I did about 4 or 5 laps and made a couple phone calls before I really started to get bored (you can only read the instructions on the home brewery kit about 3 times before you start to feel really pathetic).

Then at around 8:30, I saw a dude with wavy hair and a bald spot pushing a cart down an isle. It looked like Page. It was Page. Then he disappeared around the corner for his lap around the store. Jenne finished up her application process, and I informed her of whom I had just spotted.

Page proceeded to a checkout lane with nothing in hand and briefly spoke to a clerk. It seemed that I was the only person in the whole place that both recognized the dude as a mega-rock star and revered him as such. Jenne and I proceeded to the doorway and donned our wintry gear. I could see that Page's Range Rover was parked 2 spaces away from my Golf. Page walked out of the store right past us, and empty handed. As he approached his vehicle, I knew that I couldn't pass up this opportunity.

Here's our (somewhat lame) conversation.....

Me: Hey Page!

Leo (turning): Yeah?

Me: Sorry to bother you...

Leo: Oh, it's no problem.

Me: I was just wondering if you had a favorite show out of the last 4.

Leo: Well, I really enjoyed Albany. Actually, I thought the last three shows were really good.

Me: (nodding, but wondering why he left out Nassau) Yeah...

Leo: I also liked Nassau a lot too. And the Spectrum was a very fun. And then of course Boston was just great.

Me: Well, thanks for putting on a great show. Take care! (waves)

Leo: Thanks! (waves, heads to car)

Page then got into his Range Rover and vanished into the night, as if there was a secret underground passage way out of the parking lot for rock stars.

Thus concludes my closest encounter and first interactive engagement with a member of Phish. He seems like a real swell guy.

- Welcher