Ah, the dim and swirling fog of history! Over time, events fade from the crystal clarity of the present, fade until they are as shimmering shadows or are forgotten entirely. Sometimes, like in the rediscovery of Machu Picchu or King Tutankhmen's tomb, long forgotten events are thrust into the present, and whole epochs are remembered anew. Sometimes, the date on a calendar will draw forth memories of times otherwise forgotten. This month brings us an event of this latter type.

In September of 1993, eighty-eight Meanders ago, the first Meander was held. In those days, the Meander's full name was "The Moonlight Malibu Mountain Meander / Hemi Lunational Literary Lark & Coyote Sing: a Temporary Autonomous Event" (with the fullness of years, we have become a little more pithy, if perhaps a little less exuberant.) Subsequently, there have been Meanders in balmy summer breezes, in rain, fog, freezing wind, and even indoors. We have set off military proximity alarms, seen Wiccan [?] rituals, met up with drum circles, seen UFOs, gotten lost, and watched shooting stars. We have read together, drunk wine, eaten the worst junk food and the greatest gourmet creations; we have heard the sea-lions bark, seen owls fly, watched deer and coyotes, seen glow-worms and drunken teen-agers. We have watched the moonlight reflected on the rippling ocean, have followed as the stars wheeled across the heavens, have witnessed fogs rise and vanish, have seen city lights flicker across the basin and watched shadows descend into the canyons. We have met new people, laughed with each other, sang to each other, and even gotten married (although not on the Meander itself).

Come join us and celebrate the Meander's Tenth Anniversary! We'll tell tales of past Meanders, and predict occurrences for future Meanders. And, as always, we'll have snacks and readings.

Phone in comments to 310.210.3347, meil 'em to the postal address skillfully concealed elsewhere on this page, or email 'em to samuelg@themeander.org

• "Toast to the Anniversary of the Meander Haiku" by Andy Steinberg
• "Blissed Out Peeing in the Wilderness" by Ani Cole
• "Joke: I think I'm a Moth" by anonymous
• "A Wandering, Unfocused History of the Meander" by Samuel Goldstein
• excerpts from The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler
• "Going to the Top Won't get You to the Bottom of Bureaucracy" by Daniel Pearl
• excerpts from Eating to Win by James L. Vertni from L.A. CityBeat 21 August 2003

All misspellings, misattributions, omissions or errors in naming should be construed as Acts of God, directed through yours truly (for reasons at which we as mere mortals may only guess...)