After "Jennifer Dances" the band paused, perhaps deciding on what to play next. Tim Foxx leaned back and said, "Happy Birthday, Craig!!" The rest of the crew started in chanting "CRAIG!! CRAIG!! CRAIG!!" very swiftly, and those nearby heard and joined in the cheer.

Unbelievably, the rousing "CRAIG !! CRAIG !!" sorta turned into "HEY !! HEY!! HEY!!" that the entire Hampton capacity crowd bellowed. I figured that those far away heard "Hey" versus "Craig," which I understood but appreciated so much nonetheless. The crowd relented and came down in decibels a bit, affording me the chance to yell and hoot and holler in gladness and gratitude.

The audience clapped and cheered s'more, and right on cue, Phish kicked in with "Split Open and Melt". I was agog over the surreal happening. Friends say that's all they recall from the show. The great epilogue is that my pal Tony Hume from Orlando sent me a copy of that birthday Hampton '99 show a few months later.

Tony was at the show and said he'd heard the cheer, knew it was for me, and didn't edit out any of the crowd noise after "Jennifer Dances". The blood curdling yell I let out isn't discernible but the crowd chanting sure is. What a great anniversary of my birth.

Can't say honestly that I've remembered any of the last couple birthdays since with them being overshadowed by a cool PholkTale.

- Craig From Virginia Beach