Anyway, this Phishy coincidence occurred there in the madness of 12-30-97. It was the first set, and I was floating solo down in the double-digits section, real close to the band off the floor.

The show was hot, and I packed a fat bowl during the 3rd song, Water in the Sky. I took one puff, and then passed it to the happy stranger next to me. Then PYITE began, and I decided to run around. Traveling alone and enjoying the tune, I took off to run around the 100s a bit. It wasn't until the 2nd set that I remembered that I had packed a bowl and passed it around before taking off!

Since I didn't really remember where I was, I considered the bowl a lost cause--a contribution to the Phish community. I laughed at myself for being even more spaced out than usual. I imagined the face of the dude who I passed the bowl to when I ran out of the section.

After the monster encore I headed up to the 300s to find some friends. The Garden was pretty empty by that point, and I was on the complete other side of the arena than where I was at the start of the show.

Up in the 300s and away from the stage, I was lamenting to my buddy how I lost my nice little glass pipe. He was laughing at me. Then, incredulously, a guy behind my friend leaned over to us and asked, "Is this yours?" while holding out my colorful glass bowl. It wasn't even the guy I passed it to, but he had somehow ended up with it. And then it was back with me.

Insane, huh?

Pix from the show on www.piscesposters.com/russ/nye97

- Russell Kahn