Yesterday was a hot one- Not as sticky as today. Nicole and I went to the "Gathering on the Mountain" up at Big Boulder. It was a weekend of offshoots, tributaries,eddies and rivulets, and survivors of the rolling river that was the Greatful Dead. Donna Jean was there. Jorma, Richie Havens, Merl Saunders, Marshall Tucker, and other friends. Remnants of an era that refuses to pass. It just evolves... Life's full of strange coincidences.
Time sure flies... and speaking of coincidences- I can remember August 9, 1995 like it was just yesterday. It was a Wednesday. Hot and sunny, and I had taken the day off to meet a dive buddy, Denise, at Dutch for a few dives. The day seemed just absolutely perfect.
After our dives, we loaded our gear up into my 86 Trooper. We decided to drop off her car at my house and drive her gear back to the rental shop from there. So, off we went, me draining quarry water out the back of my Trooper all the way up the mountain, and her following in her Honda.
You gotta understand, this Trooper is ten years old, and NOT pretty! It's 4 wheel drive (smart, up here) has a big trunk for dive gear, and is cheap (to insure)! (the insurance companies are out to get me...)It runs great! (It's still running, even after I rolled it down the mountain one night in the snow! I use it to drive firewood out of the woods...) Anyhow, back to the story...
I had removed the radio the week before. It only worked half the time anyhow. I didn't bother to replace it- remember, cheap! When Denise and I got to my house, we stopped to use the facilities. As we were getting into my Trooper,she asked me,
"Did you hear that Jerry Garcia died today?"
I was stunned. I don't even think Denise knew the significance of what she just said, or who Jerry Garcia was.
"No" I said "when did this happen? Are you sure? Who said what?"
Now, understand, I live in the sticks. No mail delivery, no newspapers, no TV. Nothing! I'm completely shut off from the world unless I turn on the radio. You know, the one I removed! Well, you get the picture.
Now, I talk about strange coincidences- Then, as now, I was thinking diving. The Dead remnants are here in the Poconos this weekend. The Dead concert from 12/29/77 in Winterland is blaring "Tennessee Jed" in the background. Then, as now, there's an almost full moon in the cloudless sky. My, how time flies.
I can remember back those 3 years like yesterday, yet it seems as though a lifetime has passed. I've met Nicole, transformed my practice, built my little "Walden" in the back yard, been to Switzerland, Cozumel, lots more diving, tons of plans, etc, etc, etc...
This "Gathering on the Mountain" is turning out to be like the Further Fest. A real happening. Cars from all over. Met a guy who came in from Chicago- had nothing better to do...
Here's to you, Jerry!!!
It's truely been a long strange trip for alot of us...!
Jeff
August 9, 1998