Grateful Dead

Every time I read a negative post I am just going to think of Marley's lyrics. I deleted my original reply to Unkle Sam because I refuse to get sucked into the negativity. I hope that everyone that is there whether they are Deadheads, Phish heads, spectators, old or young are there because they want to be there and can contribute to a beautiful experience.

I have been reading your posts among all the others - don't remember them but when I read this one I recognized you from an earlier post and I remembered how much I appreciated your optimism. Hearing you write about your father is a gift to us all. I have been a Deadhead for 29 years since I saw my first show in 1986 a week or so before Jerry's coma induced by the heat and and humidity of the RFK show in DC, my first. I was 14 years old. My parents trusted me and my love for the Dead. They let me go West from Virginia my junior year of high school for New Year's run and Spring Break my senior year we went down South to Greensboro and I made it to the rail. As the scene grew even bigger in 90s I became bitter and lost my way, stopped going to shows and saw my last in Chicago in early 90s. Had a blast. I started back into scene with Ratdog around 2000 and loved how it felt to be back. Never went on road since then but back in the fold. I am still holding out hope that my envelope for July 4th will yield tix for my me, my 16 year old daughter, the godfather of my 12 year old/father of my godson and my deadhead friend I grew up with and haven't seen since 2003. I want to thank you for your optimism and your belief in the the goodness and power of family and music. I have read all of the posts on this and terrapin nation and Ratdog message amd here and I vote you as the true carrier of the flame of the spirit even if you never heard Jerry live. Thank you.

First, your envelope is selectedthen, your envelope is inspected then, your envelope is rejected. Phil is not a drummer, lol Gonna be a lot of phishheads there, just not gonna be my kinda crowd went to see phish in 99, new years eve, at Big Cypress in the swamp that is the everglades, three days of phish... three days of cell phones going off all the time three days of overflowing portalets three days of phish noodling, once for 7 straight hours three days of phishheads three days of fireworks going off at all hours (guess phishheads don't need sleep) Told myself as we were leaving, "who ever said these guys were anything like the dead is a liar" and have never heard the Grateful Dead, never experienced the love and never will. Folks, face it, those days are gone and this show will be three days of: cell phones ringing overflowing toilets tray noodling (wasn't that good in 99 and I'm sure it hasn't improved with age) phishheads everywhere no parking no place to camp no place to lay your head cops and rent a pigs and undercover narks everywhere gate crashers just waiting for their big moment space is noise? man, you don't get it at all, Space and Drums is where music is created right in front of you, they were making it up as they went along, noise? obviously you don't quite understand the creative process but that's how songs are made, at least by real musicians. by the posts I've read, sounds to me like top age attending will be about 30 - 40 maybe. Have tried, can't relate to those young'uns. All us deadheads will not be attending, you all that will be there, have a good time. 10,000 cops can't be wrong, come to Chicago and sing that jailhouse song. This is sounding more and more like the biggest setup in history, they have been wanting to get us all together for a long time and now here's their big opportunity, don't think for a minute that they won't take this "dead show" (I write that very loosely) to try out some new riot gear or tear gas or mace or dog or whatever they have in their arsenal to disperse crowds. I have decided not to attend this fiasco and all my old touring buddies feel the same way, not for us. ps, don't forget your helmet :)