So here I was at the most amazing concert experience of my life, thinking about how phenomenal the first set had been earlier that day, wishing I was able to see all of day one.

(Flashback one day) We were sitting around at a (then) buddy of mine's apartment, waiting for Jaime to get there to complete the foursome. (Myself, my fiancé (now wife) and two friends). We told him that we had to leave by 1:00 at the latest so we could get there in time for the first night, which was the next day. 

Well, 3:00 rolls around and needless to say, we were getting pretty upset. Just as we're contemplating leaving without him at 3:30, he pulls up. So, pack up the car, hop in, and WE'RE OFF!!! for what promises to be the best trip ever taken. After sitting on Alligator Alley for who-knows how long, we pulled into our parking spot, set up tent and made it to the venue to see the boys already on stage. 

Luckily we got there just in time and were able to hear the first few songs. Somewhere during Chief Jim Billie's greeting song our group was separated by people cutting through the human chain we had formed. The rest of the day was spent wandering around the venue and the lot looking for the group, and to make a long story short, we missed the first night. (ALL 3 SETS!!!!!) Not a good start.

The next day we woke up early and hit the lot to check out the local wares ;~) and just dig on the vibe. The scene was unbelievable. Good vibes and good nugs abounded. After a short wait and a long run, I managed to get us a killer spot about 40 yards from the stage, dead center!! We didn't leave that spot until the next morning, when it was time to head home.

Needless to say, the first set of the night was smoking, with an "After Midnight" closer that was so phat that I actually forgot that I hate that song. (I know...don't ask...). The vibe inside the venue was far more amazing and indescribable than the lot. From about 11:00 on, you would have thought midnight had already passed. 

There was champagne being passed in every direction, balloons in the air as far as the eye could see, constant cheers and screams that rippled through the crowd like waves, and all of it proved to be a small hint of what was to come. My wife and I had each taken 1 gel and 1 1/2 pills at some point just before the boys came back out for the marathon set, which made for a real good time.

Now we come to the reason I started my story in the phirst place. I can't remember the exact time, but about halfway through the set we were coming down (which was good b/c I wanted to experience the sunrise mostly sober), and all of a sudden we were treated to a well placed 2001. (One of my fav. jams). 

I looked around at all of the phaces around me, including the family of 4 right beside me, and wished the night could go on forever. But, knowing that all good things must end, I decided to try to take as much of this energy with me as I could. I figured if I could just absorb enough of this energy to fill my whole being, it would carry me through the year and beyond. So I stuck my hands as high as I could and started soaking up the love. What happens next some try to attribute to chemical alterations in my blood stream, but everyone there knows that it had nothing to do with that.

As I stood there with my hands in the air, I could actually feel love and positive vibes enter my body through my fingertips and course through my veins. The literal vibration of it all made me start to sway a little, which was almost too much to take. At that point I looked at my wife, who was standing directly in front of me, and the aura around her was as clear and beautiful as her face. That's when I decided to take in some energy from her directly. 

I placed my hands on her hips, and could feel her smile to be touched. At that instant I was hit with such a warm, loving feeling that I just closed my eyes and breathed it all in. The next thing I know I was sitting on the ground with my legs crossed, and my wife was sitting on my lap. People around were asking me if I was okay and helping me to my feet. Apparently, I was overloaded by the sheer bliss of it all and blacked out for a moment. 

When I did, I sat straight down, but since I was still holding on to my wife's hips, I pulled her down on top of me. Of course, neither of us was hurt. On the contrary, I felt better than I had in a long time....maybe ever. Once the show was over and we got back to our tent to prepare for the 15 hour ride home, I explained to her what had happened in the magical moment. Needless to say, she understood.

This story just goes to show the power that can be generated when 100,000 people come together for the common purpose of love and having a good time. I hope this has brought a little picture of what it was like to those of you who weren't able to make it, and a flood of awesome memories to those who did. I am getting goosebumps just thinking about it. Keep the love alive pholks, and we'll all have many more wonderful memories to share.

Peace and Kyndness, Carrini420

P.S...Feel free to email me with a response, or just to say hi and share one of your memories.