Eternally Grateful… still

by | Jan 14, 2026 | Music, News, Pop Culture | 2 comments

 

Below is a post I made way back in 2015. (TBH, I didn’t even think I had a blog back then, but apparently so.) Reposting now in tribute to Bob Weir, who passed away this past weekend at the age of 78. (Also note that the “final show” referenced in my original post wasn’t really the final show… Bobby kept on truckin’ with Dead & Co. and The Wolf Bros. pretty much until the end. 

Text above is from the family’s note on Bobby’s website.

“These songs are … living critters and they’re visitors from another world — another dimension or whatever you want to call it — that come through the artists to visit this world, have a look around, tell their stories. I don’t know exactly how that works, but I do know that it’s real.” – Bob Weir in a 2022 interview with NPR.

 

20 years ago, I couldn’t stand the Grateful Dead. I don’t like the smell of patchouli and I don’t care for $5 grilled cheese sandwiches made on the carburetor of a ’72 VW Microbus.

18 years ago, I married my wife, who is a big fan of the Dead. So I’ve listened to more than my fair share of their music since then. And it’s grown on me. Granted, I still could do without an 18-minute version of a 2-minute cover song (looking at you, “Good Lovin'”) or “Drums > Space.” But I really do enjoy many of their songs, and have a great appreciation for the fan base they’ve cultivated over the last 50 years. Whether you love them or hate them (and there doesn’t seem to be much middle ground), you have to admit that they are one of the most generous bands around, in the sense that they view music as a gift to be shared, and not commerce to be peddled. Tapers have always been welcome at their shows, and their bootlegs have helped them grow their fan base.

Two nights ago, The Grateful Dead played their final show at Soldier Field in Chicago. (Some would argue they played their final show 20 years ago when Jerry Garcia passed away.) We are on vacation and went to see a live stream of the show on a Jumbotron at an outdoor bar in Florida. It was my first time seeing them live (or semi-live on a Jumbotron). There were plenty of other fans there watching as well. How many bands could pull that off – having people spend a vacation night watching one of their concerts from a thousand miles away?

I know that there are a lot of preconceived notions about Deadheads, but as a passionate live music fan I tip my hat to them, because they obviously love live music. The Dead may not be the most technically precise band around, but they have a groove that runs a mile deep and have built a passionate community around that. More bands should be like them.

2 responses to “Eternally Grateful… still”

  1. Chuck Wiggins Avatar
    Chuck Wiggins

    I’m ambivalent at best about the Grateful Dead’s music, but there’s no discounting the incredible community built around it. And there’s one song that transcends my ambivalence and reins among my all-time favorite songs from anyone – Unbroken Chain.

    https://youtu.be/T5FN06LFfHk?si=B0fmXFOzNyLrDakM

    Reply
    1. Damian Avatar
      Damian

      Thanks for reading, and thanks for sharing that song, Chuck! You’re absolutely right that the Deadhead community is amazing.

      Reply

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The skinny on food

by | Jan 12, 2026 | News, Writing | 0 comments

Nearly half of all Americans make a New Year’s resolution, and a lot of those people will have a goal involving eating better/healthier.

If you fall into that bucket — even if you’ve already broken your resolution — you might want to spend an hour reading Michael Pollan’s Food Rules.

It expounds on Pollan’s seven-word diet guidance from his book In Defense of Food:

Food Rules is a slender book (no pun intended), and a quick read, with 64 common sense rules for eating. Here’s the description from Pollan’s website:

One of my favorites is Rule #19:

Of course, all the rules are easier said (and read) than done. But they certainly provide a lot of good food for thought (pun premeditated).

Happy eating!

My ugly thumb is beautiful

by | Jan 10, 2026 | Deep Thoughts | 0 comments

Take a gander at my big, fat, ugly thumb:

It’s hideous, ain’t it?

I didn’t hurt it while working on a home improvement project. I come up woefully short on Red Green’s favorite saying:

I slammed my thumb in a car door.

Anticipating your follow-up question, let the record show that I was stone-cold sober.

I slammed it in the door of a Honda CR-V. But it wasn’t one of the three that we own.

I was coming back from the graveside service for my dear friend LJ. And I was riding shotgun with Felicity, the widow of my friend Ned. When we got back to the church, I was both distracted and distraught. And I slammed the passenger door onto my left thumb. Making an awful day even worse.

If you look closely at the photo above (masochist!), you’ll see a drill hole at the top of my nail. You’re supposed to use a small drill bit and hand-drill it into the nail to relieve the pressure ASAP. I waited too long to try that home remedy. It helped a bit, but not much.

It’s been more than a month. The thumb feels much better now, but still looks uglier than sin.

Yet every time I look at my ugly thumb, I’m reminded of my friendship with LJ. Which is beautiful. I’m reminded of all the misery he went through during his cancer treatments. Yet he never complained. The thumb is daily reminder that pain is part of life. And that when you’re down, friends can lift you up.

I know the thumb will get better. I also know that even after it has fully healed, there’ll still be a hole in my heart.

I’m not a goth, but honestly, I may paint that nail with black nail polish after it gets better. To keep the reminder handy. And to keep LJ in my heart.

Happy New Year! (Happy sold separately)

by | Jan 6, 2026 | Deep Thoughts | 0 comments

Turning the page on a calendar really doesn’t do much.

Here’s a gentle reminder that the “happy” part of “Happy New Year!” is really up to us.

Here’s to a year of small wonders and everyday miracles!

Take this stuff and stuff it!

by | Dec 24, 2025 | Deep Thoughts | 0 comments

A gentle reminder on the cusp of the day when we get more stuff:

Stuff may make you happy, but it’s fleeting.

Being happy with what you have, and who you are… those are the real “durable goods.”