If any of you, faithful readers, have read my section on Fifty Things About Me, you will be aware that I vigorously defend myself against being a Deadhead.
That's only partly true.
I enjoy the Grateful Dead tremendously. I saw them 18 times. Why, you ask, did I do that if I am not a Deadhead?
It's goes like this.
I was very much into punk and new wave. Then I went to college in eastern PA, a very preppy college. I met a girl named Suzy and became very good friends with her. She was from central NJ and her sister Tracey was a big time Deadhead. Tracey was such a Deadhead that she bought an RV and followed the Dead. She supported herself by baking these awesome huge chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies that she sold at shows for 2 bucks a piece. When you've got the munchies, there is nothing quite like a chocolate chip macadamia nut cookie.
So one summer, she asked Suzy and I to meet up with her when we could. So we did. All over the East Coast. I liked the Dead okay, was lukewarm on them at that time, but the after going to all those shows, they grew on me because it was just such a freak show. And so much fun.
I could blog for months on some of the things I saw but here is my favorite memory:
The parking lot before a Dead show is a vendor paradise. Everyone is selling something. Patchouli oil, PETA approved stuff, drugs of all sorts, primarily weed and trips, tie dye clothing, jewelry. The list is endless.
I never tripped much. It made me too flaky and I'm flaky enough au naturel. But this particular time, we were tripping. Suzy and I were wandering the parking lot, no doubt looking for cute Deadhead boys (read hippie boys who had showered in the past 24 hours). Food vendors were like locusts during a plague (that muchie thing, you know) and they always shouted out whatever they were selling.
VEGGIE BURRITOES!
TACOS!
CHICKEN WINGS!
EGG ROLL!
BEN & JERRY'S!
Well, we saw this guy, probably 40ish, long dreadlocks, tie dye shirt, cut offs, birkie sandals. The typical Deadhead guy. He was yelling:
PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY ON WONDER BREAD!
That still cracks me up to this day.
Trivia:
Favorite Dead song: Box of Rain. Great to cook by.
Sellout album: Touch of Grey, which scored their only Top 40 hit
Where was I when I heard Jerry died: At work at the evil car dealership. My ex husband called me and I had to run into the bathroom because I was going to cry and my co-workers already thought I was goofy. It wasn't so much that I felt this kinship with Jerry Garcia, because I didn't. I just had very happy memories of going to see the Dead.
Girrrl, the more I find out about you, the more I see we have in common! I love the Dead! I saw a few shows, but my biggest moment was seeing them in Las Vegas at the Silverbowl the very last time they played there(May 95). Where was I when he died? Touring some National Parks in Southern Utah. we were hitting Bryce Canyon at sunset and we saw some hippies roll out of a van crying. On the drive back to Vegas in the middle of the night every radio station was playing them. It was a beautiful thing to to hear the tribute while driving across the desert at night.
Maybe this is why I go for technicolor dishes.
Oh, yeah, I try to do flylady, too!
Posted by: Amy | November 18, 2004 at 08:54 AM
HOLY SHIT! I ABSOULTLEY LOVE THE DEAD!!!! My Aunt and Uncle introduced me to them, and I've been a DeadHead ever since...
Wow...
Posted by: Andy (Holly's son) | November 18, 2004 at 04:51 PM
Listening to Morning Dew at this moment... :)
Posted by: andy | November 18, 2004 at 04:53 PM
I was at the Dead shows in Vegas it all started in 1992,,, Anyhow Mostly Vegas shows for all 3 days. Oh my god why were they in May and June 120 degrees out!!! GREAT shows one and all!!! I was Bartending the graveyarde shift when Jerry was pronounced dead at 4:20,, (I bet CPR was performed till the magical Hour) Oh, by the way today is 4/20/05
Thanks for the flashbacks Lisa!!!
Bernie
Posted by: Bernie | April 20, 2005 at 07:51 PM