Grateful Dead

What a wonderful weekend! I had a grate time with my old friends, and don’t even mind anymore that I missed the rainbow Dark Star. I’ve lucked into my share of “once only” shows, somebody else got it this time. Sunday night wasn’t exactly a bummer ;-) Bob actually got 65,000 people to be Dead quiet for several seconds — I think that shows a hell of a lot of respect and affection for those who couldn’t be there, though I’m not so sure some of them weren’t. The Brokedown Palace was heartbreaking, sung together without “singing along”. If it were 19-eighty-something I might be rolling East now, the old VW staying cool while I stayed uptight about my California license plates, which I always figured were about like having a vanity plate that read “Hippie”. I was never stopped, but if I had been I was prepared. Word to the wise. My spirit travels with you, as the Grateful Dead assemble one last time, in the place where we ended 20 years ago but did not end. Sin Funcisco will be watching from 2000 miles away, right there beside you. Perhaps we’ll hear or see something of Hunter or Donna in Chicago. Blessed be. Here is a story from 1972: A TRUE GARCIA TALE: We’re outside of Winterland after a Grateful Dead show. The five of us are standing on the sidewalk trying to get a little un-disorientated when a door opens in the side of the building and the Dead walk out. Bill and Pigpen are first; someone yells out “great show,Pig”; he says thanks. I notice the Smiling Service filling station patch on the shoulder of his jacket and crack a grin. Jerry’s right behind him, close enough to touch. He looks noticeably smaller in person than on stage. I badly want to say something to him, my mouth is open but no words come out. Garcia’s walking past me, he’s gone, it’s too late. Then words are spoken — a very heartfelt “Hey…thank you, man!” emerges dryly from my throat. Jerry turns on his heel, looks me dead in the eye, and says: “No…thank you!”. Yeah, I was still tripping, but four other people later confirmed what he said. And we all agreed on what he meant.

Can't stop watching this on you tube!! The transition between Mississippi>Wharf was epic!! Trey was incredible on Wharf Rat!! Much respect!!!

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