the cord and re-plugged in the chord which was 40 feet away.  We ran into Bink.  A very sweet lady was willing to give him a hug on my behalf. 

I spoke with a very large very sweet Burner man and asked if he would do me a favor.  He was very eager to help.  I asked if he would give my friend Bink a nonconsensual hug.  His look of bewilderment was perfect.  He was very friendly, but eventually declined due to the "nonconsensual" nature.

We had a wonderful time bonding with folks we met while walking back to the car after the event.  We picked up our shiny bikini clad, poi spinning housemate and zipped home. 

Memorable interactions can be so delicious.