When we finally got there we set up camp and made ourselves familiar with our new home.

The first night we were late to the field and didn't have good field position, but we sure had fun...

The real story here happened on NYE. Some of us went real early and made sure we had good field position... we were about 25 rows back, center stage. Some time after midnight, something happened. All of a sudden there was this huge, corn-fed redneck, cowboy hat & longcoat. Not sure what he was on, definitely some booze, but there must of been something else, anyway... this boy was stumbling around looking for big guys to start with, and he found a few in my tribe (I'm not one of them). 

He grabbed my friend Joe by the arm and just stared in his face. Joe's used to those types of people who go looking for fights, and he is a tuff tank of a man... The cowboy was dying for someone to throw a punch, we begged Joe to let it go, but cowboy wouldn't let go. Then my boy Mikey saw what was going on, and at 6'3" or so, he was towering over the bad cowboy, holding him by the arms so he couldn't swing.  For about 5 minutes he just kept telling the cowboy that he wouldn't find a fight here.... for me, it was like that battle of good & evil at the turn of the century. 

We started chanting L, O, V, E, over and over L, O , V, E (you can hear it on the tapes from that night).... the cowboy was miffed, and soon he just left.... we watched him push into the crowd, looking for more large guys to mess with, but everyone around us was part of the chant L, O, V, E.... he was not gonna get his way, not this time, not here, not now......Love had prevailed, it was magic....

I had a ton of fun at Cypress, but that moment more than any has stayed with me. Some of the other groups around us came over and congratulated us for braving the non-violent love approach, we made some many new friends that night...

The pride I feel as a Phish head, part of the Phamily of those who know a better way, peace & acceptance & love,,,, words that Phish and the community around them have given new life to.....

Peace & Love, Always

- Bamba