peer letters

Intro to Creative Writing

Professor Harrell

3/18/18

Unit Two

Phish; NYE in Miami

* Frame the experience differently. Cut the story into three sections, for instance, and frame it as a triptych. Crop the scene at a different place. Leave something out that you thought was essential.

Getting from New Jersey to Miami was the hard part of this trip, and now that I had reached my destination there was nothing else to worry about. I was heading to Miami, Florida with my three friends; Luke, Henry, and David. Luke and Henry were my friends from high school, and David was a buddy we kept in touch with from grade school that moved away in 7th grade. We were heading down to Miami for one thing and one thing only, and this was to see the band Phish. This band had been a part of our lives since we saw them for the first time as freshman in high school. Now, as seniors we were preparing a trip to see their New Year’s Eve four show run down in the beautiful Miami, Florida. It felt surreal that it was all happening and action was being taken. Four young adult’s road tripping down the entire East Coast to see their favorite band on New Year’s Eve and the following three nights. The first destination on our road trip was Richmond, Virginia to pick up our friend David. Being such close family friends with Luke, David had kept in touch with us all during our remaining middle school years and high school years. Growing into the same exact music taste as us three, it was only right he came with us. The drive to Richmond was quick. The energy and excitement filled Luke’s 2006 Honda Accord to the point where it was pouring out of the windows and sun roof. This excitement would stay consistent during the entire two-day journey down to Miami. This excitement was the same excitement I used to feel as a young kid on Christmas morning. It was the kind of excitement that I had not felt in many years. It was nostalgic. A feeling that I thought I would never feel again as I grew older. We got David and kept pushing South. We got through Virginia with ease and planned to stop for the night in Lumberton, North Carolina. This was not a quick drive at all, and during the final stretch into Lumberton we all started to realize this. It was an entire day of driving just to wake up and do the same thing the next day. It was not going to get in the way, but it was in the back of our minds for sure. The stop in Lumberton was much needed, to say the least. We got in at about 10pm and planned to get on the road at 8am the next morning. We hit a gas station across from the hotel when we got in and grabbed a case of Bush, ordered a pizza, and rolled up. This was what our first night out on the road consisted of and nobody was complaining. We were in store for an eventful weekend and this was, in a sense, preparation. Getting back on the road the next morning was easy, and this drive from Lumberton to Miami was a great drive, in my opinion. All taking turns driving, we were on pace to make great time. We stopped off for some traditional southern barbeque in Savannah, Georgia, and it was something to write home about. I think it was a sign, because we did not seem to hit any major traffic or run into any major issues along our trip down to Miami. We were on a mission and nothing could get in our way. Getting from New Jersey to Miami was the hard part of this trip, and now that I had reached my destination there was nothing else to worry about.

All the preparation and anticipation was now over as we got off the bus in downtown Miami right in front of American Airlines Arena, the venue Phish would be stationed at for the next four nights. Pulling into Miami was a very cool experience. It was uncharted territory for all of us. There was a sports car for every five cars you saw on the road, palm trees lined the streets, there was water everywhere you looked, and the people were very interesting looking. It was its own little world. We crossed over the bridge into South Beach. This is where our hostile was and where we would be staying for the next four nights. We got out of Luke’s car and the air almost smelt different. The air was thick and heavy. I could smell the pizza shop on the corner and hear the different languages being spoken by thousands of tourists who filled the South Beach streets. We were right in the middle of all the action and I would not have wanted it any other way. We checked into our hostile and were all given complimentary Corona’s without even being asked for an ID. This trip was off to a great start. We unpacked our bags quick, changed into the right clothes, and hit the streets of Miami. We had a night to ourselves in South Beach, and since none of us were 21 years of age, it was spent walking the main strip. No clubs were on the agenda this weekend, and this was going to help our wallets, so I was not even too upset about it. The first night was a great time and gave us all a good sense of what we were getting ourselves into for the next four nights. The following day seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. Phish was that night and I contribute that for the reason behind this. We woke up, took a walk down to the beach, and then hung out for a little bit back in our room before it was time to make our way over to American Airlines Arena. This is where the Miami Heat play, and it is also where Phish would park their spaceship for the next four nights. We would be getting to and from the venue by bus, and it was a very simple bus schedule to figure out. It picked us up 5 blocks from our hostile and dropped us right out front of American Airlines Arena. No problems, no issues, just like the drive everything was going smoothly. The Phish God’s were with us for sure. All the preparation and anticipation was now over as we got off the bus in downtown Miami right in front of American Airlines Arena, the venue Phish would be stationed at for the next four nights.

The picture was taken, and it was now time to head into the venue. We got off our bus and stood face to face with American Airlines. It was HUGE. It stopped us in our tracks and had us all looking up at it in awe. It was finally time and we were finally here. We were surrounded by thousands of other Phish fans and it made the moment that much better for us. People were getting wasted, smoking joints, and anything else you could think of. On the streets of Miami. It was a sight I never thought I would see. We had a backpack full of beers, and a little under two hours until it was time to head into the show. We had to find a nice place to post up and hangout. As we scaled the venue basking in the atmosphere, we found a nice little spot that sat right on the water. It was off to the left of the venue, over a small grass hill. It sat right on the body of water that sat between South Beach and Downtown Miami. The weather was perfect, the beers were cold, and the boys were ready to go! We all sat around, bullshitting, talking about stories from high school and grade school. We were talking about our expectations for the show that night and the following three nights. There was nothing that could bring down our moods, and it was all just getting started. Time flew by and it was time to head towards in the venue. As we started to walk away I threw my hands up in joy. There was no other place I wanted to be. There were no other people I would rather be with. And there was no other band I would want to be seeing. It was time. As I threw my hands up Luke took a picture of me. It was something that I would hold close to me. This picture would continue to remind me to the trip down to Miami and the four nights spent there. The picture was taken, and it was now time to head into the venue.