all we had to do was let it grow. The first note I heard was the planting the rest have been fertilizer - organic of course.If you go see Bobby or Phil or the Dark Star Orchestra or your local groove band it is quite evident that the garden is growing. I've willed my collection to my nephew, now 5 yrs. old, so he can hear 'em as we did - raw and unencumbered.

I've been catching shows since 80, and when the Dead were not touring I was catching dead cover bands. I still go to see Bobby and Ratdog & Phil Lesh and Freinds, I went to Terrapin Station in Alpine Valley. I have been going to Zen Trickster shows since they were the Volunteers playing Crawdaddy's and the Right Track In. DSO are so much fun as well I love to see them. I miss Jerry. I'm thankful the music he and the boys created is still there for the taking. Some say their moving on & I say ok have fun.

Aug. 5th,2007 --- At McLaren Park [JG's childhood park] there will be a celebration of Jerrys life and music. A day in honor of a local kid who grew up to have an incredible impact on our lives. It is scheduled to start at Noon. I'm not hooked up with the people putting this together but when I get their web address I'll post it here. The Dead "spirit" lives,so lets get together to sing and dance.

If you read all the comments,there is a current that runs through it all. I think we all agree that the Grateful Dead spirit lives on and always will.The sense of family was our core. We always took care of each other,those that had helped those who didn't.All of you have to admit that when you run into a Deadhead you feel an instant connection. The MUSIC is timeless. Hal R said it better that anyone ..."The music is the soundtrack of my life" This where the argument starts. I have hundreds and hundreds of songs from albums,CD's,dowloads and wherever that I listen to over and over. Sadly,I have no interest in music prior to 8 - 9 - 95. The summer nostalgia bands- The Other Ones/The Dead- were a joke. Different line-ups every yr,no winter tours,no totally new music.Just a bunch of guys rehashing the same shit.The Dead spirit and 30yrs of damn good music is ALIVE.

The Grateful Dead will outlive everyone here regardless of what a few people say. I also thoroughly enjoy the post Dead band member projects.

Bach has been dead for 257+ years and people still listen to his music performed by musicians who never met the guy. Beethovin has been dead for 173+ years and same thing. Jimi Hendrix dead for 37 years. Zappa for 14+ years. The list of names go on and my point is that the Dead scene has never died. It's alive and well. The entity known as The Grateful Dead were only one part of this ride and the ride will continue.

I say that if somebody says time to move on because Jerry id dead, they should also tell The London Symphoy Orchestra or The Boston Pops to move on to. Oh wait, they still perform music from guys who died hundreds of years ago and still turn on new fans.