We pine for higher ceilings...

The Submarines- You, Me, and Bourgeoisie
Video sent by NettwerkMusic

After California, I finagled my way back to Telluride about 8 hours ahead of schedule. My flights were set to leave at 2:30 PM and then 9:30 PM from Denver to Durango, which wouldn't put me into the majestic canyon until about midnight. I wasn't having that. I arrived at the San Francisco airport at 4:45 am to attempt stand-by for the 6:00 am flight. The line for luggage was horrendous and it sounded to me that EVERYBODY around me wanted to get to Denver and be on that exact flight. I was patient and kind with all the attendants and the guy behind the counter looked like he appreciated it. He bumped me to the top of the list, which was about 4th out of 26 people.

I watched my name slip down the list to 19th, as people were added. I didn't understand. I went to the counter and tried my patience and politeness trick again. This lady was not having it. She told me "yes, your name would move down as people were added." I struggled to not say anything back and sat back down. Watching the screen, I saw that United Plus members had more umph on the scale, so I waiting until angry lady was busy and asked the other woman if being a mileage plus member would bump me up on the list. She said "why yes it does." So I gave her my membership number and vavoom! I was back up at number 6 on the stand-by list. Now, this didn't mean anything, really . . . I had to wish that 6 people slept in and couldn't get through the baggage madness in time to get on their Denver flight. Everybody boarded the plane and the crowd had emptied out around me. It wasn't looking so hot. Angry lady called my name and as I walked up to her, she said "you're very lucky" as if she had wished I missed the plane.

If I hadn't gotten on this plane, I would have missed the connecting flight to Durango and still would have arrived in Telluride around midnight, and ALSO spent the entire day in airports. Yeah for that not happening.

Jackie was in Telluride waiting patiently with our friend from high school Jay and his pup Daizy. We rolled in around 4 pm, just in time to begin setting up tents and claim a sweet vendor camping sitche for Kim's van. We parked it nose in on this camper, nestled amongst the bushes and so very close to the watering spigot. We met the camper men. Their names were Brian Merrick and Bart. Brian owns the camper, but also lives in Telluride, so they set it up more for a party zone at the venue. All these guys had backstage passes even though they barely had to lift a finger's work during the festival. Fun!

Jackie and I didn't get many pictures . . . so sad. But we did see David Byrne in the most exciting mind-space and we met Conor Oberst. Other than that, the entire event was a fantastically tragic time to say goodbye to. You ride the high of these amazing festivals and people speak of the withdrawal they go through after it's all over. I like the light these moments shed on my perspective. I am still riding that high - perhaps it is because I am still in Telluride and still hanging out with the people I was so fortunate to meet that weekend.

love can free us from all excess - from our deepest debts - 'cause when our hearts are full we need much less