Grateful Dead

when my friend Julie and I were driving to Veneta in '82, somewhere on HIghway 5 in the boonies of South Oregon we came upon a remarkable scene. Traffic was moving at a crawl, because a pony had somehow gotten loose from his trailer and was running wild on the freeway, the side of the road, etc. And, with their cars and vans off to the side, half a dozen random Deadheads had spontaneously joined the effort to get him to safety. It was a truly endearing sight.

ok, so let's dwell on the really good scenes! though I certainly agree with marye, that we should not forget the hassles and lousy scenes; they were, after all, a part of life back in those daze. peace.

I just recently ran into an old friend too I haven't seen in 20 years at a Ratdog show this summer, it made the show so much better just to see his smiling face :)

well, it was, I suppose fate, it was I reckon, destiny. We were inseparable childhood friends, having gone to kindergarten together, up to about the 2nd or 3rd grade. Lisa and I were buddies, running around, playing after school, playing on the jungle gym during recess, splitting peanut butter and jelly samwiches - you get the picture. I remember crying the day her family moved away, I must have been about 8 or 9 at the time. Like little kids, we sent a letter or two, maybe spoke on the phone once or twice, but soon we lost touch as her family had moved to the middle earth.... gone were those days of fun and frolic. fast forward a long number of years. I was at a show, and as it so happened, the boys were playing Scarlet Begonias. I had got into the habit of shaking strangers' hands during that line; pretty much ever since I heard that song live the first time way back when... ANYWAYS, I turned to shake the hand of a 'stranger' dancing behind me, and as we shook hands, our eyes locked. It was LISA! our friendship continues to this day, I'm happy to say. the boys in the band re-united me with my childhood friend. it was just one of those things that could have happened anywhere and at anytime, but the fact that it happened at a show made it ever so much more special. peace.

I went to the Hall of Fame in Cleveland yesterday with my 14 year old son and his friend. When we entered the building the main ticket window was selling only memberships and the admission tickets were being sold downstairs. So, you we down the escalator and what's the first thing that hits my eyes? The display of Jerry's guitars right in front of the ticket window. On the way out, we were browsing in the store and the p.a. announcement came on that the place was closing for the night. As we walked out the doors into the beautiful September night, what was playing? "Touch of Gray." I told the boys...."See, Jerry, Pig, Brent, Keith, and Vinny are watching over us." By the way....there's a great exhibit on Monterey Pop which includes a letter from the Dead demanding a refund of the $110 they were charged by TWA for extra weight on the plane. Also, the Doors exhibit there until March '08 is superb.

I always had a great time at the Richfield Colesium. In the parking lot as well as in our hotel, Just seemed like a cool place to be.

In stark contrast to the '95 Deercreek fiasco, I attended the '94 run at Deercreek as well and I couldn't have had a better time camping among the corn rows and just living it up. There is something awe inspiring about creeping into the middle of a huge corn field under partial moon light and just listening. In the distance you can hear every hoot and cackle from the campground while hearing a million voices coming from the corn stalks as they rustle in the wind. (It also helps if you injest a little liquid and you bring along a few whip its for ambiance) I always liked passing that old country road on the way from the campground to the venue with the 'Dead End' sign with the big steal your face plastered on it. Ouch! I just realized I was smiling too hard as I typed this and I got a cramp. That is the true sign of a very good memory. Peace

Things conspired and aligned and I found myself backstage at the Frost 5/7/89?. Having attended grade school among the eucalyptus of Palo Alto, it was a special vibe. At some point pre-show i was offered a Triscut cracker with a cheese product atop it. Being hungry, I quickly scarfed the tasty morsel. The smiling, tour worn girl said "have an epic show". At some point, I think during "Crazy Fingers" I had one of those moments. Mind left body. O end up outside the venue, give away my wallet, tickets for next show, the AIDS benefit? and all of my clothing. Someone later told me i said, " i won't be needing this, where i'm going". Very very high on the 25. Kind people find we, wrap me in blankets put in back of comfy 60's era bus. Drive me to La Honda. Feed me kind fatty humus, juice, mangos, fruits of all kind. let me sleep on crazy star lined deck with hot tub for days. Bring interesting friends by to talk to all week. make speedy most high on lucy ive ever been comeback. Feeling strong. Bike rides down the 35 to the ocean and just super irie. and then, they took me to oakland, got me a ticket and said - "have an epic show". Once in a while you get show the light in the kindest of places if you look at it right!= The music is the greatest gift of all. jai guru deva om, jer.

I can't decide which one.

...shall we go, you and I while we can... Location of my first show. Maybe it's just me, but there was always something special about seeing the band in those old ornate Depression-era movie palaces.