Grateful Dead

This is a great idea by the boys. To come together and play again is a novel wonderful idea. I bet after all these years you could never of imagined you would have over a million of us who fell in love with you and you music. John here like so many of us back in the early to late 80's substances became more important to me then the values I am lucky to have back in my life today. My story is one of progression and love of a band that I knew and know very well yet they do not know me on personal level. Yes you understand my soul just not physically knowing my soul. That is not really important anyway because you and your music changed many of us in similar ways back then up to today. My 1st show was Amherst May 12th 1979. While still in last year of high school was turned on to the Grateful Dead by a neighborhood of dead heads. Fell in love from that very 1st show. Skipping the early 1st few shows of 1980 , 81 and spring tour 1982 decided to head west and see the band on the beach in Ventura and threw the west to Midwest ending in Kansas city that summer at the wonderful Starlight theater. That did it for me once I came back east I decided next tour in the fall I am off and running till can't run anymore. Fall tour on east coast to spring tour on east coast starting in Hampton in 1983 was on the bus from then on . I happen to love those 1st few summer tours or 82 , 83 and then in fall of 1983 did not miss a show till the Hampton shows in the fall of 1989 the Famous WARLOCKS shows. Because of the fact that touring life led me to becoming majorly strung out on substances I am very lucky to have lived the life I have. Threw the music and friendships built over the years my life changed for the better. Sober now for may years. I learned how to be kind to one another threw the Grateful Dead touring years. When on the road for so long if I did not learn to adapt I would be dead a long time ago. Touring taught me how to adapt to the times and the people in the times. If not for that knowledge would of been a rather boring life I think. Many of our touring friends are either dead or in jail why? Because it took a lot to keep up the life style it is not like we on tour for REAL had any type of real job. We had to survive and adapt. I will never forget a fellow head telling me back in the Haight one day that when on tour remember not to stand out and not to make a scene of the scene. I found that advice to be very true. If by chance we were the 1st in the city on any tour we did not stick out as the outsider till many of us were there. Made for great advice and a safe way of not going to jail. God knows we were sure much different then many in each city. I can recall 100 percent my thoughts in the fall of 1984 on tour in Richmond Virginia only 2nd night of the tour, remember looking around wondering where the crowd was when it dawned on me school had started and the normal regional fans wont be here till after 3 o'clock or so. So laid low and waited in the parking lot . Once time came for the show to start had made enough to get to Mass for the next shows and so on and so forth. That's just the jist of life for me back then. Some of my VERY BEST Memory's are The late summer tour in 83 Boise was a blast . The cop car plastered with bumper sticks will never be forgotten. Also loved the fall of 83 lake placid always comes to mind. In 84 things got very intense the band was breaking out songs left and right Mr. fantasy in Red Rocks , Battle of new Orleans in Canada Casey jones in Merryweather, Lovelight of Alpine Valley the big break out at the Greek in Dark Star on the Friday the 13th show. . and Ventura's Midnight hour along with I just want to make love to you by Brent. Just to name a few. T that Greek show my friend and I were given tickets a minute before the show started by Calico and told you boys do not to miss this one tonight. Wow she sure was CORRECT. 1985 had many great nights also, loved the weather and city's played that year. For the most part it was a hot weather summer tour. With the exception of the down pour in Hershey. Chula Vista was fantastic , along with fall tour starting in Florida and ending in Long beach month and half later. 1986 we had the Jerry not doing so well situation to deal with along with the Band having to deal with also must of been tough on the band cause I know it was for us we loved you and know you loved us but Jerry came 1st and his health. Had gone to Newark airport to fly to Ventura when told Jerry was ill. What a sad reality check for us all. OMG now what ? ? ? Months later while cutting may family's lawn in October I got a call from a friend who said Jerry is playing this upcoming weekend at the Stone in San Fan. Off to the airport I went and out west a day later loved those 1st two Garcia Band shows. We had been told Jerry Might not remember how to play Guitar again... Well not only had not forgotten but he broke out new songs for the next few months till the Famous Triumphant Return Grateful Dead shows at Oakland Coliseum in December. 15th 16th and 17th. Thank God Jerry is back and the band is well. That was my thinking I was not ready to throw in the towel just yet and go back to real life. 1987 threw 1989 I really started battling my own demons with substance abuse. Lucky for me I was reposed from Haight Ashbury on October 7th 1989 by family members from Cape Cod and off to rehab for 30 days which gave me a chance to clear up and start this chapter of life that I still live to this day. Every morning I wake to sports pages . com and of course Internet Archives to listen to the band I so love and read news papers from around the country I also love very much. So in nut shell that's my story with a lot of details left out for boredom reason that only I would enjoy if recalled here on this form.

^ tickets for $ 20,000 $$$$$ That's insanity, I thought at the 1986 new years show at the Henry J Kaiser a guy willing to trade his 1984 Buick Skylark was crazy. He probably was and still is but my God 20, 000 Spare change anyone?

I reread an older article about GDTS and it said they are returning between 2000 and 3000 envelopes a day. Given that they received so many envelopes they probably still have 2 or so weeks left of returns to work on. Still waiting here. The last time I checked my MO's were not cashed so it is probably just a matter of time till mine comes back too, but I'm keeping a very slim ray of hope that maybe, just maybe I'll get good news. I still have reservations at a fabulous little boutique hotel right in the heart of Chicago that I'm holding onto for now. Plan B for me will be to head to Chicago If the weather is good. If there is an event in a park we'll have a lovely dinner at one of the great restaurants around town, grab a good bottle of wine and blanket and enjoy the festivities and fire works. I'm glad you got your tickets from TM. I'm one of the fortunate people that could buy from stubhub w/o hardship but I just can't do it...I won't do it. Have a great time and maybe I'll see you in Chi town! I'll be the girl with the big smile.