We are not dead....but we are Grateful!!!

One of the big highlights of this summer for us was going to the 50 Year Reunion Concert of the Grateful Dead in Chicago. It was over 4th of July weekend and we met 6 of our closest friends from California there. Now Richard had attended many of their concerts way back when, but I (Willow) had never been to one of their concerts. And yes, Jerry Garcia died 20 years ago but the other original band members were all gathered for this 50 year reunion.

So we gathered in Soldier Field Stadium with 70,000 other Dead-Heads for quite a ride! I had never been in such a big crowd and yes, it was daunting and overwhelming at first, but you've never been around a more mellow, loving crowd as this.

Please note that my husband is wearing a tie dye shirt that he wore 45 years ago to the Dead concerts. Yeah it was a little worn (moth eaten holes and torn at the seams) but he still looked "bitchin" as usual!!!

The Captain blissed out on the music...

And as darkness fell Willow turned on her glowing tierra to add to the craziness of the moment...

The psychedelic light show was magical....especially for the thousands of Stoners already rocking to the beat....

The band and the music did not disappoint.....

It truly was an "EXPERIENCE"!!! Too hard to describe, you just had to be there...



We found Chicago to be a city full of life and enjoyed sightseeing and getting to know it. We even enjoyed the museums and this statue so playful and light-hearted as my husband...

After our time in Chicago we traveled on to Highlands, North Carolina for Richard to play in a golf tournament with his brother-in-law, Paul. Well....they didn't win but sure had a hell of a good time trying!

Golf during the day and fancy cocktails, dinner and dancing in the evenings to keep us women happy too.

And then traveling on to Charleston, South Carolina to see the rest of Richard's family.

One fun filled evening with Richard's two sisters, Judy and Vicki and his mom, Betty. If I remember correctly, there were a lot of Margaritas and laughter involved with this dinner!

And back to our desert home in Tucson. We are especially enjoying the desert this time of year as it is the monsoon season. We have torrential rains almost daily with dramatic thunder and lightening. And then the rainbow coming off of the mountains behind our house. The desert is as green as we have ever seen it and we are so thankful for the blessed rain.

It's been a busy and wonderful summer and Life continues to surprise and amaze us with it's wonders.
Aaaahhhhh.....