Dear Santa Claus,
Thank you for bringing me exactly what I wanted for Christmas this year! It has been many years since I’ve felt this good at Christmas time. It almost seemed like Christmas came early this year, somewhere around the beginning of October. Out of all the presents I may get this year, nothing can compare to that huge announcement with a ribbon on top. Even though 2008 has been a good year, it looks like 2009 will be WAY better! In March I am going to see lots of friends I haven’t seen in a long time, and we are gonna’ have a party! We are gonna’ play and dance around like there’s no tomorrow, and it’s all because of you.
Some of my friends tell me that that you don’t exist, but I know you do. I know it as sure as I know anything. Just like The New York Sun explained to that little girl, Virginia, back in 1897, “the most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see.” That editor was a very smart man, because what he said is true. The stuff that makes me the most happy is invisible. When I step inside that crazy building in Hampton in a couple months, I will close my eyes and be brought to the best place on the planet. And I don’t need to look at anything! The feelings are what takes me there; the love, the devotion, the belief– all the stuff you are about, Santa. It’s kind of cool, you and this band I like aren’t so different; it’s really all about having faith in something bigger. That’s why we go to to these shows– to be a part of something more than ourselves; not so different from the Christmas spirit.
This year, I want to thank you so much, Santa. Thank you for allowing something so special to come back to a crazy world that so desperately needs it. Soon the we will unwrap our gift and the celebration will begin; we will enter a Crayola universe where dreams come true.
Have a fun trip home to the North Pole, and enjoy the cookies and milk I left you!
Love,
Miner
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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:
8.16.97 The Great Went, Limestone, ME SBD < LINK
The first day ever at Limestone, Phish opened up Loring Air Force Base in style. With three sets of beautiful Phish, this first night is one of the best single days in Limestione history. Featuring the return to “Harpua” from The Clifford Ball in set one, the “Wolfman’s > Simple” and a sublime Slave in set two, and “Halley’s > Cities > Llama” in set three, this show is one for the ages. In addition to these famous jams, the “Limb By Limb” in set three is one of the best ever played, with the music matching the surroundings perfectly. Enjoy this soundboard! Night two to follow…
Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, and Happy Kwanzaa!!
I: Makisupa Policeman > Harpua*, Chalk Dust Torture, Theme From the Bottom, Punch You in the Eye > Ghost, Ginseng Sullivan, You Enjoy Myself, Train Song, Character Zero, The Squirming Coil
II: Wolfman’s Brother > Simple** > My Soul > Slave to the Traffic Light, Rocky Top, Julius
III: Halley’s Comet > Cities > Llama > Lawn Boy, Limb By Limb > Funky Bitch
E: Contact, Loving Cup
IV: Disco Tent Jam
*Starts with the theme and Jimmy story, picking up where the song aborted last year at the end of the Clifford Ball (08-17-96). **With theme from “The Odd Couple” tease/jam.
