We weren't there for long before I met this wonderful girl named Rene. She was from Southern California (Laguna Beach) and had been traveling all over the West working seasonal jobs. There's not much to do at night when you live an hour from the nearest town, so we did what we always did: get wasted. That night went on, and on causing us to sleep pretty late the next day, ok cause we didn't have to work. ***

We spent the day walking around Jackson Hole, ending with a rest in the park. We sat down and I heard music.  I looked over and saw two guys, one with a guitar, the other with a violin.  They were playing Dave Matthews, Phish, Dead, Phish>Dead, etc, spending most of the time laughing at themselves. We laughed and sang with them for a while, then we were on our way back to our hideout in the hills. 

About a month later, Phish was to start their Summer '96 Tour in Park City, Utah, fresh out of Europe. We showed up a day early to see Hoard Fest at the same venue, which included Dave Matthews, Rusted Root, Blues Traveler, Lenny Kravitz, Dr. John, and others. Rene and I spent most of the day nibbling on fungus and then retired to our lakeside campsite. The next day, we returned to dominate Wolf Mountain for another day. 

It was Rene's first show and my 7th. This time, instead of the lawn, we were 17th row, and again a steady diet of mushrooms was the call for the day. Just before the show started, an unbelievable double rainbow showed up right behind the stage... thus Page began the show with a bit of Somewhere Over the Rainbow on his Theramin. 

Throughout the first set, my backpack kept falling off the bench behind me, spilling contents and causing much confusion and unneeded stress. The guy behind me pipes up, "You gettin' it together bro." I mumbled something, giggled at the double meaning, and thought, "Hmmm.... he looks familiar."  But who doesn't look familiar after two straight days of choom chompin'. So back to the show I went. 

It came to intermission and we were kickin' back, relaxin' when I hear Rene go, "Hey..." and then it hit me. The two guys right behind us were the guys from the park in Jackson Hole that were playing that one day. A short conversation was sparked before Rene and I headed to the lawn for some intermission entertainment. On the way up there, I predicted a Fluffhead due to the fact that it was one of the songs I remember them playing in the park that day. Well, sure enough, in the second set there was a Fluffhead, and I couldn't stop smiling. 

On the way out, a full moon rose at the tip of Wolf Mountain, prompting much howling and more craziness. We said goodbye to our new friends and headed off to Red Rocks (a whole nother story). Summer ended, I came back to Cinci, and Rene went on to Burning Man and then to Tahoe.  I convinced her to pay a visit to the Midwest around Halloween, and so she came. She had never been this far east, so it was fun to play host. 

She was to leave on November 2nd, which we realized was a few days before Phish was to play at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY. So we changed her flight and got her a ticket to the show. Like I would let her leave 3 days before a show near my hometown. We went down in a van full of people, only to find that it was pouring down rain in Lexington. No lot scene - head straight for the venue. 

Once inside, we find a mall attached to Rupp arena with thousands of wet kids roaming around.  I found a guy selling boomers, and it seemed appropriate since I was with Rene. We started munching and headed down toward the bottom floor. Down there we find a bar in the courtyard (who am I to ask questions?), and proceed to have a couple of beers, underage of course. We were standing there, sipping our beers, when Rene gives me a shocked, "Turn Around." 

I'm thinking, "What? Cops and we're done for?"  No... I turn to find the same two guys right behind us. We met in Jackson Hole, WY.  Met again in Park City, UT, and after a persuaded trip and a changed flight plan, we all met again in Lexington, KY. I found out their names this time (Adam and Adam), and I believe that they said that they were from Oxford, OH. 

Unfortunately, I currently have no contact with any of these three people, so if by chance you read this, thanks for everything and send me a line... I would love to catch up, especially with Rene.

 - Matt Spaulding