I felt an overwhelming sadness on that last day. It may have had something to do with the hangover we all experienced from the night before, but I don't think I was alone in my feelings. The burning of the temple, a somber experience and symbol of mourning that will be covered in another post, was scheduled for that night, further validating the feelings I think many shared on that day. When we first arrived at Burning Man, a large "Welcome Home" flag greeted us, and after learning all the streets and the locations of the camps, and getting to know our neighbors, I began to feel very comfortable in my place at Burning Man. In many ways, it did feel like I was leaving home.

Back in San Francisco, I went to a raw vegan restaurant filled with burners called Café Gratitude. There was a couple by the names of Damien and Io sitting across from me cuddled in each other's arms, talking, kissing, smiling widely, and completely enveloped in each other's presence. It turns out that they had met only 4 days ago at Burning Man, and they were passionately in love with each other and ready to move in together. Io, a beautiful woman with dreadlocks who burned for the first time this year, said that she was waiting for Burning Man to change her life as many said it would. The days went by with nothing profound happening until she met the love of her life, and now she can't stop smiling. Coincidentally, the guy, a 12th-year burner, camped just 2 blocks away from our camp in a dome I passed by every day. Their combined energy was truly uplifting. By the end of my three course meal, not only was I abundant, sensational, and lovely, and I was now nearly ecstatic.

As if that wasn't enough, just as I left the bathroom, I witnessed the most random act. The entire restaurant grew silent as everyone's attention focused on a gray-haired man who started yodeling at the back of the restaurant. When he finished - the audience still completely silent and highly focused - he shouted, "Burning Man!" and everyone cheered.