Oct 01, 2005 11:24
So, first Critical Mass since returning to Chicago. Fucking awesome. The weather was absolutely perfect, the vibe was really relaxed and fun, and the ride was nice and long. A very little amount of aggro, but in the year+ I've been riding Chicago Mass, I've discovered that if a ride only has one or three confrontations of any real content, it's a damned good ride.
The ride ended in Lincoln Square, and I hung around with some of the Burner folxen I've met since I got back to Chicago. There was practice fire-spinning in the alley while I tried to figure the logistics of potential party-hopping. Along the way I had the first opportunity to chat with the Pirate since before the burn, and it went surprisingly well. A little tension still left hanging in the air, and she mentioned still nursing some anger. Reflecting on the way things went, I'm not at all sure I blame her. We agreed that at some point in the near future, it would be nice to try and catch up, maybe swap stories and photos from the burn, and try to get re-acquainted with the people we each liked before the fit hit the shan. Or at least, that's the impression I got, and I hope I'm right, because it would be nice to smooth over that particular wrinkle.
Then, someone said, "We're doing acid... You want some?" And we were off!
...
At some point, Mark from Spunn showed up and put on the most intensely beautiful, right-up-close, jaw-dropping-holy-fuck-that's-incredible demonstration of fire spinning I've seen to date. Thank you, Mark; I'm honored that my lighter was used to help that happen.
...
Later, much later, someone said, "You're going to be up till eleven anyway, you want some E to take the edge off?"
Bing!