Grateful Dead

Took a Greyhound from Milwaukee to see the Texas shows, back when you could smoke on a bus, and other things. The Houston cops were cool. People camped out in the street around the arena. Who wore that Reagan stealie that said 'He's Gone'?

The first Built To Last quaked the foundations, tragic and grand like some repentant Stagger Lee. I called it 'There Are Times' until we learned the name. There is nothing like bearing witness to the actualization of a GD song, which pre-existed this shadowy world in Plato's heaven or Babel's library until discovered and brought to earth.

First time I heard Queen Jane. Solemn declarations lead to full Testify Mode. Weir did not attain True Bobness until the 80s, the final years of which were ragged fields of jewels. I would make cassettes filled with Weir Does Dylan and Cowboy Bob mixes. Dad liked the latter.

The furthest I traveled to see the Dead. The ride home had Zeno at the wheel, the land beautiful like Nebraska.

I was stationed in San Antonio in the USAF. Drove my Dad's Bug to Houston and BROKE DOWN, only to be rescued by some Deadheads. Such a sweet memory though! I've been to plenty of Further shows and and still proud that I got to see Jerry once! I actually met Bobby years later in 2001 in Las Vegas when he was playing solo at CES for the Sirius launch! Tedhead, thanks for being part of my "at least once" club! LOL

Such a beautiful day it was! So much magic in the air! The energy was beyond words.