January 31: Love Burn

I arrived on Virginia Key Miami about 4pm and it took about four hours for me to chill. The dropping temperature made it a little easier. So did a huge bouquet of daisies, a hot meal, and sipping some butter pecan moonshine purchased in Georgia more than a year ago and just found hidden in the back of a drawer. 

The day began with Sunshine waking me up too early, then finding a Publix with no room for me to park, driving three hours through Miami traffic because I wouldn’t go on I95, jumping a curb to get out of a hotel entrance I entered by mistake, and screamed when I thought I was being forced to drive over the bridge. Thankfully, I was able to turn into Windsurfer Beach on the Rickenbacker Causeway where I waited to be rescued. Walking in the sand brought some relief. Travis drove Karmalita over the 2.4 mile causeway and the 1.2 mile flyover bridge named after Eddie, a World War I flying ace and founder and president of Eastern Air Lines based in Miami. I wanted to hug Travis for driving in the left lane to keep me closer as far as possible from the edge.

Rebecca helped me check in, then lead me to the staff area along with her family and members of the Leave No Trace team. We’re away from the main event area, so I expect less ruckus. For decades, I’d wanted to go to Burning Man, but the logistics were overwhelming and I aged out of the desire. Well, this event began as a burner event, but not adhering to a few rules (such as no Door Dash or Uber Eats deliveries and no leaving and then returning) caused a break from the official organization, yet the event is considered the best experience after the main event. I don’t have a party bone in my body, so how much I participate is still to be determined. But I’m here, and there’s a burner vibe coupled with the full moon and I’ll be soaking up the energy.