Michael Doc Watson

This weekend (Oct 18 &19) two days of a small GD festival in a Nashville park "Touch of Brews Festival". (Terrapin Beer sponsored) John K will do a solo "acousti'Lectric" show and then set in with other bands both days. My family is even going along to Nashville which is unusual.

Looks like time for old friends to drop by so I thought I'd say High. These posts bring back memories of better times when we would meet at the Ledges and dance in the sand, swim in the lake, and on a moonless night get lost in the maze of paths in the woods, also know as the "warzone" if I remember right.... Did anyone ever find the second tunnel? Peace and Love, Doc

Wonderful time with friends again at a DSO show and staying on the mountain top at C&K’s home. Two good friends from Georgia and East London came along with me , both rookies for DSO. We ran into a hail storm on the way to the show. Before the music my nephew, Willy, and his wife, Mary Helen, were talking to me but after a few minutes I had to say, “I’m sorry but I don’t know who you are”…shows you how smoky my head was at the time. First set was strong dancing right on the rail next to Melie. When Jen came down to dance I realized I was between the two most beautiful ladies at the show. At set break we realized that I had not eaten anything all day so Donna took my hand and led me to some good food. We took shelter and ate while the thunderstorm passed by. Latter my good friend, The Englishman Derek, was craving a candy bar but could not find one anywhere. I went on a quest and came back with a bowl of big peanut M&Ms which a vendor gave me from his personal stash. It’s these little fun things that add to the music and dancing that make DSO shows so magical. Peace and Love, Doc

I'll probably be doing the two Ashville shows. I can't pass up seeing all my friends again.

We all owe Ron a big "Thanks" for all he does for our DSO community. Those few days of darkness should remind us that staying in touch with our friends is so important. Ron told me that the renewal date for the forum's domain name snuck up on him and he appreciates the reminder. I don't know how much it costs to run this forum but in the past there was some method to kick in some funds to help Ron out. Maybe someone can remind us how we can do that. Thank you, Ron. Peace and Love, Doc

It was a really fun evening starting with dinner with Dino and other friends at the Speakeasy across the street then at the rail for the first set which included the best "Red Rooster" I've heard. It was good to hear Bobby Whitlock's and Clapton's song "Keep on Growing". For second set I went upstairs where I could occasionally sit down to rest my old body. The combined "Dark Star>Drums 'n Space" clocked right at 30 minutes. A beautiful young lady started dancing in the space in front of Chris and me which got me up shaking my bones again. "Wharf Rat" brought on a slow dance while we listen to the story of those less fortunate.....after Saturday Night and Brothers and Sisters, "I got up and wandered Wandered downtown, nowhere to go but just hang around" Outside there was a little band playing on the flatbed truck and folks dancing a bit and a few dogs on leash watching everyone have fun. Peace and Love, Doc

Chattanooga show should be a retirement show for me. I would like to see more DSO but my body is just getting where it doesn’t have the strength. Just a few years ago I would have done all these Southern shows starting off this fall tour. I’m looking forward to seeing many of my friends next Sunday and dancing to the fine music played by the Best Band in the Land.

Hospitality for Chattanooga Oct 15.... I've purchased a "table for 4" set of tickets and a hotel next door with four bunk beds..... I don't know who I will miracle for this fun day.

I'm excited about seeing all my friends I've missed recently and the two nights of DSO. This Salvage Station is a nice venue, almost as good as the nearby Pisgue Brewery in Bear Mountain.

Nice sunny afternoon to yaws at the Jubliee, wish I could be there with you …maybe after all these medical things cool down. Music is probably starting there by you. There’s a rumor out down south here that tonight’s opening song is “The Promised Land”. Peacce and Love Doc

"Promised Land", Springfield Ohio Park, maybe ten years ago

Truckin’ I’m going home Whoa, whoa, Baby back where I belong. Back home, sit down, patch my bones, And get back truckin’ on. Sometimes the Light is all shining on me. Other times I can barely see. Lately it occurred to me, What a long strange trip it’s been.

The C19 situation really slowed me down. Going a long time without shows led me to get into recorded music from the early 70s , a whole group of stars which I call the “Tulsa Team” because almost all of them were playing rock n roll with Delaney, Bonnie, and Friends….Eric Clapton, Bobby Whitlock, Leon Russel, J J Cale, George Harrison, Rita Coolidge, Joe Gordon, Claud Ryder, and the great bands, “Derek and the Dominoes “ (very best electric guitar album ever) and “Joe Cocker, Mad Dogs and Englishmen” ( greatest rock n roll tour ever). I will put on DVDs, YouTube, or CDs on the living room system when the family is away and dance and rock out. I do admit that this music has taken over my enjoyment. my last DSO was the two nights at the Caverns. I was hoping to go to the DSO Nashville but I’m afraid this operation and hospital spell has squashed that possibility. If you are talking to any of the band please tell them why I can t be there. I know all of them (except Jeff) from my many years of hanging out around the band and all our friends. I miss Dark Star Orchestra, The Best Band In the Land Peace and Love Doc

The NG tube was removed this afternoon. Now I can swallow without pain. Maybe I ll get actual food tonight. Sure would be good to have some soft grits.

I m getting better day to day. Today I finally got an all liquid lunch, juice, chicken broth, lemons ice, and jello. Before this I had nothing, not even water, for two weeks. peace and Love Doc

Well I m in the hospital again after an emergency operation which removed ALL of my colon. Today marks second week being here. I m doing ok but recovery is very slow. Today’s CT scan indicated the remains of my inside, small intestine, was ok and no additional complications. ”I will survive” to dance again someday with all my friends out there. Peace and Love Doc

The Band is probably in Paris by now, Thursday afternoon. I wonder if anyone stayed over in London for all the ceremony going on there about the Royality. Now that brings to mind a question....Did the Grateful Dead ever play for members of the Queen's Court?

I have seen that a safer path is to not take the interstate exit from the Jubilee. Several years I have taken the smaller "back roads" going south from the Jubilee and never seen any cops that way. If you are exiting the Jubilee by way of the main gate you turn left (south) rather than turning right toward the interstate. Go carefully through the nearby small town and then find your path home. If necessary you can pick up the interstate at a different location. Peace, Love, and Safe Traveling Doc

I heard from a couple other friends that they also have tested positive. The incubation time is said to be 3 to 5 days and symptoms might even take ten days to start so early testing might not show accurate results. Concerning the other item....I wish I could remember making out with any of the beautiful ladies. Peace and Love, Doc

In past years we would get there early like that...cars had to line up running way back across the highway..no problems, just a fun wait for a little while.

Yep, so much fun being around all these friends and music. I really enjoyed walking along the long stright strench of campground, finding old friends and making new ones along the way. Found my family from Greenville and sat with them a while. They even walked the "five minute" distance from camp to cave... looked more like five miles as I sat in Tea's wild ride. The next night the blue bus was a fun ride with Top Hat driving on, playing like he was Casside. First sets both nights I found my way down front amongest the heavy dancers and high energy. The absolutly most beautiful lady in the world was just a bit behind. The band played hard and heavy and the fans really came alive for a long ovation of applause, hoot 'n hollering, and clapping when Lisa took the stage to join in singing. Saturday night with the trimmed down band the music was more serious with the Jerry Garcia Band sound. I love that music better than the jamming of the GD songs we have heard so much more often. But this old body couldn't keep up and deep into Saturday's second set I had to climb my way up the cave's hill out from the cool air of The Caverns. Two nights of music from The Best Band In The Land with my Good Friends all around...better than " Butterflies and Zebras, Moonbeams, and Fairytales..." Peace and Love, Doc

Wonderful time at the Caverns the last couple days but there was trouble at dawn this morning. I apologize to everyone for the noise this morning from my car horn going on at dawn while everyone was sleeping in their tents. I had trouble turning it off. Normally when that happens you can push the little red button on the key fob and the horn should turn off. But the horn would not turn off ! I found that the only way the horn would stop was when I started up the car. But if the car was turned back off after a minute or two the horn started beeping again, just starting all on its own. I remembered the second set of keys was clipped on the frame of the cot. That key fob was wet from the rain. But knowing that and drying the fob did not prevent the horn from starting again. So I decided I needed to get this car out of the campgrounds before everyone got woken up and kept up by my crazy car honking. I drove down the road a while and stopped at a Waffle House. I had both sets of keys and not in anyway that they could get pushed. Just as opening the door of Waffle House the horn set off again. Neither of the key fobs could turn it off. So I started the car again and the horn stopped. I then drove all the way home without stopping the car. Now sadly here at home the car has been quite since being turned off for a while. Peace and Love Doc

About the same with me. I don't bother with a tent so Rude's "hot tent" concerns don't apply. I think Rude is just concerned he might miss some camp side fun in the middle of the night when he is having a different fun in the air conditioned motel.

My health has been hold'n up OK. I just got to watch that I eat right. Been good day today. I got my car packed up ..I ll pick up ice 'n beer Friday morn and head up that way. just three more days If I count right.