2018 - Second Quarter, in pics!

 This is a part of my self-care, processing everything after the 2024 election. Going back through these pictures is something I always wanted to do, and chronicle my life, but now seems to be the time. Time for introspection, and also visiting those times. I remind myself that now, when I started, for 2018, Trump was in office at that time, and we survived. 

Without further ado, here is what happened the SECOND Quarter of 2018, in the life of Gemini:

April

This was the first Easter with Bri and Shane living with us. Those babies so TINY!

Now that they are bigger, I understand how precious all these memories are!

I wanted to have an experience working on a large art project for 2018, so I chose the Temple. It was called Galaxia, and it was awesome. I didn't swing a hammer or anything, but I helped where I could. This was the first meeting, in Reno, at the Generator's past location off Ice House I think, where Arthur, the main artist/architect, was addressing the assembled masses. The second photo is of Micah, a man I have known since he was a child. He has grown into an interesting human and man.

More Morris. This is where an artist who is still in our town, came to Reno and fell in love, got his start. He makes amazing 3D art that really needs the glasses to fully be appreciated. This was an in-progress shot in the hallway

A silly picture of Bri, with Griz not sure what happened to his mom. 

And then here himself is, looking majestic as F

I'm a unicorn!

Oh, Anissa. At this time, she was a best friend. I still think of her, and it makes me sad how some people can put things above lifelong friendship.

In volunteer capacity with Burning Man, each year, we have a Town Hall. This was this years:

For awhile, I worked with a group of people that were working on food insecurity in the downtown corridor, or I suppose, in general. The group was called "On Common Ground" and it no longer exists, but it was fun for awhile. This was a five-check cookoff event they did.

These are the murals at the front of the Morris, when they were finished. These also no longer exist, they were beautiful and honored two folks who meant a lot to our community

There was a lot of amazing, creative energy that went into the Morris. I believe our community has never recovered from the loss of this resource existed, as twisted and weird as the whole thing became.

And....in juxtaposition to the beauty of that art, we then experienced vandalism where someone broke the glass windows that at the front of the Morris

For over twenty years now, I have volunteered for the Reno Jazz Festival. This year was special because all the vocal adjudicators were women, and that made me feel empowered! Then there are a few who have become friends/friendly over the years...Sara Gazarek, who won a Grammy last year, and CJ, who's a super star for many reasons

May

Oh, my Cylus! I am so glad I captured so many of these seemingly ordinary moments that aren't ordinary at all, they are all precious. We took the kids to Reds 395 BBQ in Carson, I think this was when we were going to get a tractor for the property, or something. At any rate, we had an awesome meal, the kids got a great experience and we had Anissa's daughter as our server. 

Ahhh, the aforementioned tractor and BUS land!

Sunrises and Sunsets at the bus always inspire me, and I never get tired of capturing them!

Our first container delivered to the property! Now it is so second nature to us to have it and the others, but really, this was the beginning

My sassy daughter and her sassy daughter! Generations!

AWESOME customer service moments from the Morris

Oh, Joshua. The beautiful bald man at the center of this picture is Joshua. He was an amazing healer, musician and human. I attended a few sound healings that he performed in the Reno area. Sadly, during the Pandemic, he found himself in a dark place he was not able to get out of, and he took his own life. I honor him here, and hope he knows how very many people's lives he was able to affect with his gifts. His life mattered. 

Bus time with the kids!

A lovely pano from out at the bus. I don't think this size necessarily does it justice. 

Cylus. RAWR

June

Morris, the cat. 

Tahoe with my Bestie!

 

Nature! Beauty!

More camping, took the kids with us when we went to the MRS, which started with a trip to see their dad at work. 

I think this was their first camping trip, I'm pretty sure. They were dirty, and they loved it. We loved it too. Being the grand parents is the best!

Miss Melanie graduated from Kinder this year!

The MRS, where Dan got some quality fishing time in

When Bri sent me proof they had been awesome at the dentist!

For a couple years, we had Ranger training at the Morris!

Time of sadness. I believe on the Summer Solstice of  2018, Larry Harvey, one of the master minds of Burning Man, passed away after a stroke. RIP, and, Thanks, Larry

While we had the kids, Bri and Shane were able to go to the Cali Roots Festival. This is them on their adventures

Cylus had a great birthday, this year. I believe this was Boomtown, and the big scary yellow cage of sensory overload! And Presents!

In 2018, I took my first Diversity class. I'm so glad. When we know better, it is incumbent on us to do better. I am so glad I went down this path and was open to ingesting this information and learning how varying systems of oppression affect different populations.

When this picture was taken, I would have told you that JJ was one of my closest friends and that we genuinely cared about each other as humans. I no longer believe that. Now, it represents a cautionary tale about never being too trusting in certain situations. ANYONE can be thrown away, or attempted to be thrown away. There is no such thing as loyalty for some people. 

Finally, for Q2, we have done some awesome things. One of them is that someone else I know from Burning Land, for a couple years, put a sculpture park of Burning Man art in downtown Reno for the City and it's denizens to enjoy. I didn't really have anything to do with it, but I went and supported. And I love that my community was ABLE to do these things. It shows what's possible.

Back to Peace....Recognizing the lessons so we don't have to repeat them, and remembering the good times. 

Love.