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    marye
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    Here's the place to talk about our departed loved ones -- friends, family members, tour buddies, and others we've lost along the way.

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  • Oroboros
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    And we will always be eternally grateful to Merl, for
    many reasons especially because after Garcia's diabetic coma in 1986 and Jerry's resulting loss of some of his ability to play guitar due to his impaired basic motor skills, Merl Saunders was the one that spent hours each day with the Jerry. Merl helped him 'relearn' guitar by running scales, jamming with him, and working Jerry out on with their familar jazz standards to help 'reconnect' Jerry's synapses and to get Garcia back into 'playin in the band". I caught Merl's a couple shows and he was nothing less that delightful and he looked like he was having more fun than we all were dancing at his gig. A true artist. Fare thee well, Merl, and thanks for everything. The Truth is realized in an instant, the act is practiced step by step.
  • johnman
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    damn
    truly a drag................the band in heaven is gettin' awfully big
  • iknowurider
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    R.I.P. Merl
    Peace to you & your loved ones....
  • GratefulGigi
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    May the four winds blow him safely home....
    R.I.P. "the godfather of jam bands," Merl Saunders
  • Hal R
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    RIP Merl
    You made so many people happy with your music and your spread your boundless joy to all of us to share with the world and make it a better place. You were a healer bringing back Jerry to his skills after illness and a man of compassion who brought attention to the beauty and destruction of the rainforest. You could boogie and you could play the tunes to soothe. You touched me deeply. For me your music and spirit will keep on keepin on as a part of me. Thank you Merl. If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. William Blake
  • free idea
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    a truly beautiful person
    met him once and he put the lie to the notionthat music stars had to have some kind of attitude. he was 100% sweet and beautiful. keep on keepin on merl, we'll keep rockin here on the rock ---'never prank a truster'----
  • cosmicbadger
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    Merl Saunders
    rest in peace! Let's hope he's jamming with Jerry in the stars!
  • cosmicbadger
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    Rest in Peace Merl Saunders
    Very sad about this. Let's hope he's jamming with Jerry in the stars! http://www.jambase.com/Articles/Story.aspx?storyID=15521
  • iknowurider
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    Welcome
    Stevie C, as you can see there are Truly Kind folks here.. sorry for your loss, we will bend our ears to listen. PEACE
  • stuman
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    stevie c
    so sorry to hear of such a loss ..
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Here's the place to talk about our departed loved ones -- friends, family members, tour buddies, and others we've lost along the way.
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thinking of you and Nao peace
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Wait a second, Nao your wife???Am speechless, and hoping I read that wrong. ********************************** Education: that which reveals to the wise, and conceals from the stupid, the vast limits of their knowledge. Mark Twain
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All best thoughts and +++vibes to you and Nao. Conversation is always more interesting than recitation, so speak your mind and not someone else's.
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grieving with you Joe. If it helps a little you have a big loving family here.
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and condolences to you and yours. I can't imagine the heartache and shock. Ride the rough waves, brother, hope that gentler seas are ahead. Take care "....She sang a little while and then flew off" The Truth is realized in an instant, the act is practiced step by step.
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We love you brother! Am utterly sad and and floored about your loss. Keeping you in my thoughts Joe. ********************************** Education: that which reveals to the wise, and conceals from the stupid, the vast limits of their knowledge. Mark Twain
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I've always thought your Wife must be a very interesting person, with quite a tale to tell. So sorry Joe. Positive Vibes headed your way. "River gonna take me Sing me sweet and sleepy Sing me sweet and sleepy all the way back back home It's a far gone lullaby sung many years ago Mama, Mama many worlds I've come since I first left home Goin home, goin home by the waterside I will rest my bones Listen to the river sing sweet songs to rock my soul...' PEACE
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(((((((Hugz))))))) You are in my thoughts!!! Peace & Love,Gigi xoxoxoxoxoxxo
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am truly sadden at your loss, how devastating .peace and love beams for nao's journey. so sorry joe,big hug for you.
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16 years 8 months
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I'm sorry for your loss. It looks like Nao gave it all she had. I had a friend, after a battle with cancer and a slide into mental illness, end his own life three weeks ago. Our hearts go out to you. To every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven. Peace
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thank yoou, everyone; means more than I can say. *** "for CC Joe and Nao grief like a snowbank melting to tears running through eyes down the windswept plains of the cheek streams rivulets rivers riptides away away all beyond the grave sea the great gray ocean listless and still away away all to the waterfall at the end of the world" -- Robert Hunter http://www.deadnetcentral.com/WebX?7@619.XGaqbSO6AKp.1@.4a858023/53296 as usual, Hunter's words speak volumes. thank you rh. **** all I can say now is thank you, everyone. it really, really means alot. ** thnkks, as always, Hunter, for the words; means more than I can possiblely hope to express. it'll be read at her service. love&peace.
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17 years 3 months
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sorry to hear of your loss many warm hugs to you.....
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So saddened by your loss. My heart and thoughts are with you.
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16 years 4 months
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I'm so sorry and finding myself without many words. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. We'll all be sending you as much love as we possibly can.
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17 years 4 months
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This one comforts me alot, so will share with you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pudOFG5X6uA Hold on! Take comfort in your friends. ********************************** Education: that which reveals to the wise, and conceals from the stupid, the vast limits of their knowledge. Mark Twain
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I know the place , CC Joe, from tears to salty oceans . But remember, some day , that even oceans have shores and are confined to a planet where even a lost coconut can find an island . May we all go safely on cosmic trails .
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I am so sorry to hear this. Safe journey to your beloved old lady, and I join in the mass outpouring of love to you.
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I am trying hard to think of words; just know, please know everyone here; your words mean a lot to me. thank you all. * you all knew her, you all danced with her and hugged her at the shows... she was never more impressed with spontaneous human warmth than at shows or meeting strangers on the road who shared a love of what we love. this community, online though it may be, is part of a larger tribe; we may not see each other's faces as we dance, eyes on the stage, we may not see each other's faces, eyes on the screen as our fingers dance on the keys; we may not 'hear' the words, the music drowns the voices out... but the warmth is here as it always was there; as it always will be there. Hunter's (thank's again rh, can't thank you enough) words were read, translated and read in Japanese, Thai, Lao, Khemer, Korean, Chinese, Tagalong, German, French, and also read in English. there could have been more languages, she had a wide circle of international friends, but I thought 10 readings had a certain symetry. Black Muddy River (maybe her favourite song) was played for her, and So Many Roads for us; and some other music she loved... people spoke, and heard some stories I never heard before... there could not be anythhing happy in this, but there was some dignity and people stronger than myself let me lean on them. parents should not have to attend the funeral of their child, an older brother and an older sister, and a younger sister should not have to go through this. her nieces and nephews... she and I never had kids of our own. she and I used to 'joke' and she always said she wanted to die first; I knew her love in that comment, but i still had to insist I wanted to die first for the same reasons I reckon. like everything else, she had her way. ( -; we also used to 'joke' based on some Woody Allen line, "I was the boss, and she was the decision maker" it was, I heard from the doctor, much too late to really do anything by the time she learned of the cancer. so yes, she was protecting us all with that decision to keep things to herself these past couple of months. her family is the only real family I ever had; completely loving people, completely caring people; unlike any I have ever known. her father was left an orphan by WWII American bombs; her mother, when she was a child, was literally shot at by a machine gun, dive bombing American plane as she was walking home with a friend through some rice fields after working at the war machine factory that so many children were conscripted into in that history -- yet, they accepted me, an ugly American, into their heart. our little house is about 3 hours away from their home; so we saw each other often enough, (or not often enough in retrospeck) they invited me to come live with them if I want to in the future; part of her ashes will remain in the family home, in the Buddhist tradition, some put into the family grave nearby. sad irony that her mother is a cancer survivor, and facing other health issues recently, all Nao wanted to do was help her family. there are things i must do -- will hit the road to scatter some of her ashes in some of the places she loved most. have to see and tell people she loved and who loved her, and have to walk up the trails of villages alone... some news can not be shared by phone or email. all she ever wanted and did was to help other people, less fortunate than herself; and that is her legacy. I'll do my best to continue her work; try to live her life, best I can. ** thank you all for all of your kindness. it means more than I can ever hope to express. prayers and positive vibes for her family is all I ask; parents should never have to attend the funeral of their child. (((DNC))) thank you. ** there are some roads we rode on together to re-visit, and other new roads I must face-- the ride can never be balanced without her on the back of the bike. love and peace.
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17 years 3 months
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you've said it all.....my condolences........XOXOXO
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I am so sorry for your loss of your dear wife. Peace and love to you and her family. Take care of yourself. If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. William Blake
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I can't even imagine the sadness you feel. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. And the road goes on forever.... BobbaLee
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17 years 4 months
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I just can't imagine something like this. Our thoughts are with you.
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thanks everybody. heading on the raod soon to take care of things; be back when I am able. meanwhile, please know how much this space and your support means to me. "so it’s broken hearts and dusty roads and somewhere there my soul explodes with every piece of every day and everything I meant to say and where I’ll be, no one can tell I’m fishing in a wishing well and i’m doing the very best I can I just hope you’ll understand now I seen all the lights that shine countless colors in my mind they climb and swim and spark and glow and ask me what it is I know I know a thing called love a thing called thunder in the sky above now I know a thing called pain now I know a thing called rain" --- Jackie Greene **** we was there together for this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObCXBkB_o1A "Will you have some tea At the theatre with me? We did it all - didn't we? Jumped every wall - instinctively Unravelled codes - ingeniously Wired all the roads - so seamlessly We made it work But one of us failed That makes it so sad A great dream derailed One of us gone One of us mad One of us, me All of us sad All of us sad - lean on my shoulder now The story is done - it's getting colder now A thousand songs - still smoulder now We played them as one - we're older now All of us sad All of us free Before we walk from the stage Two of us Will you have some tea? Will you have some tea At the theatre with me?" ---Pete Townshend *** thank you all. (((DNC))) LOVE&PEACE.
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may the roads you travle bring you peace. we`l all be here for you when you return.
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The Who Tea and Theater - very, very beautiful. I am sorry. Stay strong.! big love beams, too!
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i know you are on the road right now, but i just heard the news and am very sorry for your loss. there are really no words to say, but know i am thinking of you and your wonderful wife. my deepest condolences friend nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile
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R.I.P.........1 of my best "sandbox buddies" when as teenagers we'd pile into my small car & run up to the Family Dog @ the Great Hwy, park & all places to hear the Grateful Dead, Quicksilver, Big Brother, Airplane....who else????......I can still hear your laugh XOXOmay the 4 winds blow you safely home.....
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I am so sorry for your loss. You guys sound like me and my sisters and a couple of friends, piled in the car heading to the city for another evening of music.... Usually the same people in the car and I bet the same for you, so I know how tight a friendship you are grieving. Take care & peace
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17 years 3 months
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hugs and warm thoughts go out to gypsy cowgirl...as long as you keep pattie in your heart she is never really gone..HUUUUUUGS
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17 years 3 months
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Thanks for your comments.......I tell her kids (now in their 30's) how we'd pile about 7 or 8 of us in my 5 seater 544 Volvo......nutty teenagers that we were-driving was safer 40 yrs ago-not as many freeways & cars, too.....RIP Pattie
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16 years 10 months
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i just got my 'puter back from repair, sorry to hear of your loss. my thoughts and prayers are with you and your friend.
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15 years 10 months
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God Bless- "I Want You To Roll Away The Dew"
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17 years 5 months
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how hard it is to lose friends along the way. many good wishes for Pattie wherever you are and for GC still here in this crazy old world oh and good to hear from you too johnman we were starting to worry about you greetings dear friends from the frozen steppes of Kazakhstan love to all CB
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17 years 3 months
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send me a postcard, though from where ever you are....I love foreign stamps.....thanks for all your comments........Pattie had a good life, that's all we can hope for everyone....xoxo
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17 years 5 months
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sorry for your loss, peace If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. William Blake
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17 years 3 months
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would be blown away by all these comments & condolences.....! she loved the Grateful Dead & we had so much fun together......should I mention now it was her coercing that I was to be the one to smuggle in the gallon of wine into the Fillmore West summer 1969?? I rarely drank, too.....teenaged wastelands.......
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thank you still and always If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. William Blake
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16 years 10 months
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Founding member and guitarist extraordinaire of Big Brother and the Holding Company passes away from a heart attack on December 20, 2009. A post more eloquent and informed than I could craft can be found here. Another tragic loss of an icon of the generation. Conversation is always more interesting than recitation, so speak your mind and not someone else's.
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...one record I will never forget, it's "Cheap Thrills". Long before I got into the Dead, who were an acquired taste, were Big Brother & the Holding Co. They could be full-on, into your face or get way down - and soooo bluesy - "Didn't I make you feel ..." And. of course, Mr. Gurley's guitar always led the way. Thank you. " Where does the time go? "
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17 years 4 months
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Thinking of you sis and missing you this Holiday season :(It's been 3 years and I miss you every minute of everyday!! Dance with Jerry <3
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17 years 5 months
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Thank you for the good times.
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17 years 4 months
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I began my career in the grain business 6 weeks after the Continental Grain elevator blew up in Westwego, LA, across the Mississippi River from New Orleans.Grain dust is highly volatile, especially within confined space.
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Long Time Family member Danny Goldsher ,from Long Island NY. has passed on 12/23/2009He will be missed by many.
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A favorite winter-time activity at home in Kansas is feeding and watching the birds who visit any of the 4 feeders I have in the backyard. Before Christmas, I noticed a female cardinal without a tail. Needless to say, I think she's perished, as she has not been around for awhile. Perhaps the ever-increasing influx of mourning doves describes her fate? Stay tuned for more...