It’s been a week since we packed up our tents, hugged it out, got into our separate cars and hesitantly cruised out of Watkins Glen.

It’s been a week since we looked at each other and said “BEST. WEEKEND. EVER.” — with a bright light in our eyes proving we weren’t just saying it, this was for real.

It’s been a week, and we still can’t shake that Magnaball feeling.

All week we’ve been trying to get back to our real lives. We’re doing okay, but our souls haven’t joined us quite yet. They’re still jumping for joy in those festival fields, reminding us there was something so much better. They’re tugging away at us, pushing memories into our minds, surprising us with smiles when we least expect it.

Photo by Jordan Nahmias

We’ve scrolled through our photos too many times this week, simply beaming at the memories. We’ve clung just a little closer to our phones and feeds, our hearts getting that hit of happiness when we hear from someone in our Phish family, a Magnaball article pops up, or someone posts something — anything — that takes us back.

With our souls stuck in a place that feels so right, we’ve spent the week wondering: why can’t that be real life?

Why can’t we always be surrounded by thousands of people so full of love, so full of acceptance, so full of joy, of peace, of celebration? Why can’t our everyday lives be that powerfully simple, so immersed in what’s happening now?

We remind ourselves that regular life is amazing too — so many blessings, so many good people, all the realities that allow us to partake in events like this, all the perspective that helps us appreciate what isn’t the norm. But for some reason, even that recognition isn’t powerful enough to shake that Magnaball feeling.

So the week has been consumed with thoughts of: when can we do it again? Can we somehow go to Dick’s next weekend? No, we can’t really go to Dick’s next weekend. Is there any truth to these Mexico rumours? A winter tour? Man, why can’t Phish throw a festival every summer…?

We’re all just dreaming of our next experience, always left so incredibly satisfied — but wanting more more more.

Photo by Jeff A. Florentine, Instagram: @jaflorentine

At some point this week, we took a deep breath and pressed PLAY on shows that didn’t exist just days before. As we re-listen, we’re overwhelmed by that Magnaball feeling — the notes carrying new, vivid moments into our minds…

Dancing our faces off during “Walls of a Cave,” the army of red sticks bopping to “Meatstick,” our hearts practically stopping during “Dirt.” How we made “Waiting All Night” fun even though we really don’t like that song. How we looked at each other during a gorgeous jam and said “is this still ‘Prince Caspian’?! This can’t still be Caspian!” — feeling terrible for anyone who took that pee break. When the day began with “Divided Sky,” shooting us to another level before we’d even become comfortable in our spots, covering our bodies with goosebumps despite the sudden heat. The universal silence during “What’s the Use,” tens of thousands of us hanging on to every sound as if it was life itself, because in that moment — it absolutely was life itself. The “Drive-In Jam” … no words. And the fireworks, the fireworks! Did they seriously choose to do fireworks during a freakin’ vocal jam? Wait, was that a happy face?! I never want this to end.

But now it’s over. We’re back where we came from, separated yet again from the people, the sights, the sounds that make us feel more like ‘us’ than anything.

We laughed so hard it hurt. We felt so much we cried. We loved so hard that love was everywhere, it came pouring into us — giving us even more to put back out.

We danced and hugged, held hands and slapped high fives. We happily crawled into our cold tents each night, waking up to friends and sunshine, nothing to do but be, and that little awesome voice inside that says one thing and one thing only: “YOU GET TO SEE A SHOW TONIGHT.”

Of course we can’t shake that Magnaball feeling.

We aren’t meant to shake it.

We’re some of the luckiest people on earth to be part of something this pure, this unifying, this magical — we have to hold onto it.

So instead of shaking it, soak in it. Instead of forcing yourself fully back into reality, drag your recovering feet for a while. Listen to the shows and look at the pictures. See your Phish family and hug them big.

Then start saving for your next run, because we know how to do this again.

See you there ❤