Burning Man: A Few of My Favorite Things includes Love for Ranger Halston

Dr Yes came up with the brilliant idea of doing a parody of the song “Favorite Things” from Sound of Music mashing it up with images from Burning Man. It’s pretty fun, and if you’re feeling bad, just remember a few of your favorite things and then you won’t feel so bad. Lyrics and new video by Dr. Yes with vocals by Jasmine Chloe includes these inspired phrases: “lighting of darktards” “lamplighters on parade Hudson’s illusions”

Yep, it’s pretty fun, but you know what’s not? Getting permanently blinded in one eye and partially blinded in the other when you’re volunteering as a Ranger during the Man Burn.

Because that’s what happened to Kelli aka Ranger Halston in 2014 at Burning Man: one of those hand held lasers pointed toward the Man got her. And then a laser off of a mutant vehicle got her in the other eye.

“Please, if you use these lasers,” pleads Kelli,  “don’t aim them anywhere near people’s eye level! Also, keep in mind that they can reach 3 to 10 miles from the point of origin.”

She’s got some coverage through Burning Man but will that cover her $20,000 in medical bills? And when will that show up? And what will she do career wise now that she is blind in one eye and her vision is hampered in the other? So while a laser blinding a Ranger is NOT one of my favorite things, the way that the Burning Man community is rallying around to support her is.

Because in just 11 days, over $22,000 has been raised by almost 500 Burners. Just today, over $10,000 was raised–and I recognized more than a few of the names. Burner or no, if you feel so inclined to help out Ranger Halston, here’s her go fund me page.

And after you’ve made a donation,  if you’re still feeling bad, here’s another 2014 Burning Man video by Dr Yes that just might cheer you up by reminding you of a few of your favorite things.