Then I read Catling's journal. And holy shit, I began to get it. I was practically moved to tears reading the power and emotion that came through her journal. The amount of experience that was lived in such a short amount of time made me look at my what I thought exciting existence, and wonder if I knew what life was truly about. Now suddenly I get what all my NY friends were talking about... why for the past 3 years they have not stopped trying to convice me to attend.
After Catling's journal... I explored the web once again. But this time, I gravitated towards actual accounts of experiences. I read up on the Burning Man livejournal community, and read first timers experiences, and tried to envision the images they described in words. I then revisited the photos... and I am experiencing huge regret that I will never see the Temple of Joy in person. How I wish I could have seen it... experience it. I have a few names I would have liked to add to it...
Suddenly, I get Burning Man. Suddenly, I really want to go. I almost feel like I need to go. To live that experience.
The inner jew in me is thankful that a year must pass before the next Burning Man, and I can remember all the reasons why I have not gone in the first place. Survival skills, desert, heat, sun, survival skills, sunburn...