Dear SF0,

I made the acquaintance of most of the core of "Old School" MN0 the spring and summer of 2005. A girl on the edge of multiple breakdowns and in the midst of the worst social anxiety I've ever suffered, I found Star5, and immediately knew that she was some to whom I wanted to open up as much as I could afford to. In return, she convinced me to get in a van with people who were mostly new acquaintances to me, drive non-stop, further west than I have ever been, and set up camp in a city that exists a week out of every year, and is filled with the strangest and most amazing things you will ever find.

She and MN0 brought me to Burning Man.

I returned again in 2006, trekking out a week early with Star5 to help the Center Camp Cafe do set up. I have not been back again, though I have wanted to. This year, we were split about half and half, those of us who did not go, and those that did, and it occurred to me, to send something in my place, as my friend Danger D. Hotrod had, many a time before. But what could take the place of Inky? What would be open to new experience and voices, thirsty for words, willing to piece itself apart and take on new people in spite of all of its shyness? Postcards, my loves.

When my job at a photography nonprofit ended last fall, I purchased a few hundred postcards that had not sold at the closing sale, because I wanted to see them put to good use. The photographer, a local professor, had left me mostly with two types of postcard, both in black and white: a stack of dusty hardcover books (so appropriate!), and a man's back with a single diamond of light painted across his back. There were a few postcards of elephants, an animal to which I am much endeared as well.

I took a day and wrote my address on 100 postcards, and handed them to Star5 and Kannon, to put my postcard stamps upon and allocate to friends and strangers on the playa. It seems as though Star5 has kept about half of these postcards for mischievous future exploits, and Kannon kept one that she decided ought not be sent for some reason, but I have now stopped receiving postcards, and have decided that it is time to post the task. 23 missives, from friends and strangers.  I shall update this if I receive more.

Love,
Inky