Remembering Jerry

"You do not merely want to be considered just the best of the best. You want to be considered the only ones who do what you do" – Jerry Garcia

15 years ago, I had just graduated from high school.  I was helping my mom with preschool summer camps held at her house (fun!).  I remember hearing the news, and having various friends, even non-deadheads, call to sympathize throughout the morning.  The next day, a friend and I headed down to Eugene to a vigil, where various pranksters, including "Mountain Girl", spoke.  Kesey’s bus, Furthur 2, made an appearance as well (I would see it again a year later as Ken drove it through a huge, weepy but celebratory crowd the following summer at the Veneta Country Fairgrounds for the first Furthur Festival).  Some how I doubt it will be rolling through next month, when Lonnie & I head over to see the boys at this years Furthur Fest here in Seattle….

Anyway, for a deadhead, Aug 1 (his birthday) through Aug 9th (his passing) is a week to remember & reminisce.  Tonight in San Fran, its Jerry Garcia Night at the ballpark, where the remaining members of the Dead sang the national anthem, Jerry bobbleheads were distributed (ha!) and Mickey and Bill (the drummers) are aiming for a world record by leading the fans in a kazoo performance of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game".  Jerry’s daughter threw out the first pitch, as well.  I like baseball, but that one in particular sounds pretty entertaining!  I’m hoping there’s a little Youtube action with clips from this, tomorrow!

On that note, here’s one from 1993 when the Grateful Dead sang the Star Spangled Banner for another Giants game.  Not the best audio, but sweet nonetheless.

And while we are at it, here’s a fab version of one of my favorite songs, Sugar Magnolia, recorded @ Stanford on 02/09/73.  Ah.  I was born on that campus three & a half years later…

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