phish are friends, not food

It was meant to be a surprise, except when my husband found out through various sources that Phish was playing ON HIS BIRTHDAY... IN ATLANTA ... I just couldn't contain myself any longer. I sprung for tickets and told him later when I realized the threat of disappointment was looming... 

I gotta say, I looked forward to this show and this weekend forEVER and for a variety of reasons. One, I had never seen Phish. Jason has, many times. I had seen Dave Matthews probably ten times, Widespread Panic a few times or more, with lots of other great "jam bands" mixed in there between all the festivals and such I've been to. But it had been awhile since a really good show. And Phish, well, that's just one of those shows you don't miss. And I'd missed a few in my youth. And it wasn't going to happen this time. And to be able to celebrate this with my man, knowing how much he loves this band, I wanted to make that happen - to share a memory with him of something we'd mutually enjoyed in our younger days... I was really looking forward to it. 

As the weekend got closer our plans evolved and we decided to make as much of a weekend of it as possible. We toyed around with the idea of getting a hotel in the city to make our commute to and from the amphitheater a little less of a distance and to just "get away" together. The only way that was going to happen was if we got a sick deal... I watched Hotwire for a couple weeks and just kept watching until the day of the concert. After we left the kids with grandma, we found a room in Buckhead for $75 in a 4-star hotel where you'd normally pay $160... um, yeah!? So we did it and to my DELIGHT we ended up at the W Hotel which is a super neato boutique chain with AMAZING rooms, decor, amenities, etc. What a treat!!

We got home, got all of our crap together and got ready for the concert and drove down to check into the hotel. Couldn't believe how awesome the room was... so swanky!! 

here I am, all dressed up and ready to go... 

me and my man, the birthday boy

swanky hotel room!

 We got to the parking lot about 6:30. It was slightly hilarious... here we are expecting to be surrounded by droves of dirty hippies and end up parked between a super new, super expensive Audi and a brand new Range Rover. One of the dudes was a doctor at Emory. Ridic. Anyways, we drank some margaritas and beer, walked around, did some talking about how much we have changed in 10+ years from when we were the dirt foot hippie children running around the lot, and eventually made our way in... Gawd it was so amazing walking in and realizing I was seeing Phish finally, and with my man!

seas of dancing kids

first encounter

hi!

We probably drank too much and GAWD how I wish Jason hadn't bought two waters on our way over to Shakedown Street because we'd have grubbed it up something serious!! We had both developed some kind of super headache and decided to head back to the hotel. I took a nap in the truck on the way back. We had some room service and coffee and went night-night in that super comfy bed....

next morning... parting shot

the W hotel

We had an amazing time together and just enjoyed being together. We need to do more of this but Lord it's expensive! It's expensive but you can't put a price on quality time together. We really needed it. 

Some parting thoughts... being in this scene at one time of my life WAS my nature, my identity. It was a real interesting contrast to see how much I have grown and changed as a person. I felt okay in my own skin, I could see through some of the image and the desire for belonging in much of the crowd that I encountered. Only years give this to you... I used to live to be high, and hate myself the morning after. There is nothing worse than the morning after... and that is all I could think about when I saw many of these kids so effed up. So much desire for belonging to something bigger than themselves and to identify with some kind of community. I have found that in a much more fulfilling and life-giving way through my relationship with Jesus and with Jesus-loving people who hunger for community the way it was meant to be within the church. 

But anyways, great time, great people. Great experience. I'd do it again, in a heartbeat. 

Here's a video Jason took and the set list in case you're interested. :o)