Michael Doc Watson

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.

I think Poetry Girl might have cancled because she wants to be taking care of a friend having an elective surgery. I hope I'm wrong and she comes to The Caverns. Peace and Love Doc

Excellent ! I was worrying that I would not get to visit with some of my Southern friends. Maybe a few others will now join in.

Sure would be nice to return to Springfield Ohio. That park is a magical place. The Springfield Arts festival runs June and July with several tribute bands playing there. Peace and Love Doc

"... being confused..." well, that's typical for me these days.

Sure will be cool to see you three again. Last time I remember was The Ledges with those two ruling the paths on their bikes. Wish Chuck would come out again to old home Southern roots. I think there should be a movement here to get Cuck to come to the Caverns, Peace and Love, Doc Sure wish Chuck would come out to another show or two at The Caverns. He should make a visit to his old Southern Roots and join us at The Caverns. How about us getting together and encourage Chuck to come came with us all. Peace and Love Doc

I hope to get there early

Lisa’s presentation of “Masters of War” was the highlight of this show. Bill said “strong” but Lisa sang with more power and emotion than even the brave Ukraines. I hope it was recorded for future display. Several other songs weaved this theme into last nights music. …something this world deserves. High in the balcony is certainly the place to be in The Palace. The sound is excellent, the view of the stage is good, dancing room along the open aile was full with friends, and being with those friends was the best part of the night. Since my body’s health can’t keep up with my mind I was mostly dancing in my seat with several beautiful ladies before me. Early in the evening I had run into a few friends and asked them to watch out for me since I had had a few beers before the show and was given a few little chunks of good candy. I was feeling good, better than I have since the last Jubliee. Thank you, both Sammy and Jordon, for making sure I was ok through out this wonderful night. I hope to see you guys again soon. Peace and Love Doc

A wonderful night for my fist show in a little over two years. Bill’s review covered the highlights quite well. I was particularly impressed by the sound in Terripin where Skip’s bass booms shook the walls. I too was upstairs center balcony with beautiful people dancing in the asile before me. The music was so good but more important was seeing many old friends and meeting new ones. I can t wait ‘till latter today we get to do it again. But Bill was slightly wrong in saying it was a “chilly” night….no it was damm cold for a young man like me traveling up North from our warm weather Georgia. Peace and Love Doc

Well then that makes my decision easier. see you there. Peace and Love, Doc

I must disagree with our good friend, Rudd. Late night bluegrass is excellent dance music. I have enjoyed bluegrass many times after midnight at the Jubliee and GratefulFest.

Smitty's is diffently a fun bar and small venue. I had lots of good times in that neighborhood.

For sure it was at the Ledges. It might have been the first day and DSO was playing as “Terrapin Nation “ maybe the time the set list was all songs just picked out by the various members of the band and not Dead songs. I think Chuck can remember more of the details. peace and Love, Doc

Rude, You are missing the idea. You don't do the sitting, you organise the business. There are various mothers that don't care to see the show that their spouse is attending. These mothers can be gathered together to take care of the little ones.

Rude, Maybe this is a business you should start. You have good experiance now.

Another friend on our party line asked " 12-17-92 Baba O'Reilly, was pete Townsend singing?"

This new venue, Coca Cola Roxy, is actually located between Atlanta proper and the suburbs and just off I-75 and I-285. It will be an easier drive for us Dead heads now living outside town than going all the way to Variety Playhouse in Little Five Points area where many other older folk are afraid of the free people there. I think that after we eventually get over the C19 stuff this venue will be sold out. Unfortuntly I could not attend the shows because a few days earlier I was in the emergency room and hospilized for a whole week. I'm doing fine now and finally back home. My tickets did not go to waste for a good friend of ours who you all know was able to pick up the mircle tickets from me during a good welcome visit at the hospital. Peace and Love, Doc

Z-Man is a live recording ACE and a nice man. He does a lot of Dead music around the Atlanta area. Peace and Love, Doc, who missed these shows due to an emergency stay of over a week in the hospital, I'm fine now and finally home.

Hope to see you there next week. Peace and Love, Doc

Per the Big Book, Deadbase 50, ….8/21&22/1993 the Indigo Girls opened….6/17,18&19/1994 Cracker opened... 6/23&24/1990 Little Feat opened both nights. Peace and Love, Doc

I plan on being back on the bus too after two serious operations and finally being home again just two days ago. Hopefully I'll have enough energy by then. If I can make it, Dr B should too. Peace and Love, Doc