*** This was written by me, 4th of July weekend, 2016***
(just now editing and publishing)
I ran off with The Grateful Dead!
When you first meet me, you will see a big smile and greenish eyes. Usually a cute outfit of some sort that I cleverly put together from thrift store duds, and always a lot of jewelry. As you get to know me, get to know my story, you will understand that things are not always what they seem. That we all have had the journey behind us, to get to where we are, and make us who we are. My heart is big, and my soul is old, but my spirit is young and free. In my early 20s, I did what a lot of young people were doing in the 90s. I was going to concerts, going on trips both physically and in an enhanced mind trip sort of world. I, myself spend most of the early 90s in Southern Cali, working at Disneyland, doing a little modeling and such for extra money and hanging out with the hippies on Venice beach. Then one day I got to see the Dead play in California.... my life was never the same.
I feel lucky to say that I got to see Jerry a few times before he died and enjoyed several shows on the west coast from 92 and 95. I wasn't a super follower, so, I wouldn't want any Deadhead who has been to hundreds of shows to think i'm comparing myself in any way, but I did see them and I did love the experience, every single time! The people, the parking lot, the feeling of unity and love, the sights, the smells, and of course, the music.
I moved back to Albuquerque sometime in '94 for school and to be near my family. In '95, I started working at the great little hippy shop in Nob Hill, called Birdland. Tye dies, tapestries, Grateful Dead art and paraphernalia. The owners were a wonderful couple who I soon became very, very close to. While I worked there, I met Grateful Dead artist Michael Everett and The Grateful Dead Hour host David Gans, along with an assortment of local
Deadheads and fabulous people! What a fun time!
We had some great events and parties surrounding the local Deadhead community. Such a wonderful time in my life. During that time, i met and married someone i met working at a local nightclub. Great guy, we had some wonderful moments, lots of camping and hiking and getting high, but, alas, he was not a Deadhead. He never understood my love of the lifestyle. I mean, he got used to me being a hippy, crunchy girlfriend and later, mom, but... never did go to a show with me.
15 years and 3 kids later, we finally called it quits. That shitshow story is for another post.
After a few years of being single and dating around, i met a wonderful man in the smallish mountain town we had been living in, in Northern AZ. On our 2nd date, he wore a Grateful Dead shirt! i knew then he was "the one".
We spent 2 years together, loving one another so hard, i thought i was on a cloud. Unfortunately, circumstances were not ideal, and again, leaving my long, sad story for another post, i moved back to Albuquerque, because of my kids and a long drawn out custody battle with my ex husband. I left the town i loved, the job i loved, the family of wonderful people i'd created, that i loved, and most of all, the man i was madly in love with. Having felt that kind of love with someone for the 1st time in my life, now in my early 40s, and having to leave him behind and choose being near my kids nearly shattered my spirit. It broke my heart in way that made me feel somedays like i was literally dieing.
When The Dead announced their Anniversary shows last summer, i wanted to go SO bad! It just wasn't a good time financially or emotionally to rally and get to The Bay area. When the fall tour was announce, an ex boyfriend of mine, got us tickets. We'd been broken up, we still kept in contact once in a while, and were trying to remain friends. When he bought those tickets though, told me, no matter what, he wouldn't have wanted to take anyone else. We met in Flagstaff the day after Thanksgiving and drove to Vegas together.
We had floor tickets and went as far up to the front as we could and got to see Dead & Co together, just a few feet from Bobby and Johnny.
It was such a blast!
So, now it's summer and Dead and Company is on tour. My Deadhead friends in Albuquerque have all talked about what shows they're going to, and i've been wondering off and on how i can get to a few.
This past week, my friend Jenny says "let's go Boulder this weekend hope for a miracle"
Well, i had other plans, but, couldn't help but think about how much i wanted to see my guys play! Little by little, things regarding my 1st plans started to fall apart, and getting to go see the boys in CO started to magically come together! Then on thursday, one friend who was supposed to go decided she couldn't and was trying to get rid of her ticket for saturday! That was it! i had to do it!
Friday afternoon i hopped in my friend's volvo with her, her 15 month old and another friend, and got on I-25 north to CO~
As is always the case, the closer i get to the venue where The Dead is playing, and i start to see signs of "my peeps", i get that excited and wonderful feeling of being "home".
We got there a little late and didn't get to actually enjoy the lot scene, but, just being around the crowd and going into the massive arena with all of the Deadheads was like heaven!
The boys jammed about as hard as i'd ever seen or heard them jam , and love him or hate him, John Mayer is FUCKING AMAZING!!!!!
Good Golly Miss Molly! What an amazing show!!!!!
Here's the setlist if anyone is interested:
http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/dead-and-company/2016/folsom-field-boulder-co-5bff93ac.html
***
Day Two
The girls and I headed back to our hotel room to sleep and get ready for the Sunday show! (Never miss a Sunday show!)
We had already decided that we were going to spend the day on the lot. Old school style Dead Lot!
Shakedown Street
WOW! i have not felt like that, and had such fun since my old Dead days in the 90s! We ran into people we knew, we sold our handmade wares, i did henna, and yes, we smoked a lot of pot! (Hey, we were in Colorado!)
My friends had tickets for that night, i however, did not. All day, as we people watched from the car, i saw Deadheads walking by with signs asking for a miracle, or just with one or two fingers up in the air. A sign that they needed tickets. I definitely wanted to go, but, hadn't stressed about it at all. i guess i just thought i'd figure it out, ya know?
So... as everyone decided to start heading up toward the stadium, i figured i'd just walk up with 'em. As my friends all entered, my friend Jenny yells back at me, "i'll see you in 10 minutes". I stood there for a few, one finger up in the air... just hoping for that miracle...
Then, behind me, i hear "hey, do you need to get in?" i turned around and there were 3 guys and a girl sticking a paper ticket out of the fence at me! One of the guys says "Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas, We love you, Have fun!"
I WAS FREAKIN' MIRACLED A TICKET!!!!!
i was too excited for words! i ran in and went straight to where i knew my friends would be! They had stopped at the restroom, and hadn't even gotten there yet! They were so happy to see me when they did get there!
Another night of dancing to our fave! Something i've said about those 2 shows, is that, as fantastic as the Saturday show was, it was a crowded stadium and i felt like the boys played for the masses. Oh, it was AMAZING, but... Sunday's show? Now THAT was worth going to! Those boys played for shear, unadulterated FUN!!!! We, the audience, the fans, the Deadheads were privy to one hell of a show! It felt like we were each getting a personal show. It was so powerful and perfect!
Leaving that show felt like i was leaving one of the best church services i had ever been to. Like i had just had a spiritual experience like now other.
I for one can NOT wait for 2017 tour!
Oh, and if Johnny Boy is still single....
<3
