OUT OF BODY OUT OF MIND
The Grateful Dead are a huge part of my story and the Dead Head family’s been a major influence in my life.
A pivotal moment in my life, GD Fillmore East circa 69, hanging with friends who were veteran trippers and I took way to (although looking back, maybe not) much, got really high and scared.
I was sitting next to beautiful women friend of the folks who brought me to the show. The band was great, folks were dancing all around me and I couldn’t stand up, way to high. Suddenly, the women grabbed my hand lifted me up and started me dancing. There was a great cheer at that exact moment and I thought it was for me, I was now a part of this sea of flowing beautiful people, seeming connected to each other’s hearts as one. It was the most wonderful moment of my life! What happened next, I can explain it in simple terms, yet to this day, I’m still in awe of my first Grateful Dead experience. It changed my life forever, I’m “Grateful” and sharing the magic and love I experienced that night is something I intend to do for the rest of this life and beyond!
I became one with all my new friends, I started to feel very light, almost as if I was not in my body. Can you guess what happened next?
Suddenly, I was floating up out of my body, no idea what was happening and it was cool. I didn’t freak out at all, I was just real happy. I could literally see myself dancing wildly in the crowd below and at the same time, look up and see my face with the most angelic smile I had ever experienced. I floated up to the old ornate theater ceiling of the Fillmore and to cap it off, my face was in Christ the Babes body, straight out of the Cystine Chapel being bathed by angels. Again, watching myself dance below, looking up, biggest smile ever looking down.
Sure as you are reading this right now, this really happened, it felt so natural and changed my life forever.
I was in your store earlier today (Saturday) with my wife & daughter, spent most of the time listening to your stories, which were far more enjoyable than shopping (yeah, I’m not a shopper). Had I known you were a Dead fan, I probably would have mentioned that I am on the Board of the Jerry Garcia Foundation (Treasurer) and have been since they started. Just happened to have known Jerry’s ex for about the past 45 years. I went to exactly one Dead concert, New Year’s Eve 1980-81. Dead concerts were always reportedly interesting affairs, and the New Year’s Eve concerts even more so. I vaguely recall being served pastries and OJ by the Bill Graham Presents staff around 2 am (or maybe 3 or 4 am?) after the concert ended.
That’s a great story. Someday we should get together and share our experiences from that unique era.
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