Naked Cyclists and the Nature of Freedom - half a year late

I've been working on this for half a year, maybe I've finally got some of my points in order to share...

The Freemont Solstice 'Free Spirited' Parade

One of the things Seattle is known for is it’s summer parades. The weekend of the summer solstice (21^st June) there is a Solstice Parade in Freemont which is a 40min bus trip away. The parade is billed as ‘The free spirited parade’. I am always on the lookout for interesting things to do and I occasionally like to embrace my Fulbrighter mission statement of cultural understanding so when two people at work told me about the Solstice Parade I decided to give it a go. The thing the Freemont Parade is infamous for is being led by a procession of naked cyclists. I was told ‘many’ of them spent a long time on painting their bodies for the occasion. The other neat (yes I have been living here too long) thing about it is there are no motorised vehicles allowed. 

Bumble bees and flowers doing there summer thing!

So informed I set off late in the afternoon on a hot and sunny day for the 3pm parade. Luckily my bus goes straight there so I had a seat as the bus got fuller and fuller. I arrived about 15mins after the cyclists were due to set off so I thought I might catch the end of that part of the parade and see what all the fuss was about before watching the marching bands and floats which I was looking forward too. I dutifully followed the crowd down the street to line the sidewalk with a plethora of people and there they were, the naked cyclists, in all their glory. At which point I started to get a little philosophical…

There were many beautiful puppets

Contrary to popular country stereotypes not all English people are prudes although I have to admit I probably lean in that direction. I’ve stumbled upon naked cyclists before – in Hyde Park raising awareness for prostate cancer. As a biologist I think the human body is a pretty amazing thing and naked human bodies are pretty beautiful, but staring at naked people from a crowd just seems a little bit weird to me. Some people were cheering the cyclists on, which I kind of get, I think these people are pretty courageous but most people (me included) were just watching in silence – which is actually pretty creepy. We like to think that we are cool and collected and we don’t find a few naked people embarrassing. I think we lie to ourselves quite a lot!

Beautiful Preying Mantis

For many people this was a family day out, people had set up fold-up chairs, brought coolers and picnics and there were plenty of children, teenagers were fairly conspicuous in their absence. I wonder what you are trying to teach your child by taking them to this parade? If I had a child I would want them to learn; this is what normal human beings look like under their clothes. These are not people who are unhealthily thin, they aren’t airbrushed, they don’t all employ a personal trainer 24/7. Maybe you are trying to teach your child this is normal, or to be adventurous, or to relax and enjoy life. I don’t know.

Amazing Giraffe

I hadn’t really gathered that much information about timing of the website and hadn’t really appreciated the start and end points for the parade route. This meant I spent a lot of time wondering around in the hot sun and getting de-hydrated. I knew there were painted and decorated cars somewhere, but I couldn’t find them. I knew there was a street fair but I couldn’t find that for a while. I got there eventually but the lack of information on the ground didn’t help my mood. The parade is entirely run by volunteers and donations so I can’t really fault them for their organisation, but then again really I am.

I loved the creative ways people had found to carry their percussion 

I have to say overall I was disappointed with the body painting, perhaps that’s why I felt a bit disappointed by the whole day. Some people had put a lot of effort in but other people just hadn’t.There were some people who were beautifully painted up. Some with animal spots, some with geometric designs, some of the women had painted bikini tops, and I should note at this point that for at least fifty percent of people ‘naked’ meant topless.

A band in a bubble

A free-spirited parade. That’s what I really don’t get. Would I really ride around naked to celebrate being free spirited? I can get cycling naked to raise awareness of a medical condition. I really admire the Lady Godiva style ride against injustice, but for my own free spirit. Surely there is a bit more to freedom than that?

Freedom is a curious concept. For someone in prison it might mean their release date, for a teenager it might mean having their own car, or for many of us maybe retiring.  Being able to do what we want, when we want. Freedom from poverty, illness, work. What about freedom from anger, un-forgiveness? Sometimes one person’s freedom impinges on another person’s. The right to carry arms and defend your family denies others a right to a fair trial, for instance.

I found the decorated cars eventually; I'd drive this one!

As a Christian freedom is a topic I think about relatively often but many people think Christianity is all about rules; though shalt not. I think ‘no’ can be a positive thing. My first (soft) example of my point is I am a people pleaser, I can’t help it, I am a helper, helping other people makes me happy; not in a self-righteous way but just that it fills a need to be needed. For me ‘no’ is a healthy thing, it stops me spending energy on things I can’t afford to, ‘no’ is freedom. Second, people have different responses when I tell them I am tee total, some people look at me like I’m a special brand of Christian Nutty, some congratulate me for my healthy choice, some Christian’s look at me like I’m missing some fundamental piece of grace that allows them to drink alcohol, but I have to say it is one of the most freeing decisions I ever make. I love not drinking, it makes me glad. It is the essence of grace to me, like rich perfume (I’ve been reading too much of the Psalms again, can you read too much of the Psalms?).

I wouldn't drive this one! 

I distinctly remember my favourite time in my life. When I was 3 or 4, my Sister was at school and my Dad was at work, it was just me and my Mummy having soup for lunch. This is probably a somewhat idealised time because I had all my Mum’s attention, but I suspect my Mum and me both being fairly easy going people we also drifted through these days knowing our little routines and sticking to them. I think this is probably the most free I have ever been, I didn’t really have any kind of control but I was also free from worry. Freedom from worry is an awesome thing. I think it is what we are aiming towards when we look forward to days free of poverty, work, and illness. One of the easiest ways to be free of worry is relinquish control to someone else. We hate to do this but it is a decision many Christians make, and then re-make when they forget.

In conclusion, I realise free-spirited describes a state of not obeying convention but I’d rather aim to be freed by the Spirit.

Obedience and Freedom, one without the other is just a ramp leading to thin air!

The A to Z of Christmas Lights at the Zoo...

When a theme works why not go for broke so here is a much belated Christmas Light A-Z at the zoo.

Daisy and giant bee

Animated beautiful creations, 

light monkeys climbing the trees

decorating elephants,

flying genus Haliaeetus, 

no picture available - sorry!

imagined jewel-like king Lions,

multicoloured nocturnal oasis, 

penguin quicksilver, 

river salmon tasting Ursus, 

variegated xenogenic yuletide Zoo!

Gorillas

Lastly, whats a Christmas post without a reindeer?

WA to AZ; Extremes of the Alphabet and Botany

Across Lake Washington

Last week I went to Arizona, the previous weekend I spent some time walking around Magnuson Park. I found some nice patterns to photograph in both...

Clouds and Trees, WA. 

Birds and Trees, AZ.

Silver birch, WA. 

Unidentified shrub, AZ.

Silver Birch, WA

Honey Mesquite (?), AZ.

Sun, WA

Sun, AZ

Trees in WA

Palm Trees in AZ

Lake Washington and Tree

Tree and street lamp, AZ

Trees and Lake Washington, WA.

Red Hot Pokers, AZ

Water of Lake Washington

Water of Scottsdale Canal

Immunology in Arizona

Last chance for a walk and sketch in Scottsdale

I've got a bit of catching up to do on the blog, so I'm going to start in reverse order of events... This week I have been in Scottsdale (Arizona), ostensibly (I love that word) to learn Immunology but actually I think the change of scene or seen did me as much good as the science. Nevertheless science first...

The conference rooms had jugs of water,
we broke at least on glass a day,
and they still gave us sweets!

Immunology is the study of the immune system and it is one of the most frustrating, complicated, and fluid biological sciences. The immune system is an amazing thing but it's also under high selective pressure which is probably why it's so hard to study; a mouse's immune system doesn't work quite the same as a human's and even in humans there is a massive amount of diversity. I describe it as a fluid field of research, others might say fast-paced, but I say fluid because the answer to any given question changes three times a year or if not completly altered gains three extra clause statements... but... only when... actually... I suspect all statements about immunology should begin "we think..." although that said what 'we think' now is probably a lot closer to the truth than what we thought even 10 years ago so one shouldn't discount it as fiction. Vacination is one of the few immunological medical advances that we in anyway understand and definitely one of the most efficacious. It isn't neccessary to vaccinate against every single microbe known to man but somethings, like measles, are not worth risking. As I sat listening to the immunologists laugh, not in humour but with comedic despair, at the people who are refusing to vacinate their kids I wondered whether we as scientists are slightly to blame, maybe we could be clearer about our message, but then again maybe some people are just too arrogant to hear?  Anyway... I enjoyed the course, which was very well taught, and would recommend the FOCIS "advanced course in basic and clinical immunology" to anyone who has a basic grasp of what we think happens during the course of infection.

Also on the science theme I've been reading the Times special edition about the greatest scientists. I'm sure there are many people missed out and someone will tell me it is horribly political, or biased, but I've been enjoying it!

Cloudy Washington State

 

A cloud horizon, it's alway sunny above the clouds!

On to the fun stuff... My flight to Phoenix, Arizona, was a joy. I always forget how much I love flying. I left behind my worries and looked out at the beauty of the world we live in; the things we shape; the things we can not shape; and the things that shape us.  How lucky am I that I live in a society where I get to experiance this change in perspective. It was the change in what was seen that I needed, like visual shock therapy. Not that Seattle isn't beautiful but I think my eyes have grown a little dim to it's loveliness.

Layers of the earth

The Grand Canyon!

Organic curves in block structures...

Sometimes your just have to leave the hills to be hills

Piet Mondrian eat your heart out... The Americans do love their grids!

Little bushes shade in the hills in a Seurat  (the dotty artist) style

Rather like a cat with a laser pointer I was fascinated by the sun's

 reflection making it's way across the landscape as our position changed...

  

The hotel we were staying in was really nice, a bit retro, but lovely. Mood lighting in the bathroom, palm trees, swimming pool, little patio areas for every room... In short the most expensive place I have ever stayed and I didn't have to share my lovely room with anyone. Our hotel was a favourite of 'The Rat Pack' back in the day - cue me listening to Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. for four days. Appropriately "Come Fly with Me" is the first song on the album I have.

Lovely Bathroom!

Palm Trees at the hotel

The little patio attached to my room

 We had a rooftop reception the night of our arrival. I got to meet some of the other attendees and appreciate the beautiful Arizona sunset.

Pedestrian and Cycle Path by the canal

Monday we were busy with lectures from 8am to 5pm but I managed to walk along the canal path towards Scottsdale before it got too dark. I sat and had a meal in the hotel restrauant - who knew Cornish Hen was a thing? I was impressed by the fact they were serving both ginger beer and ginger ale, ginger beer being far superiour. As the last of the light faded I sketched the palm trees from my private patio.

Scottsdale

Art: Jellies in the Sky Catus in the Water

Add caption

The Sunset over the canal

An attempt to record the circadas but all my digital recording devices only pick up part of the rhythm - Our ears are an amazing thing!

Palm Trees from my patio

Tuesday I was woken early by concrete pouring across the street. I eventually realised that I had managed to shift the end of the patio doors across and leave an inch gap, no wonder it was so much noisier than the previous evening! Nevertheless, I made the most of being woken at 5:30am by walking along the canal path away from Scottsdale and seeing the sunrise over the desert.

The early bird sees the birds waking up

Camelback Mountain (?)

After four lectures we finished early for the day 2:30pm. A group of us went to the Botanical Desert Gardens and were delighted to find it was free entry that day instead of $22. We had a look around all the paths, unfortunately none of the cacti were in flower but we enjoyed the alien environment. I stayed later than everyone else so I could do some sketching, ate dinner at the garden restaurant, and caught the bus back to Old Town, Scottsdale where I could walk back to the hotel.

Sketching at the Garden (in the shade of a tree)

Get ready to turn your head to see a woodpecker in his Catcus!

The fountain in the middle of the Garden's Restaurant's outdoor seating area

A little of Seattle in Arizona - Chihuly (glass artist) Cacti at the Desert Botanic Gardens

Old Town Scotsdale

Last look at Scottsdale

 Wednesday was another full day of lectures then a quick walk and sketch in Scottsdale (At the top of the blog) before our evening reception. I was up early to catch my flight Thursday then back to work for another couple of days. Unfortunately my camera broke at some point between Wednesday and Thursday although the memory card is still good - phew!

Last look at the mountain

Buffet Style dinner

At the end of the day we gathered around the firepit and sat outside