This story is one that i have told over and over again because it is pure Phish magic. The opening scene was the Clifford Ball, 1996...  My two friends and I were standing outside the gates, waiting for the concert area to open up, and we still had an extra ticket that we wanted to get rid of. 

The idea of selling it at this point was out of the question...  Last show of tour, the first festival, just magic all around us. The only question was : "who do we give it to?"  We figured we'd keep walking, and when the person meant to have the ticket was there, we would know...

So we start talking to this head, no shoes on, finger high up in the air; we found our man...We listen to the guy tell us how good Red Rocks was that summer, and how he'd been all over, and how he needed a ticket for the weekend because he was out of cash...We knew it was him to give the ticket to, so we did. 

Knowing he didn't have any cash, we expected nothing for the ticket whatsoever, but he reached from around his neck and gave us a crystal necklace. The necklace, as he said, "had brought me much luck over the years and hopefully will do the same for you"....  My buddy put the necklace on, and we went to go experience the Clifford Ball, never again seeing our mystery ticket guy again....

Let's now fast foward to Dec. 1999, Hampton VA...  We were all so stoked for these shows, and the same group of buddies made the hike down to Hampton for the two day run...  After being on the road for a few hours, my buddy realizes that in the rush of leaving, he left his wallet on the kitchen counter at home. He had no cash, and no ticket.

He didn't have to worry about money because he was with friends, but the ticket...hmmm...Hampton is always a hot night...We got there early enough to start looking for a ticket, but it looked meek.  We had all but given up hope, chillin along side the fountain, when a guy saw my friend with his finger up and approached him..."you need a ticket, my man? " the stranger said.  "Yeah, i do," replied my friend.

The stranger then reached into his pocket and pulled out a ticket for that night and one for the next night.  He said he couldn't find his friend, and he had his tickets and didn't want them to go to waste...  My buddy then got the most deranged look on his face, and very bluntly asked this stranger if they had met before...

It took a few seconds, but it was the same kid we had miracled at the Clifford Ball...  As if it was his cue, my friend reached under his shirt, pulling up the same magic crystal necklace the same two people had exchanged three years earlier, and gave it back to this stranger...  "This Necklace HAS brought me the good luck you promised, and its time you get it back."  They hugged, confused but well aware that this only happens at Phish, and the sight of that moment brought a tear to my eye...

 - LS

Editor's Note: Not only does magic lurk in the lots, it exists inside the venues, between phans, the band, and even a security guard.