Be Yourself

Several years ago a student asked if I knew what the Burning Man Festival was. It was hard to admit to a hip, young Italian guy that I'd never heard of an event in the desert where a small city appears and disappears in 9 days leaving no trace of its existence. Information at that time was hard to come by because in addition to being topless, moneyless and showerless, the attendees were also cell phoneless; meaning it was about as easy to find on the internet as my island used to be. But the little I did discover led me to the conclusion that although it's a place where almost anything goes, I wouldn't be going.

It wasn't until meeting a hip, old(er) American guy last month that I was asked about the Burning Man again. And though I was wearing a turtleneck sweater and sipping tea in Venice he didn't ask if I knew WHAT the Festival was, he asked if I'd ever been; because if not, he was sure it was the perfect place for me.  

This time there was no need to Google. I learned all about the Burning Man from an 85-year-old man that decided to go by himself last year. The reason he thought it was my style wasn't for the drinking, drugs and various forms of nudity, it was because he thought I'd love camping in the desert, pedalling through the sandy streets to admire amazing art and bartering instead of buying. Hearing that it wasn't 'all hell breaks loose' and hallucinations my interest was aroused until the final pitch, "It's a place you can totally be yourself."  

That's when my waxing interest waned. If there's one place I don't want to be it's with a bunch of people that are only themselves 9 days a year. Where are these free spirits when I really need them? If they'd come out to play every day, I wouldn't be the only weirdo driving with the top down in January, mixing plaid and stripes and eating pizza in the car with cloth napkins and candles.

In any case, I appreciate my peculiarity being appreciated by Ron, a Burning (with desire to live) Man. I can only hope that our brief exchange in Italy might remind him to be himself the other 356 days a year, too.