Fan Letter

Dear Phish,

            I recently attended the show in Alpharetta, it was my first live Phish experience and needless to say I have been living in the memory of the ecstasy that seeing you perform created for me. That specific concert has become a mile-marker in the quest to determine the meaning of life. Because that’s what we’re here for, right? We’re supposed to be young and carefree for as long as possible until the relentless question of existence becomes something that a person seeks for whether they realize it or not. The answer to that question is easily defined for some, it can be ignored, and it can corrupt souls leaving the recipient feeling lost and purposeless. I would never proclaim that there is a concrete, solid answer for “the meaning of life”, and prior to the concert these thoughts have wildly had my head racked over what’s important, how to live, who to be, and what defines happiness.  I am 18, at the beginning of life and it seems as if the more I keep learning about general aspects of life, such as, integrity, religion, love, family, education, politics, it just seems that there is a negative connotation to it all. Friendly debates turn into ruining innocence, which can lead to a pessimistic outlook and overall unhappiness. But, there is a catch for some people and that catch is universal and created by experiences and the concert is my catch-22.

            I have never been exposed to anything of that concert’s nature. There were so many people. But I did not look at them as people. I looked at them as individuals. I saw fathers, mothers, kids just like me, people with entirely way too many obligations, truly become themselves in light of the concert. The effects of the storm only made it better. We were all together in one location, enjoying the music, rain, dancing, and we are all different. That really opened my eyes. I saw probably some of the craziest looking people anyone could ever imagine and judgment to their outward appearance was the last thing to cross my mind. Why? Because I realized I was one of them and it wasn’t something that scared me or something I did not want to be. I believe we are all apart of something bigger than any human mind can comprehend and that no matter what age, gender, race, or appearance, individualism is so vital and is key to being content on the journey of life.  The funny thing is, I’ve probably heard “always be yourself” or something among similar lines my entire life, but the importance of that concept did not hit me until I was at the concert.

            I just wanted to say thank you for being the enigma that made that revelation apparent. As cliché, as it sounds to put this all out in words, because that sometimes happens when positive experiences are documented, they lose their veracity, but I truly cannot express my full gratitude for unlocking that understanding for me. I do not think I could attribute it to any other experience or lesson.  That concert, your music, will always collectively remain as a reminder that there is a purpose to life and it doesn’t always have to be viewed as something that is completely hopeless. I’m sure you have made differences in others as well and received thousands of letters of this nature, but I can only speak for myself when I repeat it again, thank you, thank you, thank you. Keep doing what you do, it sincerely makes an impact.

Yours truly,

Julie Hutchins