Thank you so much for your remembrance of that unforgettable weekend. I, too, was there in knee deep mud. Shit piles peaking out of the satellites, and the intimate playing that occurred that weekend.
I was at the gate showing my passes to the takers when Mike came on the Bunny and told us that they would be closing the ramp, to turn back. After setting up our tent on a little hilltop spot (the ground was wet, but it was not the muddy-waters closer to the venue entrance), We sauntered that whole weekend. As cell phones were still pretty fresh, reception was null and void. My hopes, assumed, to meet a friend from Washington would never know whether he was even in the campground or not; until on the second night when walking into the venue, we were pushed into each other in the sea of 70,000. We spent the final Phish show of all time (as we thought) together due to serendipitous circumstance!
That was one of my most memorable experiences with the band and community I had ever had.
I was able to go to the southern run a couple weekends ago, and said to myself, "These shows need to be experienced as if it was THE last show ever." I dance harder, I cry at times, and I am blown away at the evolution of self with band.
Never will I take a note for granted when I am in the presence of Trey, Mike, Page, Jon, and Chris! It is truly a gift!