File this one under pleasantly strange experiences ...

I'm out in the center of the Playa, well away from the Esplanade and the
tents. I've left the backback at home, in the House of Indulgence, having
gotten tired of carrying it. All of a sudden - bam ! - a wall of dust
blows up, and is about to hit, and here I am with no keffiyeh, no goggles,
just me and my bare skin, and one nasty dust allergy. Here's what's
strange. When the storm hit, it almost felt soothing. My air passages
opened up. My muscles relaxed. I actually felt better. Much better.

I have no logical explanation for this. Inhaling particulate matter should
make it harder to breathe, not easier. Anybody else have this experience ?


Joe