Because I Love This, I Am Never Bored.

Now, I want you to understand something before I go on and on. And yes, I AM about to go on and on. Some time around summer solstice, I melted into a giant wet puddle and would have stayed like that for the rest of my life (going on like a wet blanket) if the summer (with all these loving friends and the 9 glorious days that reached shockingly high temperatures in the low 90's) hadn't come along, mopped me up and finally put me to good use. So allow me this. I want to tell you about the 10 special days I spent on the 8 at the Oregon Country Fair in the sacred woods outside Eugene. And yes, I really do want to tell you about getting grounded in the woods at Tenmile, as well as the 10-mile hike through old growth (in coastal woods that would be just perfect for geocaching). I want to go on and on about frolicking with real-life fairies during a very real mid-summer night's dream and witnessing those talented musicians onstage at the top of Cougar Mountain.

I really will tell you about the gutted, converted school bus my friends painted and filled with couches and all the trappings to ferry us to the Burning Man. I could write a thousand blog posts about our week on the playa in Black Rock City--the sunrises and sunsets, that epic neon double rainbow...the fairies and bunnies and all the beautiful, intelligent freak flags that were flying high. I've got to tell you about the art...and the music...and how incredible it was to be on United States soil (or alkaline dust more like it) but meet just as many people from all over the world as I did Americans. Oh, and how we almost literally weren't even on planet Earth for this entire time.

I have to take it slow though, because this summer was a summer of healing, and that healing is precious. My REI lightweight camping gear got packed and unpacked constantly, and I swear more nights than not this summer I had use for my headlamp. I had the pleasure of loving Oregon in a way I'd never given myself time to before. All that time spent at the coast, on Mt Hood, in the desert rafting on the Deschutes, and cozy time in Eugene and Portland really did me right. Summer was like one giant decompression. And trust me, I needed it! I'll get to some of it. But for now, I must bask in a summer well lived.

At top, my dusty gypsies basking in the sunrise outside the temple at dawn (me in the gold turban and puffy pink Missoni coat). Also from the playa, biking from a wine tasting (no doubt) to a roller rink (obviously) with Taran midday, and last... my favorite art car. Reminds me of my Grandma Louise and the butterflies I used to draw for her. These wings really flapped.