"The world is a fucked up place for a little friendly turtle."
~Anonymous, left at the Story Oasis, Burning Man 2008
You know how you wish for something, and then it appears, like a mirage in the desert? Only it's not a mirage; it's real. That's how I found the Story Oasis at Burning Man.
I didn't even know it was there. I was just out, walking the Playa, following whatever whim called to me. Strangely enough, I had been thinking of a story I wanted to write earlier that morning. And although I had brought paper and pen with me, I didn't want to sit in my tent when there was so much to see and do. And the story was unique to Burning Man as well. So I thought to myself, in the thoughts that I think, that there wasn't any rush; if I were ever to write it, it would only be for my own pleasure. Where would it ever find a home?
And so there I was, on walkabout, just barely conscious of the wish that there should be a place here for writers to write. And then there it was: a modest hut, providing shade, paper and pens, and typewriters. And you know. Well. I just had to, didn't I.
And right after I sat down, a lovely man on a bicycle, with an ice chest in tow, arrived and offered to fix me a drink. A gin and tonic, to be exact. So I sat there in the shade of the Story Oasis, drinking my drink as the desert winds blew and the sun began its slow descent, and I wrote.
About that same time, the owner and creator of the Story Oasis came along to change the battery which ran the typewriters. I was really glad I got to meet Ben and tell him in person what a brilliant idea his oasis was.
And now? The stories created there can be read online. I haven't found mine yet--I've only read through Wednesday morning. I think I was there Thursday or Friday afternoon. There is a wide variety of ramblings, quotations, stories, and poems. The quote above is my favorite so far.
So... go! Go see the Story Oasis and discover more. Click here.
