BM2K7 Playa ROM Playa Prologue First Day A Busy Day The Man Burns Early Rebuilding the Man A Very Full Night and Day Kidsville Happenings The Man Burns The Temple of Forgivenesss Burns Return to the Default World Decompression
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Burning Man 2007: Kidsville Happenings
31 August 2007
It's another graveyard LEAL shift. I pass through the Center Camp Café to get another hot chocolate. I just love the lights inside, the el-wire arch, the snap of the fluttering flags. I'm a lucky guy.
All slept out, I spend today with my camera, trying to record a bit more of life in Kidsvillle, which is divided into four quadrants, Toddlers, Teens, Orphans, and Carmudgeons. Our RV and shade structure is located at the center, on the piazza.
Because of the tension on the trampoline between the little kids and the big kids, time is broken into chunks in an ad hoc manner, depending largely upon demand. Here, at midday, it's so hot that some adults take advantage of the shade to hang out with some teens.
Rose - my darling wife an Ranger Widow - runs the homestead. Someone is riding Lila's bicycle while Lila has a new hula hoop. Rose seems to be dealing with some issue or another.
One of the great things about Kidsville is all the things available to the wee ones. We're not a babysitting service: parents are expected to be responsible for their offspring 24/7 (some parents do barter shifts, but that's a private matter rather than a village issue). What was I saying? Oh, yes, activities for the wee ones. Besides lots of parents running movie nights, potlatches, and lots of other activities (like story time, seen here), lots of camps make it a point to swing through with activities for kids. It's so appreciated.
Here's a panoramic look from the edge of our shade structure looking into the center of Kidsville. The sunnier it's outside the more family groups take advantage of our shade, which is exactly as it should be.
Kidsville: always something to do and someplace to go. Kids have a place that is theirs, and that's so important while they're growing up.
This is the ever-popular YUM! crew, actually the second-generation bunch, the original guys having passed on their creation last year. YUM! needs a bit of explaining: they're food scientists, playing around with a bunch of base food items and mixing and matching them into tasting like anything you can shout out, from hamburgers with pickles and mustard to fried shrimp with hosin sauce, from blueberry ice cream to curried lamb.
The kids crowd up and around the YUM! car, bombarding the crew with request after request, opening their little mouths to get the mixtures. It's never the kids that give up, and the YUM! crew bravely work with them for a good long time in the hot sun.
Thank you YUM!sters, your visits have been terribly appreciated over the years.
High winds are threating to break this PVC and duct tape shade structure over one of the trampolines. (That's our shade structure and RV in the background.) For the record, I abhor PVC and duct tape for this sort of use. It just doesn't hold up to the stress to be expected on the playa. Don't let this be you.
Another whiteout hits Black Rock City, resulting in a scramble to get aboard an art bus (and out of the wind and dust). Others are gamely struggling along on foot or bicycle. This, too, shall pass.
Back in Kidsville one of the Spoon Camp folks pops on over. Nice portrait!
One of the most memorable moments of Burning Man 2007, other than the early immiolation of the Man, was the double rainbow that graced our fair city. Everything stopped; people everywhere ran for their digital cameras. Here's a panorama of the event.
Here's my sweetie with the double rainbow. It was much brighter than my camera was able to capture.
Seeing I had my camera out, neighbors came running over to have this moment preserved. Glad to oblige, fun neighbors.
The photographer, alas, is rarely captured. I'm trying, but I wasn't terribly successful. Check out the dust on my forehead and arms, from guiding traffic and helping disoriented citizens in the just-finished whiteout. That's pretty much what I look like for the whole event.
Another neighbor comes out for a pose. The rainbow is fading now, not to return.
Lila (left) was very proud of her excellent bicycle-riding skills. I'm pretty sure that's Saffron at right. (Z, am I right?)
Our next door neighbor, Robin, took this moment of calm and clear to start dinner. It was still rather hot while she was over the grill.
A few steps more, other neighbors have just finished dinner and are relaxing in the dusk-to-be. Day is done, it's warm, and the evening is promising.
People are setting up their portable vanities, getting primped up for a fun night. Another neighbor has the mirror out, the make-up ready, and some time set aside for getting ready. This scene was repeated all over the camp, everywhere I turned.
I head over to Ranger HQ to get a fresh radio battery and see the Lamplighters getting ready for their evening dispersal of oil lamps all over the city. It's a sight I never tire of, even after all these years.
Here's Lila and her posse; yep, she's still on the bike. Even the kids are starting to wind down, the heat of the day passing, everyone back in camp, enjoying food (much of it potlatch) and conversation and trampoline time.
The first evidence of Kidsville you're likely to notice as you stroll on by is Pink Purl Camp, always a lovely presence.
More neighbors, post-dinner, getting ready for the evening. I love the diversity of the kids: their ages, their ethnic backgrounds, their experiences. It's such a good thing for all to see others.
On the other side of us is this happy bunch of campers, finishing up their evening meal. Nice shade structure, nice relaxed attitude.
The Kidsville burn barrel is loaded (mostly by Isaac and a few adults) and set ablaze. (I never knew Isaac was such a pyromaniac!) The kids stand around, play, sing, chat. No bicycles near the fire; too unpredictable.
Speaking of getting all primped up for the evening, we cover our kids with glowing fashion: sticks, bracelents, el-wire, you name it. If you can't see it you can't avoid it. (Yes, she's still on the bike!!!)
Chocolate-faced Isaac, mesemerized by the fire, chomping on smores. (The smores win.) He's got an extra-short haircut because it's so much easier to care for on-playa.
The kids are put to bed. Quiet reigns, in our RV at least.
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