STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER!

My wife and I had to cancel our Spring Tour trip to Deer Creek because of our 8yr old son ended up on an all-star baseball team that had a tournament that weekend. So we decided to convert the two first class airline tickets into four regular tickets to make the pilgrimage back to Ohio for Summer vacation and to visit my 95yr old father. My wife and I grew up on the North Coast and my father and brothers still live in the greater Cleveland area. (Long story longer) We saw the opportunity to see Phish at Blossom as a blessing in disguise because we felt comfortable taking our kids to their first show at the iconic venue, home of my first live musical performance back in 1974 when my Uncle Sig (my mothers brother) and Aunt Alma took me to see the Cleveland Orchestra. I lay down all this ground work because of what happened last night was truly spiritually fulfilling.

I was by my mothers side with my father and sister Karen the night she passed 7/22/2017.

When Phish made their way to the front of the stage Tuesday night and got into acopolla formation the wave of warmth and comfort that came over me was something I never felt before. I thought to myself this is unbelievable! I often listen to the 7/22/2017 Bakers Dozen show more so for the memory of my Mother than the bands rendition of The Beatles classic Strawberry Fields Forever over the past 5 yrs I have revisited that show and have actually grown to appreciate these four individuals more and more. The time and dedication they put into their craft is beyond admirable, anyone so passionate about anything as much as they are is truly blessed (or cursed I suppose). Nonetheless from the first note at the start of only the 2nd rendition ever performed was magic from my seat on this ride.

Believe it or not it gets even better for us. Midway through the ever tasty Crowd Control my wife gets a tap on her shoulder from the Phans behind us and then reaches across our two kids to grab my attention pointing to the back of the concourse. Adam and Lindsey are screaming, smiling and laughing Tricia! Doug! No way, oh my what the F’! Come see us at set break we are right up here, pointing to the viewing deck that separates the pavilion and the lawn on Mikes Side.

Well for those of you that were there I don’t need to describe the next 70min! For those that were Couch Touring you may have seen a lot more of Chris’ magic lights woven into the first set then we did from our angle but you missed one of those epic positive energy sets that delivered on many different levels. If you happen to still be reading this and haven’t seen or heard this first set I suggest digging in as fast as you can and be ready to dance, smile, and laugh! It is great!

So back to Adam and Lindsey. We met in Arizona in the fall of 2010 when Tricia and I saw Adam walking a dog, pushing a stroller wearing a Cleveland Browns jersey on a Sunday morning. I remember slowing down and rolling down the window and saying something to the effect of “Hey pal! What do you know about the Browns?” Adam grinned and said “ a lot more than I want too!” After or introductions we asked hey pal “what are you pushing in that stroller?”Adam proceed to show us the smiling sweet face of two month old baby girl and we laughed and said “we have one of those in the back seat”, “when was she born?” I asked. “August 14th”said Adam. “No way Alice was born August 3rd, I need to meet your wife.” said Tricia. (Long story longer) Over the next 2 years the six of us got to know each other and Tricia and Lindsey became really tight Mom Friends. So much so that when they decided to move back to Ohio it was a big whole in our lives that has never been filled. The girls have no recollection of their first friend but Alice and Vivian have a bond that someday will play out.

A fast 30min of smiles and emotions played out quick as Lindsey and Tricia played catch up and Adam told me about his brewery! I enjoyed a can of his “Painted in Vermillion” Red Ale and it was off to the 2nd set.

The good vibes continued as Phish ripped off an excellent 2nd set the ended with an amazing Split Open and Melt

We couldn’t have expected a better encore than a family favorite Bathtub Gin It was my kids first show along with the spirt of my mother Janet! To have lived it in person with these guys is a blessing! I hope you all get to have a show like that someday!