When I was about eleven or twelve, my dad, a fan of the Dead, got word that they were going to be playing in CA about an hour away.  The show was sold out but he, his friend, and I all piled into a car dressed in tye-dyes and headed for the concert with high hopes.  Although we didn't have tickets, the plan was to ask people for extras as soon as we got there and hope that we got lucky.  Unfortunately, we didn't get lucky and never made it in to see the show.  I think that was about 6 months before Jerry passed, and if my dad had known that, I'm sure he would have found some way to get in to see them play.  But we did get to walk around and hang out with all those traveling Deadheads, which was one of the coolest experiences of my life.  Everyone had their blankets laid out with jewelery, t-shirts, pottery, and lots of other stuff for sale.  I bought some G.D. pins and a necklace: a metal birdclaw grasping a purple marble, which I of course still have.  Everyone there that night was so friendly and cool, and it felt great to be in the crowd interacting with them.  Even though I've never REALLY been to a Grateful Dead concert, I'm happy I got the chance to go with my dad that night and meet the awesome people I did-- what an experience!

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