sredir ekib dekan...naked bike riders
My neighborhood, Fremont, is self-obsessively called 'The Center of the Universe' to the repugnance of its Seattle inverse. Here exists an ardent love for aging hippies, self-expression, nudists, and pagan offerings; embodied in the annual Solstice Parade.
The beginning of summer is continually marked by throngs of people with the mantra- I'm here so I'm open-minded- lining the main drag of Fremont, smiles plastered and eyes popping. The spectacle before them: the local community - unclad, painted, and biking quickly past to announce the coming paraders. Somehow this display of pedaling flesh is pertinent to the sumnal commencement. These bikers, in all of their un-selfconsciousness and want to be free, have adorned themselves to represent a naked alter-ego. The Silver Surfer, Superman, Uncle Sam, Mother Earth, and Dr. Seussisms all whizz past. Possibly this is in jest to these glorified characters sans-costume.
What follows is truly a folly mirroring an amalgamation of Cirque du'Soleil and Dove's 'Campaign for Real Beauty'. Perhaps more so it seems a real-time modern representation of a Hieronymus Bosch creation. It was splendid to say the least. I gathered along with the rest of the open-minded onlookers to gaze upon the paraders and floats which marched like visual candy. Everything more odd and ungraceful as the next. There was no representation of local schools, except for the teachers who decided to be naked and therefor painstakingly disguise themselves as not to end up celebrated on the pages of Facebook. No companies, organizations, logos etc. Everything was up for interpretation, from the winter wedding group festooned with Elizabethan era paper costumes, to a p.v.c. taurus spider bike?, a group looking like slutted out Mad Hatters giving free hugs, and of course the ganja float.
Everyone is headed for an offering to the gods at Gasworks Park where the hills are festooned with the au naturel and their admirers. I had originally planned on being one of those naked alter-egos, though ducked out as I couldn't find a partner in crime. One of those regrets I'll make sure not to make again. Next time the opportunity arises for me to do something naked with a group of strangers, I'm in......
This entire festival is hosted by Solid Ground, a non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of the impoverished.
This was a great post Elyse, but I think you used the word "festooned" too often. Was it a new vocab word?
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