Returning to America was the big event of 2008. I wanted to come back in a celebratory way, not a depressed one. Departing Russia April 30th, I was crazy sick with some weird Russian virus that made it real difficult to exert the energies. But May 2nd rolled around and I felt good enough to get back on a plane and I flew out to Renn Fayre, a three-day Reed College tradition. It was good times all around.

I got there just in time for thesis parade: this is when the seniors have just turned in the final copy of their thesis, it’s been approved and they receive a little crown and are released from the hell of the computer hall to lose themselves in sex, drugs, and rock and roll for three days.

Every college has it’s thing – I know. RISD has a big gnarly pillow fight. I don’t know what the other schools do, but they have their weird rituals too. Well, Renn Fayre and the culture behind it is the reason I ended up going to the place. All through high school I had my heart set on New York, on doing a double degree program at Parsons and the New School, photo and writing. Probably wouldn’t have been so bad. But I was a prospective student at Reed College for Renn Fayr 2001 and that pretty much did it for me. I was sold.

Catharsis.

Sexual release.

Euphoria.

Cacophony.

Multiculturalism.

Babbits.

Chicks in diapers.

Physics teachers. They made me take it, I had this dude.

Lots of old buddies.

Large wooden structures built into the wee hours of the previous night intended to be defended and destroyed in war-like fashion following thesis parade.

Community.


Warriors.

Destruction.

Alumni.


Camaraderie.


Dusty was there.



Other familiar characters





Bug Eating Contest – a little different than what I remember. thats peanut butter and crickets I think. but Gabby kicked everyone’s butt, when she ate that huge hissing cockroach.


Furlotti.

A cappella.

Downtime.

and Oregon wildlife

It was my 6th Renn Fayre and it very well be my last. After the friends all are graduated and gone, it just doesn’t have the same meaning. I hope adulthood
finds a way to be as much fun as Reed was.