Grateful Dead

also my last show, and coincidentally also my first free show, compliments of the gate crashers I guess....

I remember fondly joining the "We want Phil!" chant. After the chant died, I alone screamed "BOX OF RAIN!" as loud as I could. How awesome a surprise it was when they hit that tune in the 2nd set! Being 20 yards or so from the stage, I didn't learn of the gate crashers until I read the local newspapers. But this day ranks as the happiest of my life nonetheless, and I am grateful that my sober brain was able to hold onto the memory. I won't get into the grieving process I began to endure 8 weeks later...that'd be a short novel. On 1/20/13, my wife gave birth to my youngest son, Mason Garcia Raineault. When I help him in the hospital for the first time, I sang Casey Jones and Mason's Children with tears in my eyes. Then that July, I was glad to be able to bring my oldest son, Austin, to see Furthur in Gilford, NH. Sober that day too! 6/15/95 was the day my life became truly complete. Nothing before or after it ranks as fulfilling a destiny like that did. 8/9/95 is a day that, sadly, never really went away for me. I just hope that wherever Jerry is, he knows I thank him sincerely for the happiness he brought me.

We are not complaining about the change, just sad for the change. Those of us who caught the boys during good ole grateful dead days are what I think most are referring to here. Maybe am wrong but to every generation they had there own good ole days. I feel lucky to call mine the early 80'2 threw 89.