Some get it, some don’t.

Everyone is different.

For me, live music, and especially Phish, have been some of my happiest, most soul-replenishing experiences.

I mean they’d have to be if I’m willing to do two nights in a row in the dead of summer at 8 months pregnant, right?!

Every live show I’m reminded how blessed I am that I still have enough hearing to enjoy them. It sounds silly, but live music is just my happy place and I’m just always grateful to experience it.

Most probably know the Curveball debacle – how excited I was for it, how much I NEEDED it after a rough year of family hurt, and how sad I was when it was cancelled without a note being played.

And I wanted a couple of shows before I dive into motherhood (for the record I will still see Phish as a mother, it just may not be quite as easy) – I needed a phix and I just wanted to go phishin’ with my friends!

And it was awesome! It was exhausting, but exhilarating. I walked over 8 miles in two days and danced a lot too. Yes, I also sat waaaay more than I ever have at any show (you usually can’t get me to stop bogeying – but I’m also not usually 8 months pregnant 😉) but I could still hear the music, see the lights, feel the vibe… I made it work for me!

And people were AWESOME! I got so many high fives, people asking me when I’m due and if I know what it is, countless people offered me waters, this sweet soul kept misting me with her water fan and actually let me borrow her little fishman donut hand fan… people showed me time and time again why I LOVE this community so much!

It was also pretty cool to feel the baby groove to his or her favorite songs – baby most definitely had some choice picks!

For the record, I went extremely prepared with snacks, water, a cooling cloth to be able to place on my neck, Gatorade, my insulin, a note from my doctor declaring I’m both diabetic and pregnant and should be allowed to keep my snacks and medical supplies with me – the gate attendants didn’t even need to see the letter but it never hurts to have it. I wore my shoes, not flip flops, to help all the walking, my husband and I never separated, I knew exactly where every bathroom was, and I was very attuned to my body and it’s limits and took breaks when I needed to, which is important.

It was hot, and it was a lot of work, and I definitely welcomed some downtime today with which to recover, but I don’t regret that experience at all, and I’m proud as eff of how my super pregnant little body held up (which was also helped by how active I’ve remained during my pregnancy!) and every day I become more and more awestruck at what my body is capable of!

So, everyone is different, but don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do things that are meaningful to you just because you are pregnant. Yes, there are things you shouldn’t do, and it really does vary by person/pregnancy, but provided you play smart, listen to your body, and vow to put the safety of yourself and your unborn baby first, you can totally go Phishin’ 8 months pregnant!

What a weekend for the books, and I’m so grateful 💕