Aren’t we absurd?

Welcome to this week’s Reno News & Review.

What a week. Torching the candle from both ends and the middle. I haven’t been this excited about an “event” since my first Burning Man adventure back in 1995. I think the NadaDada artists have truly come up with something fantastic. I felt privileged to have been involved even in my small way. (Basically, I hung things and stood in a closet.) I witnessed a lot of personal sacrifice to get this ferocious arts event on. I saw incredible installations, performances, photography. And I didn’t even get to every room or performance.

I’m reminded of that quote from Jack Kerouac’s On the Road: “The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes ‘Awww!’”

That’s who these people are. And while many of the artists revel in the absurdity of Dadaism, I can say with certainty that the work, the ideas are deadly serious. And being the guy I am, I see themes outside the ones expressed by the artists: People are obligated to make their own way in the world. Even in groups of likeminded people, we’re alone. Sometimes, the good guys win.

I guess I’m lucky. I know I’m lucky. This job—while overwhelming at times—has given me entry into places I don’t think I’d have ever gone, has introduced me to people I don’t think I’d have ever met. I hope my staff and I have lived up to the promise and taken you to those places with us.

I don’t know why I feel so sentimental this morning. Maybe because I haven’t mowed the lawn for two weeks.