It smelled so bad for a week, but I am wearing it today, finished with casual dress slacks and a freshly dry cleaned Geoffrey Beane Oxford. Mud is what I think about today, years after the last of my 50 some shows. Stepping in the swamp? Not the Halley's>Cities at the Great Went (by the way there was some serious mud stepping up there, believe me) or the Terrapin in VBeach? I now reminisce of ... mud, so to speak.

Really, it was a once in a lifetime experience. One of Thousands and thousands of once in a lifetime experiences that came along throughout the travels and trips of one human who became intrigued with the music of a foursome from Vermont. Intelligent and Inspired and Creative musicians who knew how to put together a hell of a party. The shows were awesome, nothing like listening to the live sounds, feeling where they're coming from, watching Trey bounce off the trampoline and pick a high note off his Languedoc as his feet first hit the floor. It's that we can all miss, want to be again. 

But what I remember in memories' purest & most content form are the other times that happened in the lot, or on the road, or that night camping. I know I'll never get them back: they were, they were moments and moments end. And though I feel winds, Phish was. Maybe they'll be again, maybe they'll be the same, maybe the scene will be different, or the same. Or maybe I'll be different and I won't want to go to lots more shows. I know I've grown since then; became more analytical and calmer. One can only assume that Phish has too. 

Maybe Phish will never come back to attempt what they used to do or to be who they once were. Maybe they'll be Phish, but not Phish. Maybe I'll be seeing my first show again. Regardless, they were Phish. And they always will have been Phish to me, and you, and all my friends. Who Phish has become is yet to be seen, and is somewhat unpredictable. However, amidst all these "maybe's" one can be certain of this: When Phish plays again they'll be wearing the same stinky shoes they did last time. And so will I.

- scarymonster