So, clearly it's been a while since the hampton run, but I've got a tale that is well worth telling. So here goes:

Before I being my story, let me say, that I'm only 16 years old. Obviously young for the scene, but just like any veteran, phish is my life. (8 Shows) Ever since phish had announced they were coming back I scrambled to get tickets. Luckily my bro had won NYE tickets so we traded for all 3 hampton shows. Day before we leave for hampton from NC, he decides he is going to go with his older brother rather than me. Great, I have to experience Hampton by myself, having to pay for a room, by myself, and bumming rides from strangers, thanks Eric. But anyways that's not my story.

So I get to the lot on the first day, with my bag in tow. Since I got dropped off there by my sister who was on her way to DC, I didn't have a car there to leave my bag in, so I had to carry it with me, with nowhere to put it. I eventually get into line, only to find out bags aren't allowed inside the venue. So I think to myself, boy, man god, shit, what am I going to do. I was beginning to get really stressed, but I had the right idea to leave my bag under a bush in the lot, with a trashcan covering it so no one would see it.. Seemed harmless, didn't think it would be a problem. I walk over to get in line again, and all of a sudden I see a group of 6-7 30 year old guys, with crew cuts, going through my bag. BOY MAN GOD SHIT! I ran over to them, my initial impression was that they had been scalpers and were trying to rip an unsuspecting hippie off. I go over to them, and was stopped by a 6'5 beast of a man. I asked him what the heck is going on, and pleaded for them not to take anything, and that there wasn't anything of value in there (which there wasn't).

He assured me that he wasn't going to take anything and that he just wanted to make sure it was safe. Keep in mind at this point I still wasn't allowed to get to my bag. I was like, what the fuck, southern vigilantism?? Then one of them walks over to me, and asks me if I have any drugs on me. I say no (which was the truth). Then he asked me if he minded if he searched me. Remember that they hadn't told me they were police officers yet, as far as I knew they were still scalpers. So I asked him who he thinks he is, he replied "State police, sir" I asked to see his badge and he complied. So knowing all I had was a bowl on me, I let him search me. I knew that he wouldn't take me downtown if he found a bowl without pot, and that he would if I had said no, and I wasn't going to miss the show. As I suspected, he didn't take me downtown. I nervous as all hell at this point. I'd go as far as to say I as freaking out. They were searching my bag.

Story doesn't end there. I was still left with my original problem, of what to do with my bag. I knew leaving it in a bush was an awful idea, and it was only like half an hour till showtime, so I was stressing. I was not about to miss the show. So I'm walking up and down Shakedown St. thinkin gaobut my possibilities, I could ask a stranger to hold my bag, but what are the chances I'd see them after the show, I could risk stashing it again, but I knew it wouldn't work. So I'm walking and on the verge of tears because im stressing out so bad, and this is when the miracle happens. I run into, JD, a cat I had met at Smilefest this past summer, by complete coincidence. I sweat he was a godsend. I explained my situation to him, and he was like "dude don't even worry about it, I've got you covered" He takes me to his car and he lets me keep my bag in there, to be picked up after the show from him. What a life saver. Thanks JD.

peace, Andrew